The Jewish Federation Of Sarasota-Manatee Inc

TO STRENGTHEN JEWISH LIFE AND IDENTITY IN OUR COMMUNITY, PROVIDE FOR JEWISH PEOPLE IN NEED AND PROMOTE SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL.

ISRAEL, OVERSEAS, ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS: THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SARASOTA-MANATEE (JFSM) WORKS TO ADDRESS HUMAN AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IN ISRAEL, POLAND AND OVER 70 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS FUNDED INCLUDE: * THE HELLER COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE (CRC) WAS ESTABLISHED TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE JEWISH AND NON-JEWISH COMMUNITIES TO ADVANCE COMMON INTERESTS THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY. THE CRC WORKS WITH OUR PARTNERS TO ADVOCATE FOR PEACE AND SECURITY IN ISRAEL, INCREASES COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF ISSUES AFFECTING THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY AND ISRAEL; RAISES CONSCIOUSNESS OF, AND ACTIVELY CONFRONTS ANTISEMITISM ON A LOCAL AND GLOBAL LEVEL; AND, DIRECTLY ADDRESSES ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVITIES IN SARASOTA-MANATEE. UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE CRC, GULF COAST HILLEL WORKS ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES OF NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA, USF SARASOTA-MANATEE AND RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART + DESIGN TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF ANTISEMITISM AND ANTI-ISRAEL RHETORIC. THE BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, SANCTIONS (BDS) MOVEMENT IS QUICKLY GROWING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES UNDER THE GUISE THAT IT IS A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS. THROUGH MEETINGS WITH COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS FOR STUDENTS, GULF COAST HILLEL PROVIDES A POSITIVE AND ACTIVE PRESENCE ON OUR LOCAL CAMPUSES AND HELPS TO CREATE FUTURE JEWISH LEADERS. ** FEDERATION STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS BUILD PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLERGY, CIVIC, AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ** THIS INITIATIVE HAS SPONSORED NUMEROUS SPEAKERS AND PROGRAMS AND FIVE INTERFAITH MISSIONS TO ISRAEL. * THE WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE IS MADE UP OF WOMEN IN THE SARASOTA-MANATEE AREA WHO ARE DEDICATED TO FUNDING PROJECTS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN ISRAEL. MEMBERS MAKE A CONTRIBUTION AND HAVE A VOICE IN DETERMINING THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. HAVING JUST COMPLETED ITS SEVENTH YEAR, THE CIRCLE HAS GROWN TO 82 MEMBERS WHO IN 2019 AWARDED ELEVEN ORGANIZATIONS A TOTAL OF $57,844. AS AN EXAMPLE TWO OF THE RECIPIENTS WERE DVI - DENTAL VOLUNTEERS FOR ISRAEL, AN ORGANIZATION PROVIDING FREE DENTAL CARE FOR AT-RISK YOUTH AND ABUSED WOMEN, AND JOBKATIF/ACHOTENU WHICH IS AN ACADEMIC NURSING TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ETHIOPIAN-ISRAELIS. * EACH YEAR, THE FEDERATION SELECTS LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PRESTIGIOUS AMERICA ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (AIPAC) CONFERENCE. IN 2019, FEDERATION SENT FOUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TEENS TO THE AIPAC CONFERENCE. SPENDING TWO AND A HALF DAYS SURROUNDED BY FELLOW LOVERS OF ISRAEL WHO WANT TO LEARN AND SHOW THEIR DEVOTION TO A COUNTRY JUST 72 YEARS IN THE MAKING IS INSPIRING, TO SAY THE LEAST. POLITICIANS, HEADS OF STATE, AMBASSADORS AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS SPEAK DURING THE PLENARY SESSIONS ABOUT WAYS THEY SUPPORT ISRAEL. DURING AIPAC, THE STUDENTS ALSO LEARNED ABOUT INCREDIBLE ISRAELI INNOVATIONS, STARTUPS, NGOS, TECHNOLOGY, RESEARCH AND MORE. AIPAC ALLOWS TEENS TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, EXPLORE WHO THEY ARE AS INDIVIDUALS IN A POLITICAL ARENA, AND LEARN FIRST-HAND THE IMPORTANCE OF ISRAEL TO JEWS AROUND THE WORLD. ONE POINT REMAINS CLEAR: NO MATTER WHAT ONE BELIEVES ABOUT ISRAEL OR US POLITICS, WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO EXIST AND DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST THE THREATS THAT PLAGUE THEM EACH AND EVERY DAY. * OVERSEAS GRANTS: ** ZAKA SEARCH AND RESCUE TO PROVIDE K-9 LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING PROGRAM FOR AT-RISK YOUTH IN KIRYAT MALACHI, A CITY IN ISRAEL'S SOUTHERN PERIPHERY, SITUATED NEAR THE GAZA BORDER, WHERE CHILDREN AND YOUTH SUFFER FROM HIGHER RATES OF PTSD. ** AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LEKET ISRAEL: THIS GRANT PROVIDED A TRUCK TO MAKE FOOD PICKUPS AND DELIVERIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, AND ALSO SUPPORTS A PROGRAM THAT DELIVERS HOT MEALS TO VULNERABLE SENIORS LIVING IN GOVERNMENT HOSTELS. ** ORR SHALOM IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN THE FIELD OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT-RISK CARING FOR 1,400 CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES FOLLOWING SEVERE ABUSE AND NEGLECT. ORR SHALOM PROVIDES OUR CHILDREN WITH PROFESSIONAL HELP, WARM AND LOVING HOMES, AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

