Start-Up Nonprofit Feeds Over 1,500 Holocaust Survivors Locked Down in NY
With 40 percent of Holocaust survivors in New York City living in poverty, a Long Island entrepreneur is creating ways to raise funds for their care during the COVID-19 lock-down.
In November, when Evan Rosenberg started his “333.charity” organization, there were an estimated 40,000 survivors living in the NYC area. In part through the pandemic’s horrendous impact on elder care homes, that number has diminished to fewer than 36,000 people.
Focusing on survivors living in poverty, the 34-year-old Rosenberg began by selling merchandise to raise funds. With the onslaught of COVID-19 in the city, he switched gears to support a UJA-Federation of New York program that feeds Holocaust survivors living in poverty.
Rosenberg brings 15 years of restaurant industry experience to the charity. When he held a Zoom fitness class fundraiser, for example, he nabbed celebrities — including NBA star Isaiah Thomas and NFL player Julian Edelman — to make cameo appearances. That class raised $12,000 for survivors.
On Rosenberg’s forearm, the number “333” is tattooed. The family story behind this number, said Rosenberg, was the inspiration for his efforts.