New York U.J.A. Reopens $65,000,000 Drive for September; Seeks to Recoup $9,000,000

Two hundred leaders of New York’s Jewish community officially reopened the $65,000,000 campaign of the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York for the entire month of September at a special emergency meeting held at the Hotel Astor today.

Edward M.M. Warburg, a chairman of the Greater New York drive, pointed out that the unprecedented September campaign was necessitated by the fact that the 1947 effort in the metropolitan area was begun more than a month later than usual. As a consequence, he said, the United Jewish Appeal had been unable this year to reach a considerable number of contributors who last year donated a total of $9,000,000 to the UJA campaign.

The entire September effort, he explained, will be devoted to two major projects: 1. A concentrated effort on the part of campaign leaders and volunteer workers to recoup the $9,000,000 donated by men and women last year and which has not yet been contributed in 1947. 2. To gain the support of thousands of new contributors who are interested in the welfare of the 1,500,000 Jewish survivors abroad.

The September campaign was made possible by a special agreement with the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies which ordinarily launches its annual campaign during this period. In view of the grave emergency situation abroad, the leaders of the Federation drive have agreed to the special UJA September effort.

Although no exact figures are as yet available, Mr. Warburg revealed that at the current moment the Greater New York campaign had already gone over the $32,000,000 raised in 1946. He pointed out, however, that in view of the tremendous programs which the United Jewish Appeal agencies have had to carry out during this year, nothing short of the $65,000,000 campaign goal will suffice to meet the needs of the Jewish people abroad.