Jewish United Fund Of Metropolitan Chicago

JUF IS THE CHICAGO JEWISH COMMUNITY'S CENTRAL PHILANTHROPY, FUNDING WIDE-RANGING SERVICES.

ALLOCATIONS (LOCAL) - THE JEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO (JUF) CONDUCTS FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES BY MEANS OF ANNUAL CALENDAR YEAR CAMPAIGNS AND MAKES ALLOCATIONS TO JEWISH FEDERATION OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO (JF) AND JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA (JFNA). THROUGH ITS ALLOCATION TO JF, JUF SUPPORTS VARIOUS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CHICAGO AREA THAT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS, INCLUDING HOT MEALS AND GROCERIES, UTILITY AND RENT ASSISTANCE, PRESCRIPTIONS AND MEDICAL CARE FOR IMPOVERISHED FAMILIES; JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT OF WORK; MULTI-FACETED, SPECIALIZED SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES; SUPPORT SERVICES FOR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS; ASSISTED LIVING, SPECIALIZED ALZHEIMER'S CARE AND TRANSPORTATION FOR SENIORS; RESPITE SERVICES FOR CAREGIVERS OF FRAIL SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES; COUNSELING, PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR TROUBLED TEENS; AND AN ENTIRE CONTINUUM OF PREVENTION AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN CRISIS.BECAUSE THE JEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO AND THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO ARE SO CLOSELY LINKED IN NUMEROUS WAYS (COMBINED BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SHARED PROFESSIONAL STAFF, SHARED OFFICE SPACE, ETC.), AND BECAUSE JUF PROVIDES AN ANNUAL, MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR ALLOCATION TO THE JEWISH FEDERATION, WE MEASURE AND REPORT OUR PROGRAM AND SERVICE RESULTS JOINTLY FOR THE COMBINED JUF/FEDERATION ENTERPRISE, WHICH ARE SUMMARIZED BELOW:1. WHILE BATTLING ANTISEMITISM AND HATE, JUF IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER CAN SAFELY PARTICIPATE IN JEWISH LIFE.- SINCE 2017, JUF HAS AWARDED $1.6M IN MATCHING GRANTS AND LEVERAGED AN ADDITIONAL $2.3 MILLION, YIELDING A TOTAL OF NEARLY $4M IN NEW OR ENHANCED SECURITY AT 88 JEWISH SITES IN THE CHICAGO AREA, HELPING TO PROTECT 37,000+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS.- GRANT RECIPIENTS INCLUDE: - 54 SYNAGOGUES - 48% OF CHICAGO AREA SYNAGOGUES (EVERY SYNAGOGUE THAT APPLIED) - 19 PRESCHOOLS & DAY SCHOOLS, 12 AGENCIES, 3 CAMPS AND 2 COLLEGES.- JUF ALSO HELPS MAKE ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO LOCAL JEWISH INSTITUTIONS BY ASSISTING THEM IN APPLYING FOR GRANTS THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY - HELPING TO GARNER 250 GRANTS FOR 99 LOCAL JEWISH SCHOOLS, SYNAGOGUES AND AGENCIES TOTALING $20.45 MILLION TO DATE.- JUF REGULARLY PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL SECURITY ASSESSMENTS AND CONSULTATIONS FOR LOCAL SYNAGOGUES, JEWISH SCHOOLS, PRESCHOOLS AND AGENCIES, AND COOPERATES SEAMLESSLY WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HELP KEEP JEWISH CHICAGO SAFE.- WORKING WITH THESE PARTNERS, JUF CONVENES REGULAR SECURITY SUMMITS TO FURTHER ENHANCE LOCAL SECURITY FOR CHICAGO AREA JEWISH INSTITUTIONS, PROVIDING TRAINING TO MANY HUNDREDS OF STAFF AND LAY LEADERS AT SCORES OF JEWISH INSTITUTIONS.2. JUF IS ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF SERVICE DELIVERY TO THE MOST VULNERABLE, EVOLVING TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS AS THEY EMERGE.AS 1 IN 5 PEOPLE WILL EXPERIENCE MENTAL ILLNESS THIS YEAR AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE ACCELERATING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, JUF IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF PROVIDING EFFECTIVE TREATMENT, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY.- 30,000 PEOPLE - INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, FAMILY MEMBERS, CAREGIVERS, AND PROFESSIONALS ALIKE - BENEFITED FROM MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED BY JUF AGENCIES IN 2019.- 2,400 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES RECEIVED DIRECT MENTAL HEALTH CARE FROM JUF AGENCIES.- 3,500 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED COUNSELING AND PARTICIPATED IN SUPPORT GROUPS AND OTHER JUF AGENCY PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.- 5,800+ PROFESSIONALS PARTICIPATED IN MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING AND OTHER CAPACITY-BUILDING.- 13,400 COMMUNITY MEMBERS INCREASED THEIR AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF MENTAL HEALTH TOPICS THROUGH JUF AGENCIES' OUTREACH AND EDUCATION EVENTS.JUF SERVES HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS MORE INTENSIVELY THAN EVER BEFORE.- JUF AGENCIES SERVED 2,000+ HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS IN THE CHICAGO AREA IN 2019.- NEARLY 1,800 LOCAL SURVIVORS RECEIVED ONGOING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND 330+ RECEIVED ONE-TIME EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID, TOTALING $8.1 MILLION - AN 88% INCREASE OVER 2018.- NEARLY 1,200 SURVIVOR HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONAL CARE.- SOME 1,700 SURVIVORS PARTICIPATED IN SOCIALIZATION AND WELLNESS PROGRESS.JUF FIGHTS JEWISH POVERTY ACROSS CHICAGO AND AROUND THE GLOBE.