Teen’s Mitzvah Project to Fund Life-Saving Surgeries for Young Ethiopians

When Sophie Maurer was 10 years old, she took a trip to Ethiopia with a group of American, Ethiopian and Israeli Jews. Little did she know that this trip would spark a family philanthropic effort that has raised almost $45,000 for Muslim and Christian Ethiopian children who are in desperate need of life-saving surgeries.
Greg and Megan Maurer, Sophie’s parents, have a relationship with Selah, an organization in Israel dedicated to settling immigrants, and the director of its Ethiopian-Israeli operations, Micha Feldmann. Feldmann told the Maurers about a trip he was planning that would bring Israelis of Ethiopian origin back to the place of their exodus so many years ago. Sophie heard about the trip and insisted on going. While on the trip, the family was introduced to Dr. Rick Hodes, an American doctor and well-known humanitarian who has been providing aid in devastated areas of the world for decades. His first Ethiopian placement was to care for the olim; he ended up making Ethiopia his home. Dr. Hodes solicited for help, and Sophie answered his call. 
Afer meeting Dr. Hodes, Sophie felt something inside her and was inspired to act. 
“I saw pictures of kids and felt for them,” Sophie said. “I want to make their lives more successful, without limitations in the way they can function and do everyday activities. I felt that this was something I was meant to do.”
To kick off her mitzvah project, the Maurer’s helped Sophie bring Dr. Hodes to Indianapolis shortly after their return to host a fundraising event for a patient who needed spine surgery. The family raised $25,000 during that event. Dr. Hodes mentioned a second patient that needed heart surgery, and the family hosted an additional fundraiser online, bringing the total to $30,000. 
Sophie, now 13, started a Mitzvah project called “Help Sophie Save a Life.” Her most current fundraising effort is to help a young girl who needs scoliosis surgery. In lieu of Bat Mitzvah gifts, she asked her guests to donate. Through this project, Sophie has raised more than $14,500, and she is not done. 
“I feel grateful that I was able to do this,” Sophie said. “I never thought that I would be able to raise this much money, but with the help of the Indianapolis community I was successful.”
The “Help Sophie Save a Life” fund was set up through the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the leading global Jewish humanitarian organization. Megan says her family first learned about the JDC through the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, that has been supporting the organization for nearly 100 years. The Federation helps create connections to Israel and overseas, which is what inspired the Maurer’s trip to Ethiopia.
“The Federation led us to JDC, and JDC empowered Sophie to make this difference,” Greg said. Megan added, “Greg and I are fortunate to be able to partner with organizations like JDC and our Federation to give our kids opportunities to develop their causes.”
Sophie’s love and passion for giving and volunteerism strengthened as a result of her trip to Ethiopia, but the seeds were planted by Megan and Greg’s philanthropic teachings from a very young age. From those teachings, not only does she deeply understand the importance of helping others, but she also has the drive to put those thoughts into action. Sophie says she hopes to continue working with Dr. Hodes and broaden her efforts to solicit those outside of Indianapolis to support his good work. 
The Maurer family is thankful for the Indianapolis community, the Federation community, and the many people who have supported their efforts along the way. 
Visit https://donate.jdc.org/fundraiser/2566099 to learn how you can support Sophie’s cause.

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