UJA-Federation of New York announced an additional $6.67 million in Covid-related emergency spending for safety net services and Jewish schools.
Nearly $4.6 million will be used to strengthen and expand services for New Yorkers impacted by job loss, economic hardship, food insecurity and mental health challenges, the umbrella philanthropy said in a release Monday.
Another $2.1 million will help 47 Jewish day schools reopen this fall.
In addition, UJA created a new $2.5 million loan program for the purchase of PPE by health care and service nonprofits partners.
The emergency funds, from the umbrella philanthropy’s endowment, brings the organization’s total allocations for emergency Covid relief to over $52 million.
“This emergency funding is critical to help New Yorkers feed their families, find jobs, and receive counseling. At the same time, we have a duty to our Jewish schools to help support students and faculty returning to a safe and healthy school environment this fall,” said Eric S. Goldstein, CEO of UJA-Federation, in a statement.
The $2.1 million in education funding will address new tuition assistance needs at Jewish day schools and yeshivas reeling under the costs of remote learning and reopening in the fall, which include building retrofitting, purchasing PPE and technology enhancements.
Most Jewish day schools in the area have announced plans to reopen under a “hybrid” model of in-person and remote classes.
The Paul E. Singer Foundation contributed $500,000 for particularly under-resourced schools through the Jewish Communal Response and Impact Fund.
“We believe in these schools, and their students, as they chart a course for the Jewish future — before, during, and after this pandemic,” said Terry Kassel, trustee of the Singer Foundation, in a statement. “And we are proud to help them open their doors this fall.”
The PPE loan program represents $2.5 million repurposed from a previously created Covid emergency loan fund. It will be used for the purchase of personal protective equipment for eligible nonprofit partners.
