Jerold Hoffberger, chairman of the United Israel Appeal, announced that the UIA Board of Directors has made on interim allocation of $100 million toward its projects in Israel for the fiscal year which began April 1. The action, taken at the Board meeting in mid-March, is the first commitment of funds this year, launching a brood program of aid to Israel during the coming decode. The Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency recently approved a budget of $385 million with a recommendation that it be raised to $445 million for fiscal 1981.
Hoffberger said that major phases of this interim funding which will be administered by the Jewish Agency include: immigration and absorption, $15,000,000; social welfare services, $10.000.000; education, $10.000.000; institutions of higher teaming, $20.000.000; youth care and training, $15.000.000; absorption in agricultural settlements, $15.000.000; immigrant housing, $8.000.000. Only seven percent will go for general administration ($2.000.000) and debt services ($5.000.000).
An additional $10.000.000 was authorized by the Board for Project Renewal, whose funds are made available from one overseas community for use in a neighborhood “twinned” to it, Hoffberger said. The overall Jewish Agency budget for Project Renewal in 1980-81 is $80 million, including $30 million for housing in Renewal neighborhoods.
The UIA Board, Hoffberger reported, formulated guidelines for structuring and strengthening the relationship between neighborhoods in Israel and communities in the U.S. An Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Jane Sherman of Detroit, newly elected member of UIA’s Board, is developing criteria for allocation and monitoring procedures. A reporting system outlining legal and accounting practices will assure the contributor that full controls are being maintained.
ALLOCATION FOR PROJECT RENEWAL
Hoffberger also stated that the UIA Board authorized the allocation of $3,204,081 for Project Renewal. Forty-five programs were approved in 16 neighborhoods. Cumulative allocations to Project Renewal as of Feb. 22 amount to $7.843.382, he said, and additional authorizations are being made at a rapid pace. UIA’s Jerusalem office staff members are intricately involved in the development of Project Renewal programs, in close cooperation with the Jewish Agency, and continue to be key participants in field trips, workshops, and United Jewish Appeal mission-related activities, Hoffberger said.
According to UIA’s 1979 annual report recently released to all Federations, UIA and community leadership, UIA had received $226.279.264 during fiscal 1979 from UJA for the absorption of new immigrants, establishment of rural settlements, and for programs aiding the youth, the aged, and the needy. To maintain a steady flow of funds to the Jewish Agency for the assurance of continuity in programs and services, UIA borrowed $60 million in 1979 from 64 banks, the largest debt financing in UIA history.
UIA plays a unique role as the recognized agency handling a grant from the U.S. government for the resettlement of refugees from the Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries, in Israel, Hoffberger pointed out. He noted that since 1973, UIA has received $178.115.000 worth of grants authorized by the U.S. Congress, for programs providing transportation to Israel, education, vocational training and retraining, care and maintenance, employment and financial assistance. In 1979, UIA received $25 million for this purpose. An additional $25 million for 1980 is being made available by the U.S. Congress under a “continuing resolution.”
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