A nice pick-me-up

Natalie Friedman, 90, participates in Sonoma County JCC trips funded by the Senior Excursion Fund.

A recent article in the j. features Federation’s work to address the transportation needs of seniors in our community. Federation’s own Laura Mason explains that, “It’s not just about a ride — it’s about companionship and meaningful connections to the community.”

There are several types of transit programs supported by our Federation. For more information on these programs — or to find out how you can help provide funding — please contact Laura Mason at 415.512.6273 or lauram@sfjcf.org; or Tara Mohr at 415. 512.6424 or taram@sfjcf.org; or visit www.sfjcef.org.

“Seniors getting the rides they need as S.F.-based federation makes a commitment to transportation”

Other news stories about Federation

Our ears are burning

As I perused through j. this morning, I was  surprised to find not just one or two articles about our Jewish Community Federation, but FIVE! As a person who believes in the role and work of our local Federations, I appreciate the column Dan Pine and the letter Nancy Grand and Tom Kasten wrote in support of Federations during these difficult economic times. Federations strive to ensure that all of our community’s needs are met, but this has become an increased challenge of late as more and more families have turned to us and our agencies for help.

• “One check makes a difference”
• “With money tight, we can’t afford to let our federations go under“

The Jewish weekly also dedicated a page to the generosity of the Jim Joseph Foundation, who last week generously donated $3.5 million to help parents struggling financially to keep their children in Jewish schools and camps. Our Federation will be administering the Bay Area’s portion of the grant in conjunction with the Bureau of Jewish Education and the East Bay and Silicon Valley Federations.

• “Grant by S.F. foundation lets kids stay in Jewish schools, camps”

Lastly, the j. sparked an interesting discussion about a month or so back on the idea of merging the Federations on both sides of the Bay Bridge. Today they followed up with an article and opinion piece on the subject.

• “Time for a merger?: East Bay Jewish leaders push for ‘new relationship’ between federations”
• “Grassroots effort plants a seed for East Bay federation”

As always, if you want to read other articles about us in the press, check out our press archives. We have articles dating back to August 2006:

• JCF in the news

SF Chronicle Covers JCF’s Efforts to Help Keep Kids in School

Today, The San Francisco Chronicle reported on the Federation’s efforts (in conjuncton with the Jim Joseph Foundation) to help parents facing financial difficulties keep their children enrolled in Jewish schools. Thanks to the Jewish Community Pre School and Day School Funds, 89 kids who were facing the prospect of being dis-enrolled from their schools have been given tuition aid, and can stay in school through the end of the current school year.

• “Federation helps with Jewish school tuition”
• Other news stories about Federation

Federations look at the big picture

Last week,  Roger Feigelson, a member of our North Peninsula Council, wrote a letter to the j. weekly on federations.  His letter was published last Friday, and is re-posted below courtesy of the j.

David George’s “modest proposal” (Letters, Feb. 27) recommending the shutting down of federations gave me one thought: smaller, lesser-known Jewish agencies that rely heavily on JCF support would lose critical funding and potentially have to shut their doors.

As a volunteer for the federation for nearly two decades, I find it reassuring that the federation takes a holistic view of the entire Jewish community. Sure, I could give directly to an agency, but maybe there are other agencies with critical programs that are in jeopardy that I don’t know about.

I take comfort that the federation applies my dollars where the need is most, rather than making my own allocation, which could just be icing on the cake for an agency, while neglecting a true need elsewhere.

Bottom line: Federations aren’t overhead as David George suggests — they’re value add. I thank the federations for again showing that even in the Jewish community, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Roger Feigelson   | Belmont

BLC Breakfast speaker featured in today’s NYT

This year’s Business Leadership Breakfast keynote speaker, Shai Agassi, Founder and CEO of Better Place, was featured on the front of today’s New York Times Business section. He is working on developing a sustainable transportation system that ends oil dependence, thereby improving our global environment.

If you would like to hear Agassi’s presentation to the Federation’s Business Leadership Council (BLC) on February 24, you are in luck, as there are a few seats still available.  The BLC Breakfast is for donors who contribute $1,000 or more to the Federation’s 2009 Annual Campaign.

• Read the New York Times article on Shai Agassi and Better Place
• Get more info on the 4th Annual Business Leadership Breakfast
• Register for the 4th Annual Business Leadership Breakfast
• Learn about BLC’s other events and programs
• Donate to the Federation’s Annual Campaign

Emmis – Happy Chanukah and more

Emmis, the Federation’s monthly newsletter, was sent out to our email subscribers today. If you aren’t already getting the newsletter in your inbox, but would like to, please sign up at:
http://www.sfjcf.org/aboutjcf/signupnewsletter.aspx

These were the stories we featured this month:

