A program to add more than two-thirds of a billion dollars in new, expanded and modernized medical, welfare and educational buildings and services to the network of agencies of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York by 1980 was announced today by Lawrence B. Buttenwieser, president of Federation, in officially launching a new capital funds campaign.
Federation is embarking on a Building Drive to raise $218 million in philanthropic funds from individuals, corporations, business firms and foundations. The balance of the funds for the program, almost half a billion dollars, will come in the main from matching government grants. To underscore the importance of the program, Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller and Mayor John V. Lindsay took part in a news conference at the Hotel Pierre at which announcement of the building program and fund raising campaign was made.
Laurence A. Tisch, chairman of the campaign, heads a group of prominent members of the community who are giving leadership to the fund drive, which is expected to extend over three years. Construction of new buildings, repairs and modernization, and initiation of services will begin as funds become available and will take up to 10 years to complete, Buttenwieser estimated. He characterized the program as “the greatest effort ever undertaken by voluntary philanthropy for local community institutions.
SPECIFIC EXPENDITURES OUTLINED
It consists of more than 200 separate and distinct projects for 60 of Federation’s major affiliated agencies. In addition to money for physical facilities, the campaign will seek to raise separate funds to be devoted to innovative programs and research in the fields of health and aged services, Jewish education and social services.
The master plan for the building program, which totals $680,289,150, was developed by a special committee over a two-year period and is headed by former Federation president Samuel J. Silberman. The plan calls for expenditures of $375 million for hospitals and medical services; $166 million for care of the aged; $38 million for community centers; $30 million for child care, family services and rehabilitation; almost $5 million for resident camping and country day camping, and $6 million for various other special projects.
It also calls for $60 million to be spent for program development in the fields of health and aged services; Jewish education and social services. The $20 million required for each of these funds will come wholly from philanthropic contributions. Under the plan, the following expenditures will be made by areas in metropolitan New York; more than $103 million in the Bronx; more than $148 million in Brooklyn; $250 million in Manhattan; $83.5 million in Queens, Nassau and Suffolk; $3.5 million in Staten Island and $23 million in Westchester and Rockland.
Tisch, a trustee of Federation and a leader in numerous philanthropic, educational and social causes, said that the Building Drive will be conducted concurrently with, but separate from, the annual Federation campaign for funds which is now in progress to support its 130 affiliated agencies in metropolitan New York.
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