The Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds today issued a report on the accelerated efforts that are now being made in the communities throughout the country to reach every Jewish family for contributions to the Israel Emergency Fund of the United Jewish Appeal.
The report emphasized that on entering the second week of “the unparalleled magnitude of giving” for Israel’s humanitarian needs, the response of the communities continues to be “almost beyond belief”. But, it added, many contributors in the communities have not yet been reached for their gift. “They need only be talked to; their response is certain,” the CJFWF stated.
The report said that screening of all givers of $1,000 or more to the regular campaigns was underway for personal solicitations of contributors in that category who had not yet made gifts to the Emergency Fund. For contributors to the regular campaign in the range of $100 to $1,000. a series of fund-raising meetings was being scheduled. In some communities, the report said, the normal campaign structure was being reactivated. In others, individuals were being invited to attend at least one of the several meetings scheduled in almost every Jewish community.
“In a number of communities, synagogues are calling meetings of their membership for fund raising and several communities report that country clubs will close their golf courses for the coming Sunday morning and call all members to a fund raising meeting in the club house.” Solicitation by well known campaign leaders is followed for those who do not attend meetings, the report said.
Most communities plan to reach small givers through telephone solicitation. Central operations on a marathon basis are being manned by regular campaign workers in divisions organized for solicitations among small givers, the report said. Assisting in such mass telephone solicitation efforts are members of women’s divisions and volunteers provided by local organizations and local chapters of national membership groups. Even mail appeals are under consideration if all other means fail to reach any substantial number of small givers, the report indicated.
Communities are urging the immediate translation of both new and old commitments into cash. Many have organized a “messenger service” to pick up checks immediately. They have also recruited volunteers to help tabulate returns in central offices so that funds pouring in may be deposited immediately and checks drawn for transmittal of the UJA. Most communities reported expectations that the entire campaign will be completed by the end of June but none until every possible Jewish family has been reached.
LARGE CITIES REPORT HUGE GIFTS WHILE CAMPAIGN CONTINUES
The CJFWF also presented a series of reports from individual communities as the second week of the Emergency Fund campaign proceeded.
The Jewish Welfare Federation of San Francisco reported that the drive there was well over $1,000,000, after an opening meeting brought $786,000 from 26 contributors. Top gifts included $125,000, and two of $100,000, one of them added to a regular $35,000. The Federation remitted $1,180,000 in full on its 1966 commitment to UJA and an additional cash payment of $1,000,000 on current regular and special emergency gifts.
The Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston reported contributions of more than $3,500,000 to the Emergency Fund. The CJP said gifts to the Fund were averaging twice as much as regular gifts and that the spread was growing. The CJP has already remitted $4,150,000 to the UJA. Top Boston Jewish leaders are personally contacting top prospects.
The Hartford Jewish Federation reported that with receipt of four gifts of more than $100,000 each, it had reached $2,000,000 for the Emergency Fund and had transmitted $1,000,000 in cash to the UJA.
The Dallas Jewish Welfare Federation said it had reached $1,560,000 in commitments from only 300 givers and that it had sent the UJA $1,900,000 in cash, on commitments to the spring campaign and the Emergency Fund.
The Toronto United Jewish Welfare Fund reported it had already passed the $5,000,000 mark and had transmitted $4,230,000 to the UJA. One Country Club is asking every member for a minimum gift of $1,000.
The General Jewish Committee in Providence, R.L, said that it had reached the $2,100,000 mark in its updated fall campaign and expected to achieve at least three times the 1966 results of $800,000. The Committee said gifts included two of $150,000 each, three of $100,000 each and 20 in the range of $25,000 to $60,000.
The Denver Allied Jewish Community Council drive has reached $630,000 of which $430,000 is from a group of top leaders and $200,000 from a rally attended by 2,000 people.
The New Orleans Jewish Welfare Federation reported that $640,000 was already committed, well over the total of the regular spring campaign and that $325,000 was transmitted in cash. The Indianapolis Jewish Welfare Federation reported $433,000; the Louisville Conference of Jewish Organizations reported $500,000; the Kansas City Jewish Federation and Council reported $500,000; the Albany Jewish Community Council reported $450,000; the Atlantic City Federation of Jewish Agencies reported $167,000; the Omaha Jewish Federation reported $250,000; the Gary Northwest Indiana Jewish Welfare Federation reported $183,000; the Madison, Wise., Jewish Welfare Council reported $111,000; the Rockford, 111., Jewish Community Council reported $125,000.
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