FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2017
CONTACT:
David Kaplan, Executive Director
NECHAMA – Jewish Response to Disaster
651-968-0301
david@NECHAMA.org
www.NECHAMA.org
David Kaplan Hired as NECHAMA – Jewish Response to Disaster Executive Director
St. Louis Park, MN – The NECHAMA Board of Directors are pleased to announce the hiring of David Kaplan to serve as Executive Director of NECHAMA starting January 17th. David joins our incredibly dedicated team who serve on average over 200 households every year recovering from natural disasters.
David brings an extensive background in nonprofit fundraising and communications work, most recently as Director of Development and Communications with Touchstone Mental Health. Originally from New York City, David attended American University in Washington, DC and now lives in South Minneapolis with his wife Jenny and their daughter Celia.
“On behalf of the Board we are excited to have David join us and look forward to the continued growth of NECHAMA under his leadership,” said Rabbi Matt Rosenberg, NECHAMA Board Chair. “The opportunities to increase our capacity to mobilize volunteers in assisting survivors in response and recovery operations are vast. The Board is committed to continuing to build our capacity and engagement in disaster areas.”
As we welcome David, we want to take this moment to thank and recognize Bill Driscoll, Jr. who led this organization with distinction. Bill will be staying on as a consultant to assist with the transition and David’s onboarding to ensure NECHAMA is prepared should a need arise.
About NECHAMA
NECHAMA is a voluntary organization that provides natural disaster preparedness, response, and recovery services nationwide. Through the years we have brought comfort to disaster survivors by training and mobilizing thousands of volunteers to help communities after floods, tornadoes, and other natural disasters.
Our work is rooted in the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (“repairing the world through acts of kindness”). We offer help to all people affected by disaster on the basis of need regardless of religious affiliation. We also welcome anyone willing to volunteer and serve others to join us.
Our collective work is not done in an effort to proselytize; rather we train, equip, and lead volunteers that assist disaster survivors in the spirit of goodwill and creating mutual respect among all people.
NECHAMA is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.