Press Release
EDEN PRAIRIE, MN., Nov. 1 – NECHAMA – Jewish Response to Disaster, a voluntary organization that provides cleanup and recovery assistance to communities affected by natural disaster, has named Bill Driscoll Jr. as its new Director of Operations and Volunteerism. Driscoll brings with him six years of experience in disaster response and recovery management. Most recently, Driscoll served as the US Operations Director for All Hands Volunteers, Inc. where he led the expansion of US programs for All Hands.
“NECHAMA is extremely fortunate to have a person of Bill’s considerable skills and expertise join us as we enhance and expand our ability to help underserved survivors of natural disasters throughout the Continental U.S.,“ said NECHAMA’s Executive Director, Jim Stein. “Bill joins NECHAMA at a critical time as it continues to grow in its ability to respond to disasters and become a truly national organization.”
Driscoll said. “I am honored and excited to be a part of NECHAMA. Having partnered alongside NECHAMA, during previous disaster responses, I am keenly aware of their strong ability to engage volunteers of all faiths to make a difference in the lives of people affected by disaster.”
Driscoll, a native of Milton, MA, holds a degree in Communication from Boston College.
Some of you may remember NECHAMA’s blue 12 passenger van, that we have had for many years. Many of our volunteers have ridden in it to and from disaster sites, locally and across the country. What many of you may not know is that it was originally donated to us by our partners at Lutheran Disaster Response of Minnesota back in 2004. At the time, we did not have a van and their generous donation made a huge difference in our ability to respond. Recently, we in turn donated the van to Toys for Tots of Southeast Minnesota. Though it no longer served our purposes, it has taken on a 3rd life and is still out there, doing good works.