Page 10 - Jewish News_April 2020

10A April 2020 FEDERATION NEWS

Ethan Zohn brings the reality to reality TV

By Andrea Eiffert, Teen and Family Program Coordinator
uring his recent visit to Sara- world, he connected with the Jewish with nothing more than
sota, CBS reality TV show community while he lived and played the bare essentials of
DSurvivor: Africa winner Ethan professional soccer in Zimbabwe. He who I am. Then I be-
Zohn shared more than just the chal- shared how fear and anxiety raked him came aware that this
lenges he faced as a Survivor: Africa when faced with his own mortality as knowledge of self is all
contestant in Kenya for 39 days with he battled cancer, twice, and how the that one needs to sur-
little more than the clothes on his back gift of bone marrow from his brother vive.”
and the hacky sack his father gave him led to the transplant that saved his life. You may be ask-
before passing away when Ethan was All of Zohn’s battles, both person- ing yourself how
just 14. al and on Survivor, led him on a jour- Zohn chose to use the
During two events on February ney to strength, optimism and humility, $1,000,000 cash prize
9, sponsored by The Jewish Federa- but really hit home during his time as a he received for being
tion of Sarasota-Manatee, Zohn also Survivor contestant in the jungle, with the sole survivor on the STEP (Shapiro Teen Engagement Program) and Hillel students
talked about how his conservative Jew- no worldly possessions and lots of time show. Well, he turned work together on Survivor team-building challenges led by Ethan Zohn

ish upbringing provided strength and for reflection. He said, “The interesting to his love of sports and leveraged the led by Zohn, in addition to an inspiring
guidance throughout his time on Survi- thing is that once all my distractions power of soccer to educate, inspire presentation during which he shared
vor, and how even halfway around the were taken away from me, I was left and mobilize at-risk youth in develop- his own Bar Mitzvah picture and heart-
ing countries to overcome their great- felt message empowering the teens and
est health challenges, be agents for Hillel students to be proud Jews. Sim-
change in their communities, and live one says, “Having the opportunity to
healthier, more productive lives. As co- interview Ethan and hear about his life
founder of Grassroot Soccer, Zohn’s was truly a memorable experience. We
investment helped create an adolescent are so fortunate to have a Federation
health organization that has graduated that adds so much to our community.”
more than two million at-risk youth What’s next for Ethan Zohn? Well,
in 50 countries. As demonstrated by at the time this article was written, he
his charitable work, volunteerism and was invited back to compete in a new
community involvement, Ethan be- season of Survivor: Winners at War,
lieves that education, advocacy and in- featuring Survivor winners from the
spiration are the most powerful ways to past 20 years. Zohn has yet to be elimi-
“heal the world” – tikkun olam. nated, with three episodes having aired
Event chair and huge Survivor fan as of now. What makes this competi-
Simone Knego took both the student tion so extraordinary for Zohn is his
and community presentations the ex- health. After being so sick with cancer
tra mile, creating themed décor meant and undergoing two stem cell trans-
to simulate the show’s tribal council plants, Zohn did not imagine just a
(imagine… fire pit and tiki torches!) few years ago that he would be healthy

Reality TV show Survivor: Africa winner Ethan Zohn with event chair Simone Knego

and moderating a fireside chat with enough again to compete in the game
Zohn. The student event featured Sur- he loves. Let’s wish Ethan well on his
vivor challenge team-building games way to sole survivor!
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