JEWISH EDUCATION AND PROGRAMMING:THE FEDERATION, IN COOPERATION WITH AREA SYNAGOGUES AND ORGANIZATIONS, OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF INSPIRING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENABLE TEENAGERS, ADULTS AND FAMILIES TO BECOME CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE LIFELONG JEWISH LEARNERS. THE FEDERATION PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF JEWISH PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE TWO-COUNTY AREA. THIS CATEGORY INCLUDES PROGRAMS CELEBRATING JEWISH HOLIDAYS, OUTREACH EFFORTS TO THE UNAFFILIATED AND ADULT PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES AND INTERESTS. LOCALLY, THE FEDERATION CONDUCTS OUTREACH WITHIN THE JEWISH AND GENERAL COMMUNITIES, FOSTERING ISRAEL EDUCATION AND AWARENESS AND PROVIDES A FORUM FOR DEALING WITH ANTI-SEMITISM.EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS FUNDED INCLUDE: * YOUTH GRANTS ** JEWISH SUMMER CAMP INCENTIVE GRANTS: STUDIES HAVE PROVEN, OVERWHELMINGLY, THAT JEWISH CAMPING EXPERIENCES SERVE AS A CRITICAL TOOL IN JEWISH CONTINUITY EFFORTS. IN AN EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE AREA FAMILIES TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO JEWISH CAMPS, THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SARASOTA-MANATEE AWARDED $87,445 FOR 83 STUDENTS IN INCENTIVE GRANTS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS IN 2019. CHILDREN FROM SARASOTA-MANATEE ATTENDED JEWISH OVERNIGHT CAMPS SUCH AS CAMP RAMAH DAROM, CAMP BARNEY MEDINTZ, CAMP JUDEA, CAMP COLEMAN, CAMP BLUE STAR AND KUTZ CAMP. ** RELIGIOUS SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS - FEDERATION PROVIDED 70 RELIGIOUS SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $30,000. ** COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS - FEDERATION PROVIDED 18 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $79,000. ** LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT - FEDERATION PROVIDED FOR 4 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO ATTEND THE AIPAC POLICY CONFERENCE. * FEDERATION-SPONSORED COMMUNITY-WIDE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS ENSURE A STRONG JEWISH IDENTITY AND TO HELP BUILD A DYNAMIC AND ENGAGED JEWISH COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. PROGRAMS FEATURE SPEAKERS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS. * SINCE ITS INCEPTION THE FEDERATION'S PJ LIBRARY PROGRAM HAS ENABLED OVER 500 FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES 6 MONTHS TO 11 YEARS TO RECEIVE A MONTHLY MAILING OF JEWISH CHILDREN'S BOOKS, CDS, OR THE OCCASIONAL PARENT BOOK, FOR ONE YEAR. EACH BOOK AND CD CAME WITH GUIDES TO HELP FAMILIES USE THE SELECTION IN THEIR HOMES. BOOK AND MUSIC LISTS WERE CHOSEN BY THE FOREMOST EARLY-CHILDHOOD EXPERTS. THE LIST INCLUDES THEMES SUCH AS JEWISH HOLIDAYS, FOLKTALES AND JEWISH FAMILY LIFE. * THE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL, THE JEWISH FEDERATION'S LARGEST SINGLE OUTREACH PROGRAM, PROVIDES SCREENINGS OF FILMS AND EVENTS FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY ON TOPICS THAT APPEAL TO A BROAD RANGE OF INTERESTS, AGES AND POINTS OF VIEW. ** MORE THAN 6,000 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ATTENDED * THE FEDERATION HONORS ITS COMMITMENT TO HOLOCAUST EDUCATION THROUGH: ** THE SPEAKERS BUREAU, WHICH ADDRESSES ISSUES PERTAINING TO HOLOCAUST EDUCATION IN LOCAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOR THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS; ALONG WITH SPEAKING AT ROTARY CLUBS, TEMPLES AND CHURCHES REACHING HUNDREDS OF ADULTS. ** THE ANNUAL HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS LUNCHEON; ** AND FEDERATION-SPONSORED HOLOCAUST EDUCATION PROGRAMS ANNUALLY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A KRISTALLNACHT COMMEMORATION, A YOM HASHOAH HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY PROGRAM, AND AN INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY PROGRAM.

