Mira
12-01-2005, 12:15 PM
This is such a smart idea!!!! :)
Solidarity, one swipe at a time
By JASON SILBERMAN
Just when it seems that the Jewish world has run out of fund-raising techniques, two 20-something entrepreneurs have come up with a novelty. The innovation: a credit card enabling consumers to donate to Israel-related charities, while earning points toward trips to the Holy Land and other enticements.
It is the brainchild of Zev Dobuler and Menachem Landau, who met in Jerusalem when they were in their teens - through a youth group for English-speaking immigrants - after their families made aliya from the United States.
After growing up in Israel and serving in the IDF, the friends left the country and opened an office in Long Island, Dobuler's original home, to try and turn their dream into a reality. They contacted the Advantage Consultant Group, a top credit-card consultant company, which was able to help them forge their idea into a viable business. That was three years ago.
On a return visit to Jerusalem earlier this month, Dobuler spoke to the Jerusalem Post about the enterprise, the HAS Advantage Card, which - in conjunction with Visa and US Bank - became available to the public last week.
"We saw that there were many people, though not ready to pack up and move to Israel, who wanted to support the country in any way they could," Dobuler explained over breakfast in the center of town. "We thought that if people could support Israel just by going shopping - and take a step closer to visiting the country in person - they would go for it. Everyone was getting into 'affinity' cards, so we figured, why not for Israel?"
This, he said, was the idea behind the card. How does it work in practice?
First, he said, the card functions as a vehicle for donations, through the transfer of a small percentage of each purchase to an Israeli charity of the card-holder's choice, at no additional cost.
According to Dobuler, there are currently 13 charities from which to choose, including the Jewish National Fund, Meir Panim, which assists the needy, and One Family Fund, which aids victims of terrorism. An additional 25 are in the process of board approval. The goal, he said, is to establish a wide network that includes environmental organizations and aliya assistance groups.
Card-members can support up to five organizations at a time, but can easily replace charities online within a matter of minutes. Dobuler and Landau estimate that within the next couple of months, there will be about 40 charities in partnership with the card.
The way it works, Dobuler went on, is that with each dollar spent, the card-member receives a point toward discounts on trips to Israel. At present, the benefits include frequent flyer miles on El Al, discounted lodging and upgrades at the Dan and Sheraton hotels in Israel, discounts on Budget rental cars, and other deals outside of Israel on domestic travel, electronics, furniture and Judaica.
They said they are negotiating an agreement with a series of companies to award card-members double the amount of points, as well as double the percentage of their purchases to their determined charities. Called "Partners in Solidarity," this program will include museums, restaurants, supermarkets and Judaica shops, and is scheduled to go into effect next year. Dobuler and Landau hope that the program will help support shops both on both sides of the Atlantic.
"In Israel, we're looking at merchants who may interest tourists on their visits to the country, such as restaurants or Judaica shops. In America, we're trying to establish agreements with local grocery stores and others who cater to the Jewish community," said Landau in a phone conversation from his New York office.
Solidarity, one swipe at a time
By JASON SILBERMAN
Just when it seems that the Jewish world has run out of fund-raising techniques, two 20-something entrepreneurs have come up with a novelty. The innovation: a credit card enabling consumers to donate to Israel-related charities, while earning points toward trips to the Holy Land and other enticements.
It is the brainchild of Zev Dobuler and Menachem Landau, who met in Jerusalem when they were in their teens - through a youth group for English-speaking immigrants - after their families made aliya from the United States.
After growing up in Israel and serving in the IDF, the friends left the country and opened an office in Long Island, Dobuler's original home, to try and turn their dream into a reality. They contacted the Advantage Consultant Group, a top credit-card consultant company, which was able to help them forge their idea into a viable business. That was three years ago.
On a return visit to Jerusalem earlier this month, Dobuler spoke to the Jerusalem Post about the enterprise, the HAS Advantage Card, which - in conjunction with Visa and US Bank - became available to the public last week.
"We saw that there were many people, though not ready to pack up and move to Israel, who wanted to support the country in any way they could," Dobuler explained over breakfast in the center of town. "We thought that if people could support Israel just by going shopping - and take a step closer to visiting the country in person - they would go for it. Everyone was getting into 'affinity' cards, so we figured, why not for Israel?"
This, he said, was the idea behind the card. How does it work in practice?
First, he said, the card functions as a vehicle for donations, through the transfer of a small percentage of each purchase to an Israeli charity of the card-holder's choice, at no additional cost.
According to Dobuler, there are currently 13 charities from which to choose, including the Jewish National Fund, Meir Panim, which assists the needy, and One Family Fund, which aids victims of terrorism. An additional 25 are in the process of board approval. The goal, he said, is to establish a wide network that includes environmental organizations and aliya assistance groups.
Card-members can support up to five organizations at a time, but can easily replace charities online within a matter of minutes. Dobuler and Landau estimate that within the next couple of months, there will be about 40 charities in partnership with the card.
The way it works, Dobuler went on, is that with each dollar spent, the card-member receives a point toward discounts on trips to Israel. At present, the benefits include frequent flyer miles on El Al, discounted lodging and upgrades at the Dan and Sheraton hotels in Israel, discounts on Budget rental cars, and other deals outside of Israel on domestic travel, electronics, furniture and Judaica.
They said they are negotiating an agreement with a series of companies to award card-members double the amount of points, as well as double the percentage of their purchases to their determined charities. Called "Partners in Solidarity," this program will include museums, restaurants, supermarkets and Judaica shops, and is scheduled to go into effect next year. Dobuler and Landau hope that the program will help support shops both on both sides of the Atlantic.
"In Israel, we're looking at merchants who may interest tourists on their visits to the country, such as restaurants or Judaica shops. In America, we're trying to establish agreements with local grocery stores and others who cater to the Jewish community," said Landau in a phone conversation from his New York office.