For more than 75 years, the Jewish Federation of San Diego County has exemplified Tzedakah, our commitment to caring for Jews in need and making the world a better place.
2011-2012
Extend Your Reach
Jewish Federation of San Diego County
A Word from Steven J. Morris Take Another Look at the Jewish Federation As we launch this year’s Annual Campaign, I want to take a moment to write a personal note to you: our donors, our partners, our volunteers, and all of the important people who come together to support the work of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County. I came to Federation to realize a goal I’d set for myself for quite some time: Finding the best way to give back to my Jewish community. I truly believe that Federation is it. We have the reach and flexibility that allows us to impact so many people’s lives in so many ways. Talking with young adults at the San Diego Moishe House or being on the ground at the Sha’ar HaNegev Educational Village Arts Center construction site fills me with pride, and a profound sense of awe. You make these great things happen. I urge you to take another, closer look at Federation. No other organization is as singularly focused on strengthening our Jewish community, by collaborating with our community partners, donors, and volunteers. As a catalyzing force, we are ensuring that regardless of need or location — and sometimes before the general community is even aware of that need — Federation is there. This year, our mission is more critical than ever. The world is changing, and so are our community’s needs. As we continue building on our strengths, you can trust that Federation is listening and responding on your behalf to create change in effective and innovative ways. Learn more. Join us. Get involved. Be a part of our Federation family working together to improve the lives of Jewish people all around the world. The more you look into the work that Federation is doing, the more compelled you will feel to give your support. This I can assure you. It’s why our leadership, professional staff, and I are here throughout the year, working to increase the impact of each and every gift.
Doing a World of Good, Making a World of Difference Evolving to be more efficient and responsive to community needs, the Jewish Federation of San Diego County is applying new tactics and energy to the same, time-honored goal: building community, connecting people, and assisting those in need — here in San Diego, across the country, in Israel, and in over 70 countries around the world.
Sincerely,
Steven J. Morris, President & CEO
Steven J. Morris, President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County
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Jewish Federation of San Diego County
Jewish Federation of San Diego County
A History of Giving
Federation: Adapting, Transforming
The Jewish community has an established legacy of collective giving, of coming together to assist those in need. It’s been part of our history since the very beginning. Since 1936, it is the foundation on which the Jewish Federation of San Diego County was built.
To meet the evolving needs of the Jewish community in San Diego, Federation has created dynamic Centers of Excellence, individual entities dedicated to specific program areas. This allows for better allocation of funds and staff, clearer communication, and increased efficiency.
Whether there are Jews in need across the street, or across the globe, the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, and its family of community partners, are there with a helping hand. Federation supported programs nurture and sustain Jewish identity, and provide places where an energized Jewish community can grow and celebrate. This is only possible because of annual donations from people like you. Because you share our vision of a vibrant Jewish community that stretches around the world — our extended Jewish family.
Federation programs allow San Diego donors to have a significant impact here at home and around the world.
WARM HOMES Run by JDC’s Chesed in the Ukraine, Warm Homes is a program building community among Jewish elderly, combatting the isolation that frequently accompanies old age. Groups of 8 to 15 Jewish seniors meet twice a week to chat, sing, and recite poetry. The warmth they experience is palpable — and life-saving.
The Jewish Federation of San Diego County is staffed by a dedicated group of professionals and volunteers who act as a catalyzing force within the Jewish community, advocate for Jewish interests, and ensure continuity for Jewish people locally and abroad. It is the unique position of the Federation as a convener with an interconnected web of communication that allows us to identify, support, and grow new programs to meet the community’s changing needs. Wherever there are Jews in need, Federation finds them and finds a way to help.
