Profile: A Celebration of Life, Love, and Giving, Always: The Silverstein’s Generosity Lives on Through COHI’s Programs

From left: Mindy Levy (COHI Board of Directors member), Michael, Rita, Peppy, Marilyn, Bobb at Peppy's 90th Birthday party (Photo courtesy Rita Levin)

Pep and Jerry Silverstein knew how it felt to struggle.  Jerry fled the pogroms in Russia and landed at Ellis Island at the age of seven (or thereabouts; his birth certificate was lost, so he never knew his real age).  When Pep was in her late teens, her father died, and she worked hard to support her mother and four siblings.  Neither was a stranger to suffering.

As Pep and Jerry raised their five children, they began to help ease the suffering of many people through their charitable donations.  They focused on giving to organizations that promoted education, defended the rights of oppressed people, and provided health care to families around the world.  They taught their children by example, imparting their love of helping others to their sons and daughters.

After Pep and Jerry passed away, their children got together to choose an organization to support with a final gift.  They all agreed that a donation to COHI would be a perfect way to celebrate their parents' rich lives and generous spirits.

Four generations of the family at Peppy's 90th Birthday party (Photo courtesy Rita Levin)

Pep and Jerry would be moved and inspired if they could see the ways their gift will be used by COHI.  They would be delighted to meet a new mother whose birth was aided by one of COHI's many programs, or to witness a health care workshop led by COHI’s teachers.  Most of all, they would admire the self-sufficiency that COHI makes possible for women struggling around the world.  Their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are proud to carry on their legacy of generosity by making this gift.

Pep and Jerry taught this by example:  Give always, and when you can't give money, give love.  Their family considers this donation to COHI a gift of both.

How YOU can help: Learn about how you and your family can give to COHI. Contact info[at]cohintl.org to give in someone’s honor, or to include COHI in your bequest or trust.

Help Fundraise

Left: The Bike Adventure takes off as Roz Hunter leads a COHI Fundraiser through the streets of Philadelphia. Right: One of the stops focused on writing letters to Congress and President regarding women’s health and safety.

Volunteer your time and energy towards a benefit for the work COHI does. Our latest creative fundraiser this past weekend was a big hit!

How YOU can help: Host a fundraiser and use our guide (PDF) to help you through the process.

Volunteer as our PR Coordinator

COHI’s volunteer Public Relations Coordinator position is open and we’d love you to fill it! We’re looking for someone who can make a COHImittment of 5-10 hours per week to support communication efforts about COHI and our programs. Our ideal candidate is someone with experience or an interest in communications and writing. We’re looking for someone with an editing eye, a creative spirit and an organized mind to keep COHI’s communications frequent and engaging.

This might just be the volunteer opportunity that you've been looking for. Click here to read a full description of the position.

Help Online

• Join COHI’s Facebook presence here and spread the word amongst your Facebook friends.
• iGive.com: Shop online at over 700 brand name stores and a portion of each purchase will be donated to COHI. Your stores, your cause, their money.
• GoodSearch.com: On the GoodSearch website, select COHI, search the web normally, and COHI gets funds. Yes, it's that easy!
• Advertise here! Ad space is available on our monthly e-newsletter. Reach over 4,000 COHI contacts for just pennies a day! Contact info[at]cohintl.org for more information.
• Forward this email to a friend and ask them to join our mailing list! Word of mouth is the best way to tell a friend of the important work COHI does!

Help Travel

Traveling to a COHI project country? Offer to help transport donated items, visit a project or help evaluate our programs! With your help, you’ll receive a tax-deductible letter for your travel.

Donate your Frequent Flyer miles for a COHI project member’s travel! Contact info[at]cohintl.org for details.

Help by Shopping for COHI Goods or by Donating Needed Project Equipment

Items available for purchase from the COHI Bazaar. Left: Specially made COHI signboards from Tanzania (many unique designs available). Right: Messenger bag with COHI logo made out of soft canvas with patterned highlights.

Visit our COHI Bazaar page for great COHI items.

Donate used but needed items such as a digital camera, LCD projector, gloves, stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, etc. (see the full list here).