THE POWER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
2017 A N N UA L C A M PA I G N
We make a difference because you do.
We strengthen Jewish life. Today’s Alliance serves to enrich the quality of life for Jews in Rhode Island, in Israel, and around the world. The Alliance convenes agencies, synagogues, and organizations to address issues of common concern. Together, we transform Jewish tradition and values into action. Whether caring for people in need or nurturing and sustaining Jewish identity for future generations, this is where our community comes together as one; where we, as a community, develop innovative responses to critical, often life-threatening issues; where someone who needs help can get it; where an energized Jewish community grows and celebrates; and where everyone, including you, can make a difference right now.
Donate. Volunteer. Make a difference.
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Countless Jews face uncertainty every day. We bridge gaps. People just like us, our children, our parents or grandparents, desperately need our help. Families reeling from job loss. Fragile Holocaust survivors who can’t handle basic daily tasks. People who can’t attend a Shabbat service because climbing even a few steps to Synagogue is an impossible feat. The Alliance removes obstacles. A hot meal is delivered to a homebound elderly person. An emergency loan feeds a struggling family. A bus brings a child to after-school programming. A ramp opens up Jewish life for a person with disabilities.
50% OF JEWISH RHODE ISL ANDERS A R E F I N A N C I A LLY V U LN E R A B LE O R O N E C R I S I S AWAY F RO M ECO N O M I C U N C E RTA I NT Y.
Wherever there is need, through the Alliance Annual Campaign, you are there to sustain and strengthen Jewish life.
Donate. Volunteer. Make a difference.
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Sylvia & Gary: Changing the face of financial distress. We are a warm embrace. Sylvia and her son Gary, who has developmental disabilities, had lived in their apartment for more than 40 years. Until recently, they had managed to afford the rent with their combined incomes. Now in her 80s and unable to care for Gary, Sylvia made the difficult decision to move him into a staff-supported apartment. However, his income moved with him and Sylvia found herself with substantially less money to survive on. Hearing about her situation, Jewish Seniors Agency (JSA) referred Sylvia to Jewish Family Service (JFS) for financial assistance. From there, Sylvia started receiving regular food deliveries from the Louis & Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry.
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Now Sylvia is living in an apartment closer to Gary, and with transportation help from the Alliance’s Living on the Edge initiative, she’s able to attend the Kosher Senior Café meal sites every Wednesday and Friday. Sylvia reports that she has made new friends at both locations. With her ever-present smile and positive attitude, Sylvia said she knew that she’d survive this difficult transition and is very grateful for the support she received from the Rhode Island Jewish community in her time of need. Donate. Volunteer. Make a difference.
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The state of Jewish continuity.
We invest in the future. Fewer Jews say they are attached to Judaism and Israel. Yet 97% of American Jews state that they are “proud to be Jewish.” Our critical challenge is to transform Jewish pride into true participation in Jewish life. And we are already on our way. Locally, the Alliance subsidizes costs so children and teens can connect with their Jewishness at school and summer camp. Birthright trips transform young adults’ relationships to Israel. Around the world, in places where Jewish life has almost been wiped out, we’re nurturing the efforts of a core of inspiring young people who are reinventing Judaism.
Visit jewishallianceri.org to learn more about the programs and services being funded thanks to your support of the Alliance Annual Campaign.
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Donate. Volunteer. Make a difference.
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The world is an unstable place.
We fortify Jewish life overseas. Around the world, violent attacks target Jewish people and institutions. In Budapest, security is posted at synagogues. At day schools in Ukraine, five-year-olds file past armed guards to get to the playground. In Paris, Jewish students arriving at college encounter toxic anti-Israel slogans. Together, with our global partners, we are helping to restore a sense of security in the face of antiSemitism. We are sharing expertise and funding to keep children safe. Standing up against hatred. Working so that Jews everywhere can walk without fear, into a synagogue, a Jewish museum — or simply down the street.
