Hadassah Raised over $24.5 Million in 1976, Topping Its 1975 Record

Hadassah raised over $24.5 million this year–compared with $23 million in 1975. it was announced yesterday at the closing session of the four-day, 62nd annual national convention at the Washington Hilton Hotel.

Frieda S. Lewis, national treasurer, explained in her report that, even though the 350,000 members, responsible for fund-raising, achieved a remarkable feat, in light of the recession and inflation here and in Israel, Hadassah is forced to achieve higher collections for 1976-77. Furthermore, newly opened facilities will increase the Hadassah Medical Organization budget by $2,000,000.

Charlotte Jacobson, building and development chairman, said: “This year saw the culmination of an extensive building program: the renovation and expansion of the Hadassah University Hospital on Mount Scopus with the rehabilitation pavilion–costing $40 million; the Moshe Sharett Institute of Oncology in the Siegfried and Irma Ullman Building for Cancer and Allied Diseases, costing $15 million, and the Aleen and Lawrence Schact Day Nursery, plus the addition of floors to the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center–all at Ein Karem campus–totalling over $60 million.”

Mrs. Jacobson said that in order to meet these costs, the convention voted an additional quota of $3,333,333 over and above its regular operating monies.

Ruth Popkin, chairman of purchasing and supplies, reported that of the monies raised, over five million dollars was spent this year in the United States for equipment and supplies for the new buildings. This includes specially built laboratory furniture and equipment.

NEW QUOTAS APPROVED

This convention, attended by 2500 delegates representing over 1550 chapters and groups from every state in the Union, including Puerto Rico, voted the following quotas for Hadassah’s health, educational, rehabilitation and land reclamation services:

In Israel: Hadassah Medical Organization maintenance–$9,000,000; HMO Building and Development–$3,333,333; Youth Aliya–$2,100,000; Hadassah Israel Education Services (Community College, Seligsberg Brandeis Comprehensive High School and the Hadassah Vocational Guidance Institute)–$1,000,000; Jewish National Fund $700,000.

In the United States: the budget is over $3,300,000. This includes Hadassah’s adult and youth education programs, and leadership development. “The additional funds come from endowments, annuities, bequests and grants,” Mrs. Lewis explained.

Rose Goldman, membership chairman, reported that the membership has grown from 340,000 to over 350,000 this year. “It is particularly significant that Hadassah continues to increase its membership at a time when most organizations are either losing members or struggling to maintain what they have.” Patricia Paikin, life membership chairman, introduced the 100,000th life member, Beatrice Dosik of Rego Park, N.Y., who came as a guest of Hadassah.

SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED

A series of resolutions adopted included calls for the enactment by Congress of legislation to penalize those who comply with the Arab boycott and for the U.S. and “all civilized nations” to take measures against international terrorists, including hijacking of planes; urged the U.S. government to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel; and called on the Soviet government to free all Jewish Prisoners of Conscience, desist from prosecuting Jews who wish to emigrate and allow Soviet Jews to retain their identity and national consciousness.

Other resolutions called on the Syrian government to permit Jewish citizens “to exercise the option of emigration” expressed concern about the increasing politicization of the UN and its service agencies; and pledged “undeviating efforts” to deepen the understanding of the importance of aliya and called for the acceptance of aliya by all groups concerned with the growth and development of Israel.

Bernice S. Tannenbaum of New York City was elected president of Hadassah, succeeding Rose E. Matzkin who completed four one-year terms.