New York Federation of Jewish Philanthropies Opens Campaign for $16,500,000

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, president of Columbia University, tonight appealed for public support of a $16,500,000 campaign of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York which was launched here at a dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Gen. Eisenhower, who was scheduled to be the principal speaker at the dinner, was unable to attend at the last minute because of his doctor’s orders. The following massage from him was read to the 1,500 business, civic and community leaders who attended the function:

“I deeply regret that because of doctor’s orders I cannot attend this meeting of the workers and friends of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. Despite all our advances in medical science, our unsurpassed economic prosperity and our forward stride in social welfare, the plight of the sick and the distressed and the stricken is still a first call on the sympathetic charity of their neighbors.

“Through no fault of their own, millions of our fellow-men will be in such straits that life, throughout all the years, and particularly in the winter months ahead, may be a hopeless struggle unless we, the more fortunate, are quick and liberal in our aid. Many, many thousands will need it desperately.

“Here among us in New York, a great multitude of then–of every race and faith in this city–will seek fulfillment of their wants from the 116 institutions that are supported by the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. Should lack of funds restrict the services of those fine humanitarian agencies, the tall, in terms of human suffering, will be tragic.

“By meeting this need, you are doing for more then merely responding to your charitable impulses. You are fulfilling one of the individual and local responsibilities of the citizenship and are displaying Americanism at its best.”