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Fiscal Year End Appeal

Dear Federation Members and Friends,

I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that the Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut’s fiscal year ends on June 30, 2022. If you have not had the chance to support us this year or would like to increase your gift, please do so now by clicking HERE! 


Your Federation is the home office and lead voice of the Jewish Community in Western and Northwestern CT. As such, we support and stand up for the Jewish community, its values and for all of the people in our Region. Here are a few examples of our work and how we uniquely make an impact:

  1. Supporting our Jewish Institutions. We elevate and serve the needs of all of our constituent Jewish institutions. We believe that we are all better together. In everything we do, we highlight and support the good work of all the synagogues, religious institutions, Jewish organizations, clergy and lay leadership in our Federation communities.

  2. Financial Support. We provide grants, allocations and other financial support to an amazing variety of individuals and organizations in our community, including Jewish day and synagogue schools, Jewish campers, local Jewish and secular organizations, Israeli social service organizations, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Joint Distribution Committee, students studying in Israel and in American universities, and Jewish community members in need.

  3. Events and Programs. We provide Jewish education and social programs that offer enrichment, community building and just plain fun. In the past year alone, highlighted by our Yom HaShoah, Women’s Seder and Campaign Kickoff Programs, well over one thousand people have participated in our programming, either in person or on Zoom

  4. Legislative and Political Leadership. The Federation, through JFACT, a nonprofit organization founded by all of the Connecticut Jewish Federations, furthers its mission by engaging in political advocacy and leadership. This year we worked to increase funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and helped to organize a very successful trade mission to Israel led by Governor Ned Lamont.

  5. Support for Israel. The Federation proudly takes a lead role in mobilizing community support for Israel and in helping others to understand Israel and the challenges it faces from its neighbors. We were honored to have Ambassador Meron Reuben, Consul General of Israel to New England, address our community as part of our Campaign Kickoff event in October.

  6. Combatting Antisemitism. We stand up for the Jewish community and support victims of Antisemitism whether it occurs in Waterbury, Southbury, Danbury, Newtown or at UConn. In Connecticut, our Jewish Federations organized a “Shine a Light on Antisemitism” program that lasted for the eight days of Chanukah to raise attention to the growing impact of Antisemitism.

  7. Jewish Communal Security. We have been taking a lead role in an educating our community about the increasing need for security for quite some time. However, this year, the Federation put its money with our mouth is. Your Federation, together with the Jewish Federations of Greater New Haven, Greater Stamford and Greenwich, contracted with SCN to provide us with a full-time, highly trained professional Regional Security Advisor. Mike Shanbrom has been on the job for six months, and I am proud to say that our community’s Jewish leadership is embracing the opportunity to upgrade the security of our institutions.

  8. Crisis Response. Your Federation is in the business of responding to crises. Whether it is an attack on Israel, a hostage taking at a synagogue in Colleyville or a mass shooting targeting Black people in Buffalo, our community can look to us to provide a quick response that helps articulate the Jewish community’s perspective in a crisis. Perhaps the best example, however, is the response to the war in Ukraine. The national Federation system, with our relationship with the Joint Distribution Committee and the Jewish Agency, was in a uniquely good position to provide immediate help to Ukrainian refugees (both Jewish and non-Jewish) escaping to neighboring countries. So far, Federations across North America have raised more than $60,000,000 to support that effort. I thank the many of you who have contributed to our Ukraine Crisis Fund.


I hope this letter helps to demonstrate the importance of the Federation to the Jewish community and that the Federation deserves your support. Please consider making a gift so that we can close our fiscal year on a high note.

 

If you wish to discuss your gift, to learn more about the Federation or to provide any feedback or advice, please feel free to contact me. My email address is gjones@jfed.net and my cell number is 860.922.7200. Thank you.

Click HERE to donate! 

 

Sincerely,

Gary D. Jones

Chief Executive Officer 

203-267-3177 Ext. 304 

gjones@jfed.net