SARASOTA-MANATEE JEWISH SAFETY NET PROGRAMS:THE FEDERATION WORKS TO ENSURE THAT BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD AND SHELTER ARE MET, AS WE WORK FOR THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF JEWS IN SARASOTA-MANATEE.EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS FUNDED INCLUDE: * JEWISH HEALING PROGRAM: THE FEDERATION PROVIDES A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE FUNDING FOR THE JEWISH HEALING PROGRAM, WHICH IS IMPLEMENTED BY JFCS. EACH MONTH VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE DIRECT COMMUNITY SERVICES TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, INCLUDING BIKKOR CHOLIM (VISIT THE SICK), BEREAVEMENT SERVICES, COMMUNITY RELIGIOUS OUTREACH (TO SENIORS IN NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES), PRISON MINISTRY AND DOULA (END-OF-LIFE) SERVICES. CLOSE TO 1,500 CONTACTS WERE MADE WITH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, HELPING THE MOST AT-RISK AND ISOLATED TO RECEIVE SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE AND MUCH-NEEDED HUMAN CONTACT. * DIRECT SUPPORT FOR 127 HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS: THE FEDERATION UNDERWRITES THE COST OF ONE CASE MANAGER AT JFCS WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING A VARIETY OF SERVICES TO OUR AREA HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS. * RELIGIOUS OUTREACH: JEWISH HOLIDAYS: THE JEWISH FEDERATION FUNDED JEWISH HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHICH WERE HELD AT 14 LOCATIONS WITH MORE THAN 420 PARTICIPANTS; THIS PROGRAM IS RUN BY THE COMMUNITY CHAPLAIN AND JFCS VOLUNTEERS. * ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK: THE FEDERATION IS ONE OF THE MAIN SPONSORS OF THE SUMMER HUNGER PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDED 3.3 MILLION MEALS TO CLOSE TO 38,000 CHILDREN IN A TWO-COUNTY AREA. * COMMUNITY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND: THE FEDERATION PROVIDES EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR LOCAL JEWISH FAMILIES IN NEED FOR RENT, UTILITIES AND FOOD. THE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH JFCS. * CARING FOR THE JEWISH ELDERLY: THE FEDERATION PROVIDES BASIC HUMAN NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, MEDICINES AND HOME CARE FOR THOUSANDS OF ELDERLY JEWS IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION RECEIVE THROUGH THE JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE.

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS:THE FEDERATION WORKS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SUPPORT JEWISH-THEMED PROGRAMMING FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS FUNDED INCLUDE: * EMBRACING OUR DIFFERENCES: THE FEDERATION PARTNERS WITH COEXISTENCE, INC. AND PROVIDES A GRANT WHICH PAYS A PORTION OF THE EOD EDUCATION DIRECTOR'S SALARY EACH YEAR TO PRESENT THIS INTERNATIONAL OUTDOOR ART EXHIBIT. THE EXHIBIT PROMOTES THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY, THE BENEFIT OF INCLUSION AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ACTIVE REJECTION OF HATRED AND PREJUDICE. PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN, GRADES K-12, ARE TRANSPORTED TO THE EXHIBIT FOR FREE EACH YEAR - SINCE 2004, CLOSE TO 3.3 MILLION VISITORS HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THIS FREE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. * THE FEDERATION PARTNERED WITH A VARIETY OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PRESENT BUTTERFLIES OF HOPE AND REMEMBRANCE, WHICH COMMEMORATED THE END OF WORLD WAR II AND THE LIBERATION OF THE AUSCHWITZ CONCENTRATION CAMP. THE YEAR-LONG PROGRAM INCLUDED TRAVELING EXHIBITS, GUEST SPEAKERS, FILM SCREENINGS, SCHOOL CURRICULUM, AND ART PROJECTS PERTAINING TO HOLOCAUST HISTORY AND REMEMBERING THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO PERISHED. PARTNERS IN THIS EFFORT INCLUDED TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM, THE SARASOTA MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION, THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS OF BOTH SARASOTA AND MANATEE COUNTIES, SELBY PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND THE FLORIDA HOLOCAUST MUSEUM.