GIVING, GENERATION TO GENERATION “I grew up in an environment in which I was always aware of the community’s extreme generosity. That sense of ongoing commitment and sense of responsibility to the Jewish community had a lasting impact on me. I believe that the next generation’s involvement in Federation will pass along these same ideals.” – Nathan Essakow, Donor
JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS CENTER
COMMUNITY PLANNING & INNOVATION CENTER
ISRAEL & OVERSEAS CENTER
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP CENTER
Community Innovation Fund Under the Community Planning & Innovation Center, but really woven throughout these various centers, is a new program developed specifically to identify, analyze, fund, and grow the Jewish community programs of the future. Non-profits and small programs are finding exciting new ways to engage and grow a strong, vibrant Jewish community here in San Diego, and with connections abroad. Candidate Programs Focus on One of Our Top Five Community Priorities: 1. Build a vibrant and involved Jewish community 2. Deepen connection to and responsibility for Israel, and overseas Jewish communities 3. Promote participation in Jewish education (formal and informal) 4. Strengthen organizations and build strong leadership 5. Expand the community’s role in caring for others
Moishe House San Diego “At the very first event I attended, which was a shabbat dinner, I experienced the warmest, friendliest welcome and very soon felt at home. I’ve met many of my closest friends through Moishe House and feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.“ – Jenna Zetisky, South African National, New San Diego Resident
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Jewish Federation of San Diego County
The Future of the San Diego Jewish Community is in Your Hands The future depends on donors like you, and the collective giving that is the hallmark of the annual community campaign. It is through this year’s campaign, and all those that came before it, that Federation is given the resources to discover, partner with, and grow the important programs assisting Jews around the world and right here in San Diego. Ability and Mission to Support the Best Programs Without Federation, many of our community’s most cherished programs might not be here at all. Smaller, less promoted, but worthy programs just beginning to show promise would struggle for resources. Through the power of Federation, new community-focused non-profits can get the funding they need to impact the San Diego community. The programs we all know and rely on (JCC, JFS, JAFI, Jewish Day Schools, World ORT, to name just a few) get what they need to continue their great work. Funds are delivered according to merit and need, while minimizing administrative overhead and fundraising costs associated with each individual program. Giving to Federation impacts all these programs, all at once.
One Gift Reaches Many Connecting San Diego with Israel, Helping Israel’s Neediest, Senior Care, Relief & Rescue , Support for New Immigrants, Connecting Young Adults, Children & Teens, Jewish Identity , Emergency Response, Community Building
Agility to Impact Communities in Need Donations to the Annual Campaign allow Federation to respond quickly and effectively to natural disasters, political unrest, and other real-time events as they happen, anywhere in the world. With assistance from Federation, IDF and JDC opened a field hospital in Minamisanriko, Japan to assist victims of the earthquake and tsunami. $2.7 million in assistance was made available to victims immediately after the devastating wild fires struck the Carmel area in Israel. Federation supported programs continue to provide support and medical care to those affected by the tornadoes that ravaged the south and midwest U.S. this spring, and we’re still on the ground in Haiti, helping to build a lasting infrastructure.
COLLECTIVE GIVING, SPECIFIC IMPACT “My connection to the Jewish community and to Israel is Federation. I know that it shares my values and that my donation to the Annual Campaign will be used for the causes and principles that I care about.” – Charles Shapiro, Donor
Sha’ar HaNegev EDUCATIONAL VILLAGE Yahel is a student at Sha’ar HaNegev High School in Southern Israel, a unique school that keeps students safe from missile attacks while achieving academic excellence, thanks in part to funding from the Jewish Federation of San Diego County.
Ensuring a Vibrant Jewish Future For these reasons, the Annual Campaign should be your first priority when giving to the Jewish community. Dollars given to Federation are matched, multiplied, and invested to increase the power of your gift — to increase the impact one person can have. Countless lives are saved, cared for, reached out to, and rebuilt. Centuries-old Jewish traditions and values are celebrated and preserved for future generations. Your gift to the Jewish Federation of San Diego County ensures local dollars are … Doing a World of Good, Making a World of Difference.
Family of Community Partners Our Local Partners Agency for Jewish Education B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO) Chabad Hebrew Academy Foundation for Jewish Camp – One Happy Camper Hillel of San Diego Jewish Community Foundation Jewish Family Service Ken Jewish Community Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center Moishe House San Diego San Diego Jewish Academy Seacrest Village Retirement Communities Soille San Diego Hebrew Day Southern California Yeshiva High School Torah High School of San Diego International Partners American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) Jewish Agency For Israel (JAFI) World ORT San Diego-Israel Connection Sha’ar HaNegev Partnership Community San Diego IBIM Youth Village National Partners (partial list) Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) Hillel Jewish Community Centers Association (JCCA) Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) Jewish Education Service of North America (JESNA)
Phone 858.571.3444 Email info @ jewishfederationsandiego.org Web JewishinSanDiego.org