NEW YORK – More than 200 supporters of Teach NYS, a nonpartisan organization advocating for equitable funding in New York nonpublic schools, honored Cal Nathan, Morris Tabush, and Tamar and Ben Blumenthal, and applauded the groups $450 million in additional funding for its schools during the organization’s inaugural dinner last night which took place at Upstairs at the Pennsy.
More than a dozen state legislators – including Senator Todd Kaminsky, Senator Shelley Mayer, Senator Michael Gianaris, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal and Assemblyman Dan Quart – attended the dinner to show their support for the day school and yeshiva community and the work that Teach NYS is doing.
The evening honored Cal Nathan, a founding executive board member who has been involved in the organization since its inception. Nathan has lent his political relationships and communal contacts to help the organization grow and become the leading voice for Jewish day schools in New York. He is the founder of iDEKO Productions and Allseated.com, a partner at iDEKOgov and a founding investor in TowerSec. He sits on the boards of Steer, a driverless parking technology company, and Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR). He resides in Woodmere with his wife and children.
Morris Tabush received the organization’s Activist of the Year award in recognition for his many years of dedication, passion and conviction in working with Teach NYS to solve the tuition crisis. He plays a vital role in building and growing the organization’s lay leadership base. Tabush is the founder and president of the Tabush Group. He resides in Brooklyn with his wife and children.
Tamar and Ben Blumenthal received the organization’s Young Leadership Award in recognition for their exemplary efforts in mobilizing young families to get involved in the organization’s efforts. A true powerhouse on the Upper West Side, the Blumenthals have hosted parlor meetings in their home, Shabbat meals with community members and Teach NYS staff, arranged speeches in local Shuls, and meetings with heads of schools and community influencers. Tamar is currently pursuing her doctorate at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology and Ben is the founder and principal of Noah & Co. The Blumenthals reside on the Upper West Side with their two young sons.
“This has been a tremendous year for Teach NYS. We have delivered record results for our schools and community. We are grateful to Cal, Morris, Tamar and Ben, who have time and time again, shown their steadfast support for Teach NYS and our mission to solve the tuition crisis in our day schools and yeshivas. Their unwavering support, passion and contributions help enable our organization’s success,” said Teach Advocacy Network Executive Director Maury Litwack. “At last night’s dinner, we celebrated our successes and recognized the work that still needs to be done in order to fix this pressing issue for our community. There is still much to do, and we encourage all parents to get involved.”
Teach NYS, a division of the Teach Advocacy Network, was founded in 2013 to advocate for equitable government funding in New York nonpublic schools. It has secured an additional $450 million in funding for day schools, which is used to increase security, enhance education and defray higher tuition costs. In 2018, it championed a historic pilot program to begin providing Kosher and Halal meals to students enrolled in both public and nonpublic schools in New York City. Currently, more than 40 day-schools and yeshivas receive government funding through Teach NYS. For more information, visit https://teachadvocacy.org/newyork/.