Some children may not be able to attend a Jewish day school. Programming at the Jewish Community Center may be cut. Funding for services to older adults and children with special needs could be reduced.
These scenarios are not so far-fetched because the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Community Campaign 2002 is raising less money than it did in the 2001 campaign. Initial projections put allocable dollars at some $500,000 less than last year.
Richard H. Meyer, federation executive vice president, said, “It’s been a tough year for so many people. At this point in the campaign, we have raised $6.1 million. However, we are projecting that our achievement may be $7.8 million this year as compared to $8.2 million raised last year.
“Further, there will be a $100,000 reduction in the investment income from the Jewish Community Foundation that we use for allocations, with the result that total allocable dollars will decrease by an estimated $500,000.”
As a result, leaders are appealing to members of the community to contribute to the campaign before it closes on May 31.
Jody Kaufman Loewenstein, campaign chair, said, “We depend on our campaign dollars so that agencies can continue to deliver vital services to our community. I believe in this community and am hopeful that each person will rally to ensure that the needs of the Jewish community in Milwaukee, overseas and in Israel will be met.
“Any gift — $18, $36, $50 or more — will make a difference in the lives of our fellow Jews.”
More than 6,300 members of the community have been asked to contribute to the campaign or will be in the coming weeks. More than 3,800 pledges have been received so far.
“We will continue to actively contact everyone in our community in the next six weeks through the mail, a series of phonathons and personal outreach,” Loewenstein said.
Planning for cuts
According to Marci Taxman, co-chair of the federation’s Agency Relations Committee, “Anticipating that the allocable dollars are down, we are working harder than usual to involve everyone in the allocations process. We are discussing issues and the process for review and interaction with agencies regarding their budget requests. We’re ready to begin our talks on how to work effectively together with the agencies to absorb decreases in funding.”
Agency executives are working to determine how to absorb what is expected to be a five percent decrease in their allocation.
Elliot Lubar, executive vice president of Jewish Family Services, a provider of social services to the Jewish community, said, “Funding cuts will certainly affect the delivery of all of our services. I think the older adults services and our special needs programs will be the most impacted. While we may be able to get some help from the [state and county] Office on Aging for the older adults programs, there is no government help for our programs serving those with special needs. The only subsidy is what our agency can raise on its own.”
Lubar added that the problem is further complicated by a “27 percent hike” in health insurance premiums for JFS employees. “This compounds the cost of doing business and could result in the loss of staff. While I think all of the agencies supported by the federation have tried to raise new money, I’m not optimistic that we can make up the decreases in funds allocated by the federation.”
“The impact for the Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations is dramatic,” said Paula Simon, executive director. “Our federation allocation is $167,156, which could be reduced by five percent or $8,500. Our budget is leaner than lean already.”
She added that 89 percent of the council’s federation allocation funds salaries and staff. “The rest pays for rent and office operations. We have no program line to cut. Staff is our program and without it we have no program. Unlike other agencies, we have no sources to generate revenue. We don’t charge for our programs or services.
“But, without the council, who will advocate for Israel, monitor and counteract anti-Semitism and discrimination, protect Jewish security and promote social justice? Our service is unduplicated in the community.”
Simon commended her board for working hard on the campaign. “We met the baseline criteria and made sure that all 64 board members participated to ensure our maximum allocation benefit.”
World crisis
Community members involved in international organizations that work to meet the needs of Jews in Israel and overseas also expressed their concern over the decrease in available funds.
“I wish I knew how to boost the campaign dollars,” said Betsy Green, a member of the national board of directors of the American Jewish Joint Jewish Distribution Committee, one of MJF’s two overseas partners. “This is a crisis time for world Jewry — in Israel, in Argentina, everywhere. We are at a critical point in our history. [See related story page 1.]
“The U.S. economy still hasn’t rebounded. The world has changed, and I think the Jews are even more vulnerable. The JDC is dipping into its endowments and special funds to find money to support its work overseas. But even $4 to $5 million won’t feed people for very long.”
Bruce Arbit, a member of the Board of Governors Aliyah and Absorption Committee of the Jewish Agency for Israel (MJF’s other overseas partner), said, “With 25 suicide bombers in Israel, four synagogue bombers in Europe and a state of emergency declared in Argentina affecting 200,000 Jews, we are seeing the Jewish people being tested in our capacity to enable any Jew to come to Israel as fast as possible.
“Despite all odds, 35,000 Jews will move to Israel this year. And 35,000 Jews from the former Soviet Union came last year despite the intifada.”
Arbit added, “JAFI desparately needs our funds to keep the airplanes flying, to bring Jews to Israel. To save Jewish lives. We can’t stop for lack of funds. This last year was a year of numbers. And behind each number was the value and potential of a life — to be lived in Israel among our people, or cut off.”
As the campaign begins its final phase, Loewenstein said there are several thousand outstanding gifts and 172 new gifts, which resulted in $36,700 in new dollars.
“I urge those who have never made a gift to the campaign to please make a donation,” she said. “It would be great if everyone in the community would participate before the campaign closes on May 31.”
Describing the campaign as “the most unifying force in the Milwaukee Jewish community” [and] “the most essential source of funds we have,” MJF president Allen Samson praised its history of achievement while urging more members of the community to participate.
“Just as the federation is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, so, too, has the campaign been an integral part of the Jewish community for 100 years. On a per capita basis, the local campaign has long been recognized as one of the most successful in North America. The generosity has facilitated high-quality services for our community. I am proud of the efforts of our campaign and I look forward to those who have not yet made a commitment joining us before the May 31 closure.”
For more information on how to contribute to the campaign, call the federation at 414-390-5700, or visit www.milwaukeejewish.org.
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