- 28,000 LOCAL INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED ONE OR MORE SERVICES TO MEET THEIR FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS, INCLUDING FOOD, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION AND BASIC HEALTHCARE.- NEARLY 4,900 LOCAL HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED $10.4 MILLION IN EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM JUF AGENCIES IN 2019 - A 62% INCREASE IN DOLLARS OVER 2018.- FOOD IS THE MOST COMMON NEED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.- NEARLY 21,000 LOCAL JEWS ARE SUSTAINED THROUGH JUF-FUNDED FOOD PROGRAMS; 3 IN 5 ARE OVER 55.- FOR 1 IN 4 CLIENTS, DINNER AT THE JUF UPTOWN CAFE IS THEIR FIRST MEAL OF THE DAY - AND FOR 1 IN 3, IT'S THEIR FIRST INTERACTION WITH ANOTHER PERSON DURING THE DAY.- 38,000 INDIVIDUALS IN NEED RECEIVED DIRECT HEALTHCARE THROUGH JUF-SUPPORTED AGENCIES.- LAST YEAR, 5,900 LOCAL HOUSEHOLDS GOT HELP OBTAINING OR MAINTAINING PUBLIC BENEFITS (SNAP, MEDICAID, MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY) AND 400 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED LEGAL SERVICES.- 3,200+ INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, 94% OF WHOM ARE OLDER ADULTS.- 500+ INDIVIDUALS LIVED IN JUF AGENCY-OPERATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHILE 400+ PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN SERVICES TO SECURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.- ISRAEL SUFFERS FROM THE HIGHEST CHILD POVERTY RATE IN THE WESTERN WORLD, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WHOM RELY ON JUF PROGRAMS TO HELP BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY.- NEARLY 90,000 IMPOVERISHED SENIORS THROUGHOUT THE FORMER SOVIET UNION, HALF OF WHOM ARE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS, DEPEND ON JUF AGENCIES FOR FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES.3. JUF ENGAGES MORE MEMBERS OF THE NEXT GENERATION IN JEWISH LIFE MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN EVER.JUF CONNECTS YOUNG FAMILIES TO JEWISH LIFE, COMMUNITY AND ONE ANOTHER.- 8,500 LOCAL CHILDREN GET FREE, MONTHLY JEWISH BOOKS THROUGH PJ LIBRARY & PJ OUR WAY.- 8,400 YOUNG FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THROUGH JUF AND ITS AGENCIES IN 2019 - 30% OF THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME.JUF BRINGS YOUNG JEWS TO ISRAEL, CONNECTING THEM TO THE LAND, THE PEOPLE & THEIR OWN IDENTITIES.- SOME 2,700 CHICAGO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN JUF-FUNDED ISRAEL TRIPS IN 2019.- 800 YOUNG PEOPLE RECEIVED $1.2 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUBSIDIES THROUGH JUF TO HELP MAKE THEIR ISRAEL EXPERIENCES POSSIBLE.- 1,500 YOUNG ADULTS WENT ON FREE JUF BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TRIPS.JUF CREATES DYNAMIC HUBS OF JEWISH LIFE TO ENGAGE TEENS, COLLEGE STUDENTS & YOUNG ADULTS.- 7,000 TEENS ENGAGED JEWISHLY THROUGH PROGRAMS RUN BY JUF AND JUF-SUPPORTED AGENCIES.- 60% OF ALL JEWISH COLLEGE STUDENTS IN ILLINOIS PARTICIPATED IN HILLEL IN SOME WAY IN 2019.- ALL TOLD, 4,000 COLLEGE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN HILLEL.- NEARLY 13,000 LOCAL YOUNG ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY JUF AND ITS AGENCIES IN 2019 - ONE-THIRD OF THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME.- 1,100 YOUNG ADULTS HELD LEADERSHIP ROLES WITHIN LOCAL JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS.JUF MAKES BOTH FORMAL AND INFORMAL JEWISH EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE.- 4,500 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED $38.4 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS & TUITION ASSISTANCE IN 2019 TO HELP THEM AFFORD JEWISH PRESCHOOL, DAY SCHOOL, GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS.- 3,300 LOCAL JEWISH DAY SCHOOL STUDENTS - 73% OF THOSE ENROLLED - RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS AND/OR TUITION ASSISTANCE FROM JUF-SUPPORTED DAY SCHOOLS, WHICH TOTALED $36 MILLION IN 2019.- 900+ PRESCHOOLERS - 1 IN 4 OF THOSE ENROLLED - RECEIVED $1.4 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUBSIDIES FROM JUF AND JCC TO HELP MAKE THEIR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION POSSIBLE.- 5,100 CHILDREN ATTENDED JCC & KESHET SUMMER CAMPS - 1,700 OF THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME.- 1,300 CHILDREN RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUBSIDIES TO ATTEND JEWISH SUMMER CAMP.

ALLOCATIONS (OVERSEAS) - THROUGH ITS ALLOCATION TO JFNA, JUF SUPPORTS SERVICES TO MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS IN ISRAEL AND 70 OTHER COUNTRIES. THESE RANGE FROM BASIC SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS ADDRESSING NEEDS OF ALL AGE GROUPS TO FORMAL AND INFORMAL JEWISH EDUCATION/IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT. THE MAJOR BENEFICIARY ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ENGAGE IN OVERSEAS WORK THROUGH SUPPORT FROM JFNA ARE THE AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE, THE JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL AND THE WORLD ORT.

JUF NEWS: JUF NEWS IS CHICAGO'S LARGEST CIRCULATION JEWISH COMMUNITY PUBLICATION. IT IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY AND OFFERS FEATURES, PROFILES, NEWS AND COMMENTARIES ABOUT KEY FACETS OF JEWISH LIFE LOCALLY, IN ISRAEL AND AROUND THE WORLD.