Campaign down $350,000

The down economy has caused increased urgent needs and shortages in the Jewish community locally and around the world as more Jews — all ages from children to the elderly, singles and families — become desperate for basic services. EDITOR’S NOTE: As the Federation goes into the Feb. 21 Super Sunday phone-a-thon, the 2010 annual Campaign was down $350,000 — almost 25 percent less than raised last year, which in itself was a down year. The amount is three-four times as much as raised in Super Week phone-a-thons in good years.

Due to the severity of the problem and potential effect on the entire community, we are devoting a portion of the Front Page to open letters to the community from some Federation leaders.

The economy has hit everyone hard. At the Federation, our phones ring daily from community members asking for help. The stories are endless. For over 50 years I have sung the praises of the Jewish Federation and their life saving work, but it was this year that I truly understood the value of a strong Federation.

Because of our endowments, bequests, and campaign strength we were able to continue most of the programs in our community that help those in need. A down campaign at the end of 2009 scared us all that we might not be able to help those in need. We cut the Federation budget to the bone, scaled down on staff and readjusted our employees salaries to be able to focus on the needs of our local Jewish community.

Our Koved Fund which is administered by Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services and funded through the Federation has helped over 3,500 people to date (since the budget year started in July).

We have kept lights on, food in people’s refrigerators, given them gas money to look for jobs, provided both medical and dental emergency assistance and even made sure, “once we knew” that the pregnant Jewish sick mom who was sleeping in her car, was given the care that she needed and a place to sleep at night.

We feed the hungry

Our “ONE CAN” Make a difference campaign filled the kosher food pantry many times over with canned goods. Ensuring that people had food to eat, was definitely a priority at the Federation this year. A mid-year report from the Neighborly Care Network ( an agency receiving a Federation allocation to serve kosher meals in our community ) reported that from June – November of 2009 6,712 meals were served to 87 unduplicated clients at Benjamin Tower. In addition they reported serving an additional 62 persons a day a kosher meal. Food is sustenance.

It warms my heart to know that this winter, when things were so tough for so many, and so cold, our Federation provided warm homes for seniors throughout the world, Jewish programming and enrichment which may not sound so important, but when your whole life has changed, when you have nothing – no job, no food, or just widowed, it’s nice to know that some things don’t change and that there are people to counsel you, to embrace you, to keep you social and to care about you. That’s what your Federation dollar does.

We help repair the world

And then of course, there was the crisis in Haiti. If you were watching television the first few days of that horrific earthquake, over and over again it was repeated how Israel was the first on the ground providing a make shift hospital with up to the minute equipment, rescue teams, food, clothing, shelter. Like so many other times before, whether it was Hurricane Katrina, tsunamis, the crisis in Argentina etc. — our national system, The Jewish Federations of North America in conjunction with our overseas arms of the Jewish Agency, the American Joint Distribution Committee and World ORT were there to provide and support those in need. Once again doing what we do best in good and bad times, Saving Lives. With a strong reach worldwide we can act immediately in a crisis anywhere in the world. But you need to keep the system strong.

We partner with Israel and olim

Our Federation system has partnered with the people of Israel, assisting in bringing them home from Ethiopia, home from the former Soviet Union, home from Argentina and from all places around the world. But not only have we brought them home, for so many, we have saved their lives, absorbed them, educated them, fed them, housed them and gave them a life worth living and in turn they have become the diverse and strong fabric of our homeland, Israel.

We are active here, and nationally

And finally, the Federation partners with our agencies, temples and synagogues to bring leadership programming, oversight, structure and community long range planning.

We are a strong voice in Washington, D.C. due to the number of active donors we present from each of our Federations.

Together, donors from the Federations and federated communities across North America represent a large enough number of voters to get the attention of legislators. That is why we ask each member in a household to make a gift in their own name.

We represent the needs of our seniors, including those with disabilities and those unable to provide for themselves, and our youth of all ages — although, we are not a political organization.

The stronger Federation is, the more we can help

As the third largest charity in the world raising over 1 billion dollars annually – we have an incredible story to be proud of — one of rescue, relief and Jewish continuity. Federation is YOU and ME. The stronger our Federation is locally, the MORE we can do both locally and overseas. But it needs EVERYONE’S support.

We exist to make our Jewish community and Jewish people stronger — both those involved in the community, and those who, for whatever reason, choose to stay on the sidelines.

Regardless of which category you fall in, the question is will we be there to provide support and services when you or your family members need us and the network of humanitarian and social service agencies and institutions that the Annual Campaign helps fund?

The answer literally depends on each and every one of us.

Looking back on the 50-plus years many of us have been involved, I have often wondered what the people we served would have done if not for Federation. Federation has been the last home for many of the years.

Help us be there, when we are needed

Our hope is that no Jew in need will ever have to find out what not having a Federation and its charitable network would mean.

If you have not made your gift yet for the 2010 Annual Campaign — don’t wait. Help us help others now.

Call the Jewish Federation at 530-3223 or go to our website www. jewishpinellas.org and make your pledge on our secured server.