New Year, New Me 

Ever since my late teens and into my twenties, this motto "New Year, New Me" echoes loudly in my mind this time of year. I'm both a terribly sentimental and superstitious person, so New Year's also tends to elicit my most ambitious activity seen all year round. It's simple enough most of the time. Work out more. Be a better friend, sister, daughter. Do more of what I enjoy. Give back. And then some. And so propelling through January, driven by this motivation, I've been trying to do the normal, day-to-day stuff with a little more umph, a little more purpose. I'm kidding myself, aren't I?

 'I love you like a love song, baby…  

Valentine's Day is more than a month away, but I am hating on love a little early this year.

Love songs are like audible reminders of lovers past. If I hear a song that frequented the radio waves while I was dating a certain guy, it sticks. I will always think of him years later when I hear that song. Just like Selena Gomez's Love You Like a Love Song, it's painfully hard to forget.

If only our senses and memory triggers were that strong when meeting and assessing new potential mates. I knew I had the topic for my next Oy article when I found myself re-dating.

 Great Jewish NFL moments this season  

There are not too many great Jewish NFL moments to write about, the highlight being Adam Podlesh's two-point conversion. Most of our great Jewish NFLers are Offensive Linemen (we are not complaining). Here is how everyone checked out.

 Young Adult Engagement and Philanthropy: An Event Model that Works 

Those of us working with young adults know all too well the many challenges of attracting this demographic to fundraising events. We constantly look for new ideas, venues, speakers and incentives. Then we use facebook, twitter, email, websites and more to market the event, with the hope that people don't ignore us. We check our registration lists incessantly and pray that people show up. We try to explain the cause in an effective way and hope people understand. We review each aspect of the event so it delivers in hopes that participants will enjoy and bring their friends in the future. Sound familiar?

If you've felt this way and are looking for a single event that can draw hundreds of young adults in support of the community then read on, because in Chicago, we've spent five years building an event that thousands of young Jews know about and attend each year.