Boca Raton, Florida resident Hannah Bentz is doing things a little differently when it comes to her Bat Mitzvah.
She is not having a reception or party, instead she is having a charity amateur jumping competition for the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA). Both her ceremony and the show will take place Saturday, November 6, 2010 at 4 p.m. at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Palm Beach, Florida. General Admission is FREE! If you live in the area please go and support Hannah.
Bentz’s Mitzvah Project combines her love for horses, which began on a vacation when she was 8, and her desire to raise money for the APDA. She competes on her Quarterhorse Appendix, Crystal. The pair jump in the Palm Beach County Horseman’s Association shows. Bentz has attended charity jumping shows, which are usually for professional riders. She wanted her event to be strictly for amateur riders such as herself.
We spoke to Hannah about her unusual Mitzvah Project and here’s what she said in her own words:
MM: Can you give us details of your Mitzvah Project?
HB: I am helping to organize a charity horse jumping competition. Teams of 3 riders will each jump a course on horseback. The team with the fastest times win. We are also having a VIP reception during the jumping event and selling tickets to attend the reception.
MM: Why did you decide to take on this particular project/charity?
HB: My mother is on the board of the APDA, and our Rabbi was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, so we are honoring him at the event. I have met several people with Parkinson’s Disease.
MM: Does your project have a start and end date, if so what are they?
HB: The event is on November 6, 2010, but hopefully people will continue to donate to the APDA. There was no start date, but we have been planning and working on it for months.
MM: In your own words, what does it mean to you to do a Mitzvah Project for your Bat Mitzvah?
HB: It means to help other people. We are becoming a son/daughter of the commandment, and we should be doing something to live up to that. We should be doing mitzvot regularly, but this is just a time to go above and beyond the norm.
MM: If it involves a donation, what are you doing to spread the word?
HB: I put together a sponsor packet that I distributed to potential sponsors. My family also sent out an email to everyone we know and we created a facebook page for the event. We also contacted the local newspapers and TV stations.
MM: For how long can people donate to this charity?
HB: Forever!
Mazel Tov to Hannah and her family and we are very proud of your decision to hold this charity event! Good luck with the competition, we hope you raise lots of money for APDA.
