The Jews of America last year contributed more than $48,000,000 for human needs here and abroad through Jewish federations and welfare funds. Ninety-one per cent of the total, about $43,700,000, was spent in America, seven per cent going for reconstructive and relief projects abroad.
This is reported in the second part of the 1935 Yearbook of Jewish Social Work issued by the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, completing the sixth annual survey of a series initiated in 1930.
The largest share of the funds expended by local and national agencies $18,786,000 or 39 per cent of the total – went for hospitals, clinics and sanatoriums. Family relief took $4,179,000, child welfare $5,422,000, care of the aged $2,322,000, Jewish education $5,825,000, centers and settlements $4,000,000 and various amounts for other services.
The largest single grant for overseas expenditures was $1,675,000 for Palestinian activities, with reconstruction and relief of European Jews accounting for $1,050,000 and other agencies $526,000.
The 89 federations and welfare funds in 75 communities received $11,894,500 through voluntary contributions. Emergency appeals have almost disappeared, for only three federations benefited from such campaigns in 1935 — to the extent of $690,596.
The total expense of federation and welfare fund administration, including the cost of fund-raising campaigns, was $1,200,000, or 2.5 per cent of last year’s total.
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