by Howard Reiter & Jody Ellant, Annual Campaign Co-Chairs
There is an old joke, that there is nothing more reliable than the Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign. In fact, many borscht belt comedians have been heard telling variations of a quip about some Jewish people who are marooned on a desert Island. One worries to the other that they will be lost forever and the other comments, “Don’t worry I haven’t made my pledge to the Federation yet this year, they’ll find us!”
In addition to being a somewhat humorous punchline, the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign is the singular most import philanthropic engine continuing to power our Jewish Community. This year’s Campaign slogan is “HERE FOR GOOD”.
We are proud to be HERE to lead this historic enterprise for the second year. With the incredibly overwhelming generosity of our Jewish Community during the 2021 campaign, we have done GOOD by raising more than $2.4 million, under the most challenging of circumstances. We were moved by the donors who stepped up to ensure that, even in the midst of a global pandemic, the Jewish Federation would continue to be able to provide essential support to its Community Agencies and programs, as well as to its national and global partners.
With our team of incredibly devoted volunteers and tireless professional leaders, we continue to be HERE working hard to provide many opportunities to connect you, a valued member of the New Haven Jewish Community, to the GOOD work of the Jewish Federation. In continuing to chair the Campaign, it is our goal to raise enough funds to meet the needs of our constituent agencies and to be impactful on our Community.
In this pandemic era, programs may be in person or they may be virtual, but they still bring together our Community. We may write, we may call or we may zoom together, but regardless of how we connect, we are forever grateful to you for your support of our Community and hope that this year, 5782, you will continue to be HERE and do GOOD by joining us in helping others.
As we begin the 2022 Campaign, while buoyed by the heartening results of last year, we acknowledge that there is still much pandemic induced economic and social uncertainty. Yet, we know for certain, that our Community will continue to need our support—your support—more than ever.
If you are not currently involved, there is always room for more on the “Island’. If you would like to become more involved with the Jewish Federation’s activities within our Community, please reach out to Amy Holtz, Chief Development Officer, aholtz@jewishnewhaven.org to find out the multitude of ways in which you can be HERE FOR GOOD, and make a difference.
L'shanah tova! — with wishes for a happy, healthy, safe and restorative year.