By , Special to JTNews
Seattle activist Mark Schuster was recently appointed to the national board of directors for Mazon, a national nonprofit organization that allocates donations from the Jewish community to prevent and alleviate hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Schuster will represent the organization to the Pacific Northwest community, working to promote and advocate the charity’s mission. Mazon (“food” in Hebrew) raises funds principally from Jews nationwide who donate 3 percent of the cost of weddings, B’nai Mitzvah and other joyous events. Since its beginning, Mazon, a national nonprofit agency, has granted more than $23 million to emergency food providers, food banks and advocacy groups that seek long-term solutions to the issue of hunger.
“Mark is a tireless cheerleader for the social-justice passions he believes in”, said H. Eric Schockman, Ph.D., Executive director of Mazon. “We knew he could carry forward our message of hunger work into the communities of the Northwest.” Schuster’s appointment came after an extensive review by the Mazon board. He is also currently the Pacific Northwest Regional vice-chair, and associate national commissioner of the Anti-Defamation League.
“Mazon exemplifies how activism transforms into action which in turn produces very tangible results for people who are in real need.” said Schuster. “I look forward to helping the Northwest become a significant force in reducing the inexcusable levels of hunger in this world.”
Mazon was founded in 1986 to build a bridge between Jews who enjoy the blessings of abundance, and the millions of children and adults who are hungry, or who live at the very edge of hunger, each day. The nonprofit concern funds a variety of organizations: food banks and food pantries in inner cities and rural areas; kosher meals-on-wheels programs for homebound elderly people; multiservice centers that provide poor, hungry and homeless families with food, shelter and counseling; and state and national organizations that conduct research and education activities and work for the kind of public policies that can bring about long-term solutions to hunger.