Thirty Million Dollars Allocated by 128 Jewish Communities for Relief During Year

One hundred and fifty five federations and welfare funds in 128 communities allocated a total of $29,569,703 for 1942-43 needs, it was reported today by the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds in its annual budget analysis. This amount does not represent the entire income of the beneficiary agencies but consists only of the sums allotted them by the fund raising agencies.

Altogether there are 313 organized Jewish communities in the United States and Canada. The 128 under study, three of which are in Canada, comprise approximately 81 percent of the total estimated Jewish population of both countries. Consequently the budgets of these agencies may be considered to reflect the welfare interests and activities of the American-Jewish community as a whole.

The most substantial budgetary allocation, $13,588,554, went for national and overseas needs, while the amount of $13,468,370 was used for the support of local programs in the fields of relief, family welfare, health, vocational service, recreation, Jewish education, public relations, and related activities. The sum of $291,419 went for the capital needs of some of the local agencies in these fields. Approximately $2,000,000 were spent to cover the cost of fund-raising and administration.

NATIONAL AND OVERSEAS REQUIREMENTS RECEIVE CONSIDERATION

Continuing concern on the part of local communities with national and overseas requirements is revealed in allocations to non-local organizations. National agencies engaging in general cultural activities were included in the budgets of 122 communities; national civic-protective organizations in 121; health and welfare in 121; theological seminaries in 91. In 107 communities, allocations were made for the support of agencies providing coordination or research service to the local communities, such as the National Jewish Welfare Board and the Jewish Occupational Council. Altogether the national agencies received form all the recording federations and welfare funds a total of $974,525, Of this sum $461,387 went to civic-protective agencies; $201,330 to cultural agencies; $204,625 to health institutions, and the remainder to various other national agencies.

All of the reporting cities included in their budgets one or more of the agencies maintaining overseas and refugee service programs. These agencies were allocated a total of $12,513,847, with the United Jewish Appeal receiving the largest share, $11,671,955, Ninety-six communities also made special allocations to a number of Palestinian agencies not included in the United Jewish Appeal. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem was the beneficiary of 114 welfare funds.

One hundred and twenty-three communities made some provision for the support of local programs and activities. Family welfare and relief activities, including care of children and aged, received the largest share of support, receiving allocations from 104 communities. Local refugee care was provided by 87 cities. Approximately one-half of the communities extended financial support to cultural recreational agencies and Jewish educational institutions. Forty agencies allotted special amounts for local welfare work with soldiers and sailors.