J-Help: By the Numbers

For this year’s unprecedented J-Help Campaign, we have set a goal of raising $1.5 million. To date, we are about a quarter of the way there. This is quite remarkable. While most of us have not had our financial lives turned upside down, we do have our own doubts and fears. Our homes are worth less; our investments are down, and any expenditure takes quite a bit more thought. In other words, the bare necessities of those most in need will have to be provided by a local Jewish community that finds itself in a far more difficult place.

We are, however, getting there. It is happening three ways. 

We have begun to build awareness through our synagogues, our agencies, in our community paper and through word of mouth. We continue to speak with, mail to, and email everyone in our community. As a result, hundreds of gifts are coming in. Most of these donations range from $18 to $2,500. They are wonderful and important signs of support, and a number of those donations are coming from concerned individuals with very limited means themselves. At the end of the day, we hope to see 500 donations in this range.

The bulk of the campaign will need to fall on the shoulders of 100 individuals or families that are willing to either donate $7,000 to J-Help — like any gift over $1,000, these gifts are payable over three years — or to donate a portion and help raise the remainder of the $7,000. For those uncomfortable asking others to contribute, you’d be amazed at how broad and deep the support is for this campaign. I have yet to receive my first “no thank you.” We have chosen the gift-level of $7,000 because that equates to the maximum amount of support a local family in need can qualify for in any given year. 

Milwaukee is blessed to have in its midst a few families and foundations that have a deep and unwavering commitment to our Jewish community. For generations they have invested in the quality of local Jewish life. They have improved all of our lives in ways too numerous to mention. Most want little or no recognition. From these dozen or so, we hope to raise about $500,000. To date, we are about half way there. 

The “Great Recession” that we are enduring will surely be etched in history. Many around us are in life boats that are taking on water. People are losing homes, not receiving proper health care, and they are hungry – yes, hungry. Please find your place in this campaign. Please help rescue a Jewish family. The need is real, it is local and it is now.