DollarDaily.org Revolution Continues, Benefitting Shluchim Worldwide

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One year since it first launched to help Chabad shluchim all over the world with automated daily $1 donations from a pool of dedicated givers, DollarDaily.org is closing in on the 500 mark, a milestone it hopes to achieve before Yom Kippur. 

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DollarDaily.org is the brainchild of Toms River businessman Yosef Shidler, co-owner of CJ Studios with his wife Sarah.  Seeing the success of the Daily Giving website, which contributes the accumulated dollar donations from all of its subscribers to a single organization each day, Shidler realized that the model could be a lifeline to shluchim, many of whom face crushing financial hardships in order to keep their Chabad houses open to serve the public.  

“I know so many shluchim who are stranded in the middle of nowhere and are struggling for food and funds to clothe their children,” said, Shidler who is also the editor of the book Amazing Miracle Stories for Kids, “Some Chabad houses may hold a successful fundraiser once or twice a year, but there’s always a point when they’re strapped for funds.” 

The concept of making tzedakah a fundamental part of every day was a straightforward one.  After signing up for an annual or monthly subscription, which includes a nominal processing fee, donors sit back and relax, knowing that they were fulfilling the mitzvah of giving $1 to tzedakah every day without any other effort on their part. Sweetening the deal, donors receive a daily email that lets them know which featured Chabad house, shul, school or camp was the recipient of that day’s accumulated donations.   

Shidler opened DollarDaily.org last September, giving donors a chance to join the tzedakah train that he was setting in motion, with Chabad of Beverly Grove, California receiving a $77 donation on October 1st when the website went fully live, with 77 donors. DollarDaily.org has grown rapidly since that time, with $94,514 in funds distributed over the past year to beneficiaries, all of which are listed on the site’s recipient calendar.   

Boro Park businessman Heshy Biegeleisen was one of the first donors to sign up with DollarDaily.org. As someone who travels frequently on business both locally and abroad, Biegeleisen appreciates the financial sacrifices that shluchim make, which can be as significant as having to decide between buying winter coats for their children or hosting a leibidic Shabbos for guests. 

“Yiddishkeit today is all about the shluchim,” said Biegeleisen.  “What they do for their communities and for travelers like myself is amazing – actually amazing would be an understatement.” 

As each new donor signs on, DollarDaily.org’s impact continues to grow, with beneficiary Chabad houses receiving increasingly larger contributions.  But the beauty of the system is its inherent simplicity, explained Rabbi Aron Lieberman, director of synagogue at Inverray Chabd in Lauderhill, Florida. 

DollarDaily.org is a beautiful project,” said Rabbi Lieberman.  “It allows you to help shluchim in a meaningful way, without feeling it in your pocketbook.” 

As of September 28th, DollarDaily.org had 473 donors, which translates to $172,645 in distributions for the current year, but Shidler hopes to push that number higher.  Positioned as we are now during Aseres Yemei Teshuva, he is aiming for at least 500 donors by Yom Kippur, which would add up to a minimum of an additional $9,855 to be distributed over the next year. 

“It’s hard to imagine a better time than now to sign up with DollarDaily.org,” noted Shidler.  “In addition to effortlessly giving tzedakah daily, you are also supporting the Rebbe’s shlichus around the world, uniting Jews from all walks of life and grabbing extra zechuyos before Yom Kippur – all that for just $1 a day. – it just doesn’t get any better than this.”

Dollardaily.org 


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