Jewish Communities Continue to Report Impressive Rises in Gifts

Jewish community campaigns continue to report impressive increases in all giving categories to maintain a pace 20 percent ahead of 1961 on the same gifts, according to analyses of campaign progress at the 60 percent mark of last year’s totals issued here today by the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds.

The report, made public by John D. Fienberg of Toronto, chairman of the Council’s Campaign Committee, covered results in 74 large, middle-size and small cities–not including New York City–which raised more than $58, 000, 000 in 1961. The communities which had been showing almost identical rates of increase and of contributor coverage up to the halfway point of the current campaign were now beginning to develop slightly different patterns of progress, the report establishes.

Communities of 40, 000 and over population are now at the 59 percent mark of last year’s totals and show an increase of 19.9 percent on the same pledges. Communities between 15, 000 and 40, 000, now at the 54. 3 percent mark show an average in crease of 20.5 percent. Communities between 5,000 and 15, 000, now at the 65 percent mark, show an increase of 17.5 percent. Communities under 5, 000 now at 61.1 percent, show an increase of 24,6 percent.

Among communities showing the largest percentage increase to date are, Baltimore, 23.4 percent; Cleveland, 28.4 percent; Los Angeles, 46.8 percent; Newark, 23.4 percent; Philadelphia, 24 percent; Pittsburgh, 20.9 percent; Buffalo, 21.6 percent; Dallas, 20.9 percent; Kansas City, 24 percent; Milwaukee, 35.9 percent; Minneapolis, 24.6 percent; Oakland, 33.6 percent; and Winnipeg, 21 percent.

Also, Columbus, 25.4 percent; Dayton, 37,4 percent; Indianapolis, 21,5 percent; Louisivlle, 20.2 percent; Memphis, 21 percent; New Orleans, 43,1 percent; Norfolk, 35 percent; Passaic, 28.2 percent; Perth Amboy, 22.2 percent; Portland, Ore., 21.3 percent; San Antonio, 33.8 percent; San Diego, 22.6 percent; Toledo, 22.9 percent; Tucson, 26.5 percent.

Of the smaller communities, Binghamton, 24.2 percent; Birmingham, 25.8 percent; Edmonton, 37.9 percent; Flint, 22.3 percent; Fort Worth, 28.8 percent; Madison, 47.2 percent; Oklahoma City, 25.4 percent; Peoria, 126.8 percent; San Jose, 27.4 percent; Sioux City, 36.6 percent; South Bend, 24. percent; Southern Illinois, 29.2 percent; Utica, 25.5 percent; and West Palm Beach, 42.7 percent.

Mr. Fienberg described these results “as encouraging indications that the pace of generosity set in the various communities by the earliest advance gifts and special gifts functions is being emulated and that campaign chairmen and workers are making every effort to reach all prospective contributors to assure an impressively successful fund-raising effort.” Even more significant, according to Mr. Fienberg, the results indicate a profound awareness of the vital needs at home as well as overseas, upon the part of givers.