.Editor's
Letter
The needs are urgent.
The time is now
A Community from page A5
and Federation's Millennium
Campaign is staying here in Metro
Detroit. Federation will be pres-
sured to direct even more dollars
locally through the Campaign
or other means. To this end,
Federation is slashing its operat-
ing budget 5 percent, a cut that
will include positions, and taking
a harder look at its allocation mix.
"We're hopeful we won't have to cut
back agencies," Aronson said.
Optimistic Outlook
Meanwhile, Federation must
encourage agencies not only to find
other funding options, but also help
win over these potential sources.
Remarkably, the Campaign is on
target to match last year's yield of
$34 million despite a drop of 2,300
individual donors over the past five
years. The average Federation cam-
paign gift in North America is down
15-25 percent; Cleveland's campaign
is down about $5 million.
Supplemental streams of
Federation support dollars will con-
tinue to be of paramount value. The
Irving A. Rubin Jewish Community
Trust for the Elderly and the Jewish
Education Trust are good examples.
How we get through these try-
ing times will determine what
kind of community Jewish Detroit
will have for years to come. Our
median age three years ago was 47.
It's definitely higher now, given our
steady loss of young professionals.
So the pool of prospective givers
is smaller. Still, Aronson remains
ever the optimist: "We're hoping to
bring in another 300, 400 or 500
new givers — that would be a very
encouraging sign:'
He added, "I think we have a
Jewish community that really cares.
I mean that. We're just going to have
to work ourselves silly to be able to
realize that potential this year:'
We sure are. We can't settle for
less. That would not be representa-
tive of what Jewish Detroit is all
about.
Please answer our call.
Economic conditions in our community are causing
untold hardship for people who never thought they'd
be in need of help.
Three ways to give now:
This year, our agencies are overburdened with
requests for help. We can't let down the people who
are counting on them, so we turn to you for help.
2.Online:
jewishdetroit.org
1.Hotline:
888-GIVE-HOPE
a. Mail:
Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit
P.O. Box 2030
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-2030
Between February 8 and February 11, Federation
volunteers will be making calls to our community to
help raise much needed funds to help those in need.
We ask that you answer the call and make a gift that
is meaningful to you. No matter how much you give,
you will make a difference in someone's life.
Super Sunday Volunteers
Still Needed!
Register at
jewishdetroitorg/supersunday
or 248-203-145N
When you give, you give hope.
CO U Ntoilotk
FEBRUARY 9-11,2009
FEBRUARY 8,2009
Related cover package: page A 1 .1
If you, or someone
you know needs
assistance,
contact the Jewish
Assistance Project
at (248) 592-2650
With your help, Federation supports:
Akiva Hebrew Day School
B'nai B'rith Youth Organization
Hebrew Free Loan
Hillel Day School of Metro Detroit
Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish Academy
A6
February 5 • 2009
The Chrysler Foundation
C HR Y SL ER
Jeep
Jewish
Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit
888 GIVE HOPE jewishdetroit.org
-
coon
Jewish Apartments & Services
Jewish Community Center
Jewish Community Relations Council
Jewish Family Service
Jewish Home & Aging Services
JVS
Tamarack Camps
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah
Yeshiva Gedolah
Yeshivas Darchei Torah
Israel Programs and Services
-
Hillel Eastern Michigan University
Is Detroit Jewry
pulling together,
given the need?
Foundations Michigan State University
at: Oakland Community College
Oakland University
University of Michigan
Wayne State University
Do you require a
Federation support
service?
1443370