The Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, the city’s largest voluntarily supported health, social welfare and community services organization, inaugurated tonight its 48th annual campaign, with a goal of $22,500,000-$3,500,000 more than was raised last year.
Irving Mitchell Felt, president of the Federation, which supports 116 hospitals, medical and health, social welfare, community center and other agencies in the Metropolitan area, outlined the needs before 600 community leaders at a dinner here. John D. Rockefeller, 3rd, chairman of the Rockefeller Foundation, was the guest speaker.
Mr. Felt stressed that, during the past five years, the number of persons of every faith, race and color served by Federation agencies had increased from an annual average of 850,000 to 1,147,000-a 35 percent rise; and that annual service expenditures of all 116 agencies have risen from 56 percent, to $114,000,000 annually. He noted that total voluntary contributions to Federation in this same period had increased by only seven percent to $19,000,000 last year. Federation provides the major philanthropic support for its member agencies.
“The expenditure for philanthropic services, “Mr. Felt said, “has risen to such a height over these past few years that, even though the community has been most generous, it has failed to keep pace with this progress. If we are to prevent a backlog of unmet needs, and assure the fullest implementation of expanding knowledge and techniques for the benefit of those who turn to the voluntary agencies of the community, financial support through the medium of philanthropy must increase dramatically.”
LOEB OUTLINES VAST NEEDS; PAST HEADS HONORED, RAISED $480,000,000
Campaign chairman Henry A. Loeb, a prominent investment banking executive, said the Federation expected to achieve its current goal from 600,000 Jewish families in the Greater New York area, with the help of 15,000 volunteers. He noted that Federation agencies now provide over 90 percent of all Jewish sponsored medical and social services in Greater New York and costs of all these services have increased enormously in the last five years.
Mr. Loeb explained that Federation’s 12 hospitals and medical care agencies today served 473,000 persons annually-an increase of 30 percent over five years ago; that 10 family welfare and vocational service agencies served 230,000 each year-up 53 percent in the same period; that 34 community centers served 164,000 yearly-up 57 percent; and that 19 country camps, 41 day camps and three camp sites for country day camping had increased to 57,000 persons served-an increase of 54 percent. The program of aged care now serves 29,000 persons-up 45 percent; and the Jewish education program has increased to 165,000 annually-a 57 percent rise, he said.
In launching its 1964-65 campaign, the Federation honored nine living former presidents, during whose total term of 30 years some $480,000,000 was raised for Federation agencies. They were Joseph M. Proskauer, Samuel D. Leidesdorf, Benjamin J. Butten-wieser, Norman S. Goetz, Ralph E. Samuel, Milton Weill, Salim L. Lewis, Gustave L, Levy and Lawrence A. Wien. All but Mr. Samuel, who is in Europe, attended. Each was presented with a specially bound copy of the Haggadah.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
