As we head into summer, things slow down some for many of us—we take summer vacations or head to cooler climates. Even work tends to slow down a little. It is a time when we can all take a breath, enjoy our blessings and pause to take stock of where were are, rejuvenate and embrace the road ahead.
The staff and lay leaders at the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix look forward to doing the same during these summer months. We are working on a 5-year roadmap to help us define what success and impact can look like for us and for the community and what it will take for us at the federation and within the Jewish community to get there. We plan to complete this work and share the roadmap with everyone this fall.
As we look ahead, it is important to remember where we’ve been and to celebrate our successes for the federation and for the community. Some highlights to celebrate so far this year include:
- Beginning our second year of funding and expanding impact through the senior concierge program and our Israel advocacy initiative on the Arizona State University campus
- Establishing a year-round Tzofim Israeli Scouts program, made possible through the generosity of Sigal and Ronny Urman, who were inspired by one of our mini-missions
- Allocating $58,000 to provide transportation for Jewish seniors who are unable to drive
- Impacting 600 young Jewish adults in the first three months of the year through our NowGen programs
- Increasing our support through campaign, which is up 26% card-for-card over last year and has brought in more than 150 new donors as of April 1
- Distributing our 2015 Honor Roll and Year in Review, available online at jewishphoenix.org/annualcampaign
- Enriching Jewish lives around the world through our overseas partners, including JDC’s work in Ukraine assisting Jews in the conflict zone with medicine, food and social services and JAFI’s work helping Jews in Ethiopia and war-torn Yemen make aliyah to Israel
None of this would happen without our generous donors, the many organizations we work with and fund, or our amazing staff and volunteers. Thank you.
I wish everyone a relaxing, rejuvenating summer and ask for your continued and growing support as we help Jews in need and build vibrant Jewish communities here, in Israel and in 70 countries around the world.
Stuart Wachs is president and CEO of the Jewish Federation
of Greater Phoenix.
