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During one day of her summer internship with OneFamily Fund, Rivki Dobin of Highland Park met Hila, a 32-year-old Israeli woman who was injured in December 2008 when a missile fell outside her kitchen window in Netivot.

Hila's wounds became infected when she was released prematurely from the hospital to make room for soldiers hurt in Operation Cast Lead. But instead of lamenting her multiple surgeries, Dobin recalled how all the upbeat Hila could talk about that day in New York City was how happy she was with OneFamily's assistance.

It wasn't the only time this summer that Dobin learned the importance of open communication. Admittedly shy in the past, Dobin had to embrace duties like cold calling businesses and delegating responsibilities amongst her peers as one of four interns who organized OneFamily's upcoming Labor Day festival in Highland Park.

"It has made me open up and realize there are things that are more important than being afraid to talk to people," Dobin said of the internship.

OneFamily will hold a day of carnival games, sports, arts and crafts, and live music at "All County OneFamily Fun Day" on Monday, Sept. 7 (rain date Sunday, Sept. 13) from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Grove 4 in Donaldson Park (entrance at South Second Avenue and Riverview Avenue). Admission is $18 individual, $36 per family, and $100 per family with patron status, with all proceeds to help victims of terror in Israel rebuild their lives.

As the organization's first-ever summer interns, Dobin, Sarah Bond of Elizabeth, and Chani Kaslow and Ariella Gottesman of Teaneck worked at OneFamily's Teaneck office, with the goal of acquiring the skills to run a successful charity event.

"It's an experience of personal growth for them, and they've certainly met the challenge and appreciated it," said Elissa Sce, OneFamily's director of marketing and education as well as the interns' supervisor this summer.

Besides receiving training in the art of fundraising, the interns got to meet terror victims like Hila to remind them of the meaning behind their efforts.

"Even though you don't hear about it in the newspaper so much, [terrorism] is still going on [in Israel]," Dobin said.

Dobin, 20, is studying psychology at Stern College in Manhattan and considering a career in music therapy, which is a field that can potentially help terror victims overcome their emotional wounds, she said.

Bond, 19, is beginning Touro College in Manhattan this fall and plans to study business, with an initial focus on marketing. That made planning a large event this summer a particularly valuable experience for her, she said, with being able to help Israel as an added bonus.

"I'm very passionate about Israel in general, so it was really great to be able to combine those two things," Bond said of using her interest in marketing to benefit the Jewish community.

Sce said that she used a hands-off approach with the interns, as they chose the location of Highland Park, recruited sponsors, and organized all other details for the program.

"They've been really totally responsible for this event," Sce said.

Already in the process of developing a Women's Division in Bergen County, OneFamily has the goal of forming a volunteer corps throughout New Jersey, Sce said, specifically targeting Bergen, Mercer, Middlesex, Passaic, and Essex counties.

OneFamily marketed the Highland Park event to synagogues and other organizations of all denominations, Sce said, because the purpose is to garner united support for Israel within the Jewish community regardless of one's level of observance.

"This Highland Park event is a grassroots community event," Sce said. "It's really for people to come out locally and have a great day by learning about the organization and having fun as a family, and connecting with the Jewish community."

The program will include a 3-on-3 boys basketball tournament (ages 15 and older), softball, relay races, face painting, a raffle, and a magic show. Pizza, snacks, and refreshments will be sold. All families that register by Sept. 1 receive five free raffle tickets. To register for the basketball tournament or festival, call (646) 289-8600 ext. 202 or email elissa@onefamilyfund.org.