History and Culture

Celebrities for a Cause

December 2, 2025

by Megan Scauri

Some of the largest archival collections held at the American Jewish Historical Society are those of charitable and community-oriented organizations. Many of these got creative when it came to fundraising, and like today, one strategy was to turn to celebrities to bring attention to their causes. This makes for some fun surprises as we comb through our photographic collections – unexpected familiar faces pop up everywhere! So we thought we’d pull together photos of some of the more notable celebs, as they lent their time and talent to various organizations, causes, and fundraising efforts.

The Star Salute — The Stars Salute. Featuring Edie Adams, Victor Borge, Diahann Carroll, Maurice Chevalier, Kirk Douglas, Nanette Fabray, Helen Hayes, Fredric March, and Richard Tucker. To benefit the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, 1957. From UJA-Federation of New York collection (I-433).

Mike Wallace at a Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) Women’s Division event, c. 1950s. From Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) collection (I-363).

Joan Rivers, publicity photo for United Jewish Appeal-Federation Joint Campaign, undated. From United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York collection (I-433).

Jane Wyman, publicity photo for United Jewish Appeal-Federation Joint Campaign, undated. From United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York collection (I-433).

Child actor Shelley Bruce, who played the character of Little Orphan Annie in the Broadway musical “Annie,” laces up her shoes in preparation to participate in Joint Campaign’s Walk-A-Thon. Sandy the dog sits at her side. 1978. From the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York collection (I-433).

Women’s Division Campaign Chair Mrs. Jesse Asinof (far left) and Basil Rathbone present awards to Gloria Swanson, Imogene Coca, and Tallulah Bankhead during the Long Island – Westchester Women’s Federation Day held at the Hotel Astor. January 23, 1950. From the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York collection (I-433).

Actor Ossie Davis speaking at a UJA event, undated. From the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York collection (I-433).

Peter Yarrow and Harry Belafonte — Harry Belafonte and Peter Yarrow at a Civil Rights demonstration with the American Jewish Congress, 1965. American Jewish Congress records (I-77).

Group of demonstrators singing, Mary Travers, Peter Yarrow, Harry Belafonte, and Martin Luther King, Jr. pictured. 1965. From the American Jewish Congress records (I-77).

Molly Picon entertaining senior citizens, 1926. From the Molly Picon Papers (P-38).

Molly Picon USO — Molly Picon performing during a U.S.O. tour of camps in the United States during World War II, March 21, 1945. From the Molly Picon Papers (P-38).

Jerry Stiller works phones at Joint Campaign Dial-A-Thon, 1975. United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York collection (I-433).

Anna Meara and Jerry Stiller — Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller at the National Council of Jewish Women, New York Section, Spring Luncheon, May 8, 1980.

Hal Linden, Rita Moreno, and Morty Gunty at the Joint Campaign Dial-A-Thon, June 3, 1975. From the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York collection (I-433).

Virginia Snitow presenting a shofar to Barbara Walters as part of the Women’s Division, Mass Media Award, 1969. From the American Jewish Congress records (I-77).

Eddie Cantor poses with an oversized telephone while participating in UJA’s Person to Person fundraising event, May 28, 1957. From the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York collection (I-433).

Freedom festival for Soviet Jewry featuring Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary. — Freedom festival for Soviet Jewry featuring Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary, 1984. From the National Conference on Soviet Jewry Records (I-181A).

Megan Scauri

Megan has extensive experience working with rare books and special collections in academic libraries, as well as in the rare book trade and auction houses. Her professional focus has been primarily in rare Americana, while her academic background includes research on Italian linguistics and dialectology. In August 2021, Megan joined AJHS, where she oversees our library’s rare and general collections, as well as assisting patrons with reference and photoduplication requests.