Chicago Jewish Federation Receives $200, 000 Grant for Research

The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago has received a $200,000 grant for the purpose of establishing a Department of Research, Joseph L. Gidwitz, president, announced today. The grant was made by Mrs. Florence G. Heller through the Florence G. Heller Foundation. Mrs. Heller is a member of the board of directors of the Federation, In announcing the grant, Mr. Gidwitz said:

“That a private social welfare agency such as the Jewish Federation would establish a research department is truly a symbol of the maturity of the social welfare field. It is only right that the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, whose medical and social welfare agencies operate on an annual budget of $29,500,000 should be concerned about the validity of its work. The $6,000,000 which the Jewish Federation provides towards that total budget makes it even more imperative that Federation make every effort to analyze, evaluate and determine the kind and the extent of the services Federation agencies shall provide to the Jewish and general community. “

The Research Department will act as a clearing house and evaluation center for all social welfare research projects and experimental services carried forward by the Jewish Federation agencies and by the Federation. Involved in the work of the department will be a continuing basic study of the people in the Jewish community of Chicago, their attitudes, their resources, their potentialities, and a concomitant study of the processes used to serve them.

According to the terms of Mrs. Heller’s grant, the Jewish Federation must provide from its annual operating budget, $1 for every $2 received from Mrs. Heller’s Foundation. The $200,000 grant is to be used within the course of the next four years.