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40% O F J E WS I N F R A N C E F E A R F O R TH E I R FUTURE.
Donate. Volunteer. Make a difference.
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Helping Alex: Jews around the world need us. We reach across the globe. After years of parental neglect, abuse, and constant financial instability, Alex got involved with drugs and violence. He was eventually placed in a rehabilitation facility near his home outside of Tel Aviv. The treatment center helped him find balance and purpose in his life, and provided him with valuable skills and knowledge that he has been able to put to good use in his work with the Civic Service program. This program, funded through the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and core funding from the Jewish Alliance, teaches young adults like Alex critical job skills and supports volunteerism for young Israeli adults who are unable to join the Israeli Defense Force.
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Jewish Agency for Israel: dollars raised through the Annual Campaign go towards providing services to new immigrants and at-risk populations. CO U NTR I E S , J E WS FAC E P OV E RT Y AND CRISIS.
Today, at nineteen years old, Alex has finished his high school studies and lives in an apartment with second year Civic Service participants. He enjoys the nurturing of an adopted family arranged by the program and visits them whenever he can. Alex is motivated and enthusiastic about life, and he’s working very hard to establish his independence. His work with disadvantaged children in an after-school program has empowered him to see that he can make a difference in the lives of others; his peers and adopted family have strengthened his self-confidence and given him hope. Donate. Volunteer. Make a difference.
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Building community and making the world a better place. We do it every day. As part of the Jewish Federation system, we touch more Jewish lives on the planet than any other organization. In places like Ukraine, elderly Jews with no pension would have to choose between buying medicine and heating their homes — if we weren’t there to help them. Or in Cuba, without us, there would be no Jewish learning opportunities, rabbis, or holiday celebrations. Wherever there is need — when a family in our community can’t afford to pay for Jewish camp, when a single mother loses her job, or a senior needs human warmth and help around the house — we are there to sustain and strengthen Jewish life.
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PROG R A M S & S E RV I C E S M A D E P OS S I B LE B EC AU S E O F YO U
Through our own programs and services, and those of our partners both locally and globally, we do so much to strengthen Jewish life... But there’s so much more to be done. Be part of a vibrant, thriving Jewish community by donating to the Alliance Annual Campaign. It does a world of good.
Donate. Volunteer. Make a difference.
jewishallianceri.org
We partner with the following agencies to meet community needs: American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) Birthright Israel Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island Brown RISD Hillel Camp JORI Chabad of Barrington Chabad of West Bay Ethiopian National Project Haifa Rape Crisis Center Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center of Rhode Island Jewish Agency for Israel Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island Jewish Family Service of Rhode Island Jewish Seniors Agency of Rhode Island Providence Hebrew Day School RI Jewish Committee on Scouting, BSA RI Jewish Historical Association URI Hillel Vestnik of Rhode Island Yemin Orde Youth Village
Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island Mitzi Berkelhammer, Board Chair Susan Froehlich, Vice Co-Chair of Philanthropy James Pious, Vice Co-Chair of Philanthropy Jewish Federation Foundation Sharon Gaines, Board Chair Robert Sherwin, Vice Chair Jewish Alliance Senior Management Team Jeffrey K. Savit, President & CEO Trine Lustig, Vice President of Philanthropy Minna Ellison, Senior Vice President Community Planning and Programming Daniel Hamel, Chief Financial Officer Michelle Cicchitelli, Vice President of Programming Brian Sullivan, Vice President of Marketing & Communications Gail Putnam, Vice President of Administration Philanthropy Team Trine Lustig, Vice President of Philanthropy Michele Gallagher, Senior Campaign Operations Manager Danielle Germanowski, Endowment Operations Manager Jennifer Zwirn, Allocations, Endowment & Vocational Navigation Stephanie Hague, Philanthropy Associate
401 Elmgrove Avenue Providence, RI 02906 401.421.4111 jewishallianceri.org