Comments (0)Good Times, Bad Times
September 11, 2009Marc B. Terrill
Special to the Jewish Times
Each year, when the annual campaign for the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore closes at the end of June, I am struck by the way in which our campaign cycle mirrors the renewal of spirit represented by the start of the Jewish New Year.
Just as we are encouraged at Rosh Hashanah to reflect on our behavior in the past year, make amends to those we have wronged and strive to be a better people in the year ahead, so too do the professionals and volunteers at the Associated review the successes of the previous year, learn from their mistakes and vow to work harder in the coming year.
We have much to be proud of in the past year. Despite a tumultuous economic climate, thousands of donors stepped forward and said we are not going to abandon the needy and vulnerable among us even if we are hurting ourselves.
The 2009 annual campaign closed $100,000 higher than last year’s, an accomplishment that sets Baltimore apart from all other major city federations in the country. This milestone did not happen by accident; it is a testament to the strength of our community and our dedication to caring for our fellow community members.
This week, we kicked off the 2010 campaign with renewed passion and a clear vision for the year ahead, a year in which we will celebrate the Associated’s 90th anniversary as a cornerstone of our community. The 2010 campaign, which promises to be more challenging than last year’s, is defined by four themes that are intrinsic to the Associated’s mission: urgency, responsibility, strength and optimism.
Difficult times call for an urgent response. When our sister city, Ashkelon, was under fire from the Gaza Strip last December, we immediately mobilized, offering emotional support and financial assistance to our brothers and sisters in Israel. Support from our community provided computers for students to continue studies while schools were closed, funds for respite and post-trauma care for children and the elderly, and air conditioning for bomb shelters.
Here at home, the Associated and our agencies distributed more than $13 million in financial assistance, day school scholarships, discounted membership fees and loans to assist vulnerable families last year. We anticipate providing the same level of support, if not more, this year as individuals and families continue to struggle with unemployment, home foreclosures and economic challenges. The Associated is hopeful that, once again, we will be there to handle these urgent needs with speed and compassion.
It is not out of guilt that Jews take responsibility for each other. It is an intrinsic part of who we are and links us all as a global Jewish family. Judaism’s basic tenets inspire us to care for the environment, our neighbors and those in need, both in and beyond the Jewish community.
This commitment was especially evident last April when 500 volunteers from the Jewish and general communities joined together to build a playground at Fallstaff Elementary/Middle School, providing a safe, beautiful environment for Fallstaff students and other children and families living in the neighborhood.
Whether they are building a city playground, serving on a board or committee, or visiting a homebound senior, the thousands of committed volunteers in our midst represent the strength of our community. Our work at the Associated would not be possible without the dedication of our volunteer leaders who selflessly give of their time, talent and resources to serve our mission.
The start of a New Year is a time to look ahead with hope and, at the Associated, we always temper our response to the current needs with a sense of optimism for a bright future for our community. We know that no matter how urgent today’s needs are, we cannot meet them at the expense of our children and our children’s children. We all want them to inherit a world that is even better than the one we know. It is for that next generation that the Associated invests in programs that build Jewish identity, foster Jewish relationships and train the leaders of the future. We know these experiences will yield great dividends in the years to come.
On behalf of the Associated, I wish all of you a bright and healthy New Year. May we always be there for each other in times of sorrow and in times of celebration. As a community, may we continue to move from strength to strength. Together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish.
L’Shanah Tova.
Marc B. Terrill is president of the