	When Chanukah and Christmas collide It doesn’t happen every year because Jewish holidays are based on a lunar calendar, but this December, Chanukah and Christmas will coincide. Chanukah begins at sunset on December 21 and Christmas Eve occurs just three days later, in the midst of the eight-day festival of lights. What’s the best way for interfaith families to deal with this unusual convergence? More…
	A legacy of a life lived together Emil and Maria met at a dinner party here in the mid-1960s. Where else in the world would an Austrian Jew meet a Chilean Catholic and get married but here in the Bay Area? Emil has set up a Charitable Gift Annuity with the Jewish Community Endowment Fund as a way to care for Maria for the rest of her lifetime and leave a legacy for the Jewish community. More…
	Project Homeless Connect Our community helped 1,915 individuals in need to access vital services that would otherwise take months to obtain. More…
	Awards recognize teens Nominate a teen today for the prestigious Haas/Koshland award or Diller Tikkun Olam award. More…
	Challah Back! A new blog offers the inside scoop on the city’s hottest events for professional young Jews, including the Latke Ball. More…

The j. publishes its first annual charitable giving supplement

Jewish Community Endowment Fund donors, lay-leaders, and their good works were featured recently in the j’s first annual charitable giving supplement.

Click on one of the links below to read an interview with Endowment chair Warren Hellman, learn how to establish a fund with your name on it, or get an inside look at some of the extraordinary individuals in our community who are truly ‘do it yourself philanthropists.’

• “From the heart: Five shining examples of do-it-yourself philanthropy”
• “Hillsborough couple funds residence hall for Israeli school”
• “JCEF chair guides endowment through rough economic seas”
• “You, too, can establish a donor-advised fund”

Federation CEO Daniel Sokatch named one of the most influential Jews in America

Daniel J. Sokatch has been honored as one of the 50 most influential Jewish Americans by The Forward, a legendary name in American journalism and a revered institution in American Jewish life. The Forward 50 selects dynamic individuals from a broad range of candidates whose leadership, creativity and impact make a difference in the Jewish community.

Included in this year’s honorees are Rahm Emanuel, President-elect Obama’s Chief of Staff; Penny Pritzker, who may end up as Secretary of Commerce in the Obama administration; Congressman Barney Frank; Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Senator Joseph Lieberman; Olympian Dara Torres and many others.

In selecting Sokatch for this list, The Forward commented: “When Sokatch as tapped to be CEO of the Jewish Community Federation, many in the Jewish communal world were surprised.  Could a charismatic liberal known for galvanizing young activists translate his brand of leadership to a consensus-oriented federation? While he has been on the job for only a few months, expectations run high.”

• To read “Forward 50, 2008,” the full The Forward article, please visit:
  http://www.forward.com/forward-50-2008
• For the Federation’s press release on the honor, check out:
  http://www.sfjcf.org/aboutjcf/press/2008/forward.asp
  

Emmis – New Initiatives & an Open Letter

Emmis, the Federation’s monthly newsletter, was sent out to our email subscribers yesterday. If you aren’t already getting the newsletter in your inbox, but would like to, please sign up at:
http://www.sfjcf.org/aboutjcf/signupnewsletter.aspx

These were the stories we featured this month:

	An open letter from the Jewish Home Did you know that one-third of the 10,000 Bay Area Jewish elderly rely on Jewish organizations to provide home health care, assisted living, residential services and kosher meal delivery? The Jewish Home of San Francisco, one of the Federation’s beneficiary agencies, has a longstanding tradition of service. Read their open letter in response to today’s economic challenges. More…
	Special Needs Initiative takes root The Federation is thrilled to be a partner and funder in a collaborative effort in the North Peninsula to launch a pilot Special Needs Initiative with the goal of transforming synagogues and organizations into environments in which every person, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to be included in the life of the Jewish community. More…
	Interfaith Connections Now is a critical time for the Federation to create a welcoming Jewish community for interfaith couples and families. More…
	Give the Gift of Israel Give your child a life changing trip to Israel by participating in a collaborative savings program. More…
	School Twinning Program A new initiative is connecting students and teachers from Bay Area Jewish day schools with their Israeli counterparts. More…

Emmis’ fab 5

Emmis, the Federation’s monthly newsletter, will hit its subscribers’ mailboxes today.  In it, these stories:

	A framework for the 21st century Federation The month of Elul is the traditional period of self-reflection and introspection. Many of us find ourselves standing at a crossroads, reflecting on what was and considering what might be. For me, this year’s crossroads is especially poignant. More…
	Giving voice to the High Holidays We want to begin this year with something different, a moving poem entitled ‘Life is a Journey’ by Rabbi Alvin Fine, who used poetic words and the strength of his resonant voice to lead Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco from 1948 to 1964. He was a brilliant teacher and had a tremendous following among people who loved the art of the sermon. More…
	A year of study in Israel Apply now for the Haas/Koshland Memorial Award, granting qualifying students up to $20,000 and the opportunity to learn in Israel. More…
	Parenting Matters We all want our children to grow into good citizens of the world. But where do we begin? More…
	BLC + wine + exhibit Join the Bay Area BLC’s for a private wine tasting and exhibit tour of Il Ghetto: Forging Italian Jewish Identities. More…