Jewish federations and welfare funds in 97 cities representing 75 per cent of the estimated total Jewish population of the United States and Canada, appropriated a total of $22,474,808 for the support of local, national and overseas Jewish welfare efforts in 1941, according to figures made public today by the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds.
Of this amount, $3,621,210 was budgeted by 35 non-sectarian Community Chests for the support of local social welfare activities conducted under the auspices of Jewish federations. These figures are based on the 1941 federation and welfare fund budgets reported to the Council.
A breakdown of the total budgeted by the federations and welfare funds in the 97 cities shows that more than one-half – $12,675,441 or 56.6 per cent – was set aside for the support of various local activities; a little over 30 per cent for relief and reconstruction work overseas and national immigration service in the United States, and 3.5 per cent for welfare, health and cultural program organized on a regional or national basis. The remaining 10 per cent was assigned for contingencies and reserves and for administration, financing, social planning and other services.
The extension of public welfare measures notwithstanding, the reporting federations and welfare funds found it necessary to allocate on the average about 81 per cent of the $12,675,441 appropriated for the support of local services to agencies dealing with problems of economic dependency, social adjustment and health.
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