Across state lines and close to home, the singles scene concept is breaking new ground.
More than ever, JDate members who help communities by volunteering are also helping themselves on the dating front. The concept of tikkun olam, or repairing the world, attracts hundreds of singles in the Jewish online dating community.
Their shared goal is volunteering for nonprofit organizations and supporting Jewish causes and programs.
Sparks Networks, which owns and operates JDate.com, kicked off the “give back” notion in 2002, spurred by a strong and growing membership base. That same year, Gail Laguna joined the Sparks family as vice president of corporate communications.
Laguna says that Sparks created the give back concept as an “added value” for JDate members, to fuel their involvement in the larger Jewish community.
“Not everyone is interested in going to a bar and buying drinks,” she says. “Many folks in the Jewish singles scene are ultimately looking to find a soul mate who shares their religious upbringing and values.”
The novel approach thus shifts the focus of the singles scene away from a high-pressure, solo first dating experience to a more congenial, collective one. “It’s the ultimate ice-breaker,” Laguna said, with gains for participants and Sparks. “You get the word out about the organization and, at the same time, provide the organization with participant and volunteer support.”
JDate volunteers assist with an array of activities, from setup to cleanup. Since 2000, there have been several give-back events in the Bay Area, including the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival and To Life! a Jewish cultural street carnival.
Nationally, JDate partners with United Jewish Communities for these activities. “There are between one and five give-back events each month across the country,” Laguna said.
JDate successfully crossed borders while working with the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Registry. Through email and designated special sections, JDate was active in recruiting donors for the national registries.
And then, there was a match. “We had a JDate member save a life in 2003,” Laguna says.
Jay Feinberg, founder of the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Registry adds, “As a transplant survivor myself, I can personally attest to the importance of this [JDate tikkun olam] mission.”
Also in the pipeline is this fall’s Walk for Team Hope, sponsored by the Huntington’s Disease Society of America Area. JDate is also looking into sports and arts Buddy Days and a Child’s Day in May.
Anyone interested in volunteering opportunities, or even just dating, can find out more at http://newscenter.jdate.com/newscenter/givingback.htm.