This Week

Across-The-Board

1NCRE ASES

Federation allocations continue to rise
for local agencies and programs.

Metropolitan Detroit received
$1,287,000 in the budget, for a 5 per-
cent increase. The additional funding
will make possible salary increases for
special education teachers, said Judah
Isaacs, AJE executive director. AJE's
"Opening the Doors" program provides
assistance to children with learning dis-
abilities in 23 religious schools. "They
are the linchpin for that program,"
Isaacs said.
Although he wouldn't go into specifics
— "there's a lot of different pieces to the
pot" — Isaacs said the AJE didn't receive
all it had requested. "My primary focus
was the increase in the special education
teachers," he said. "We served about 600
kids with special needs in Jewish schools.
I'd rather focus on the positive."
With a campaign increase of 3 per-
cent, the allocation committee got
approval for distributing 6.3 percent
locally, Neistein said. "Anyone who's
getting 10 percent, is doing very well
by overall distribution," he said. "We
go agency by agency, and oftentimes we
go program by program."

cent of the overseas allocations by
local federations.
While 90 percent of the $13.2
million is part of a collective effort
nother good year of fundraising turned
with other federations to sustain
into an increase in the allocation sweep-
basic core services through the
stakes for Jewish education and services to
JDC and JAFI, 10 percent will be
the elderly.
for elective overseas programs
Meeting on June 21, the Jewish Federation of
determined by Detroit's federation.
Metropolitan Detroit Board of Governors approved
"A committee will be formed,
the budget developed by staff for spending the $30.5
and they will make a recommen-
million collected during the 2000 Annual Campaign.
JAS Gets Boost
dation, but the money has been
Overall, the plan allocates $11,773,510 for local
Jewish Apartments and Services received
reserved," Neistein said.
operations, such as schools, social service agencies
$173,885, a 22 percent increase that
Robert Aronson, Federation
and the Jewish Community Center, and
expanded support of the meal subsidy,
CEO, said he is comfortable with
$15,127,596 for programs like Partnership 2000 (a
in-home support for the frail elderly
the new funding situation. He
people-to-people exchange with Israel's central
and assistance to enable Russian-born
Penny Blumenstein
believes the overseas percentage
Galilee) and overseas programs to deliver food to
older adults to gain citizenship.
under local control will grow in
needy Jews and to help them immigrate to Israel.
"We're already subsidizing somewhere
coming years at the same time the overall percentage
. The balance goes to offset fund-raising'and
in the vicinity of 300 people's meals," said Neistein. A
going overseas may decline.
administration costs of $3.275 million; $633,351
contract rate change in the meal program was one
"While it's $13 million [overseas] and $1.3 mil-
for some 20 national agencies, such as the American
factor for the increase in allocations "to kind of keep
Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League and lion self-directed, who's to say that five years from
the onus off the individual."
today, it could probably be $7 mil-
Hillel: Foundation for Jewish Campus Life; and a
The second factor is a larger grant for the,"wait
lion total and a much greater
$900,000 reserve to cover uncollected pledges.
staff" program, which trains people with develop-
amount that will be commu-
Included in the total overseas allocation
mental disabilities to assist frail elderly during meals,
nity designated," he said.
of $15,127,596 is a one-time special
he said.
Locally, the largest increas-
allocation of $1,218,700 to the
The Michigan/Israel Connection, which boosts
es in the $11.7 million went
American Jewish Joint-Distribution
teen
trips to Israel, received $369,000, a 6 percent
B'
S
to Jewish education and ser-
Committee and to the Jewish
decrease, because funds were rolled over from the
vices to the elderly.
Agency for Israel. This will provide
previous year, said Neistein.
"We're continuing the
food packages and delivery pro-
With an expected decline in the number of new
course of action set forth
grams in the former Soviet Union,
refugees moving to the area, only 80 arrivals last
to meet our community
_oitjewishne7
and a special resettlement effort of
year, domestic resettlement received $196,098, a 7
priorities," said Penny
Ethiopian Jews, said Howard
percent decrease.
Blumenstein,
Neistein, Detroit Federation direc-
In addition, program grants of $790,000 have
Federation president.
tor of planning.
been approved from several new Jewish Life funds
"For example, we view
A base overseas allocation of $13.2
created.through the Millennium Campaign for
Jewish education as a
million has been fixed at the same
Detroit's Jewish Future. This is almost twice the
primary need. Our
amount for the past two years, according
amount approved last year and, with the Federation
allocation to the day schools has
to a national agreement with the United
Campaign allocations, results in an overall 10 per-
allowed
day
school education to be more
Jewish Communities. UJC is the new umbrella
cent increase in local agency support.
accessible to a broader segment of the community"
agency for U.S. federations that combined the
Another $2.8 to $3 million will be used for local
The five local day schools received $1,882,700
United Jewish Appeal, the Council of Jewish
agencies and programs from the Jewish Fund, which
combined, an 11 percent increase, while a 13 percent
Federations and the United Israel Appeal.
was created out of proceeds from the 1997 sale of
increase of $340,000 will assist congregational schools.
Sinai Hospital, and whose funding will be approved
separately by a different board.
More Local Control
"We're talking a little shy of $16 million spent
Up
AJE
Funding
Is
Calling it part of a "stabilization plan," Neistein said
locally,"
Neistein said.
The
umbrella
Agency
for
Jewish
Education
of
what has changed this year is the control of 10 per-

HARRY KIRS BAUM
Staff Writer

A

•

us

[

6/30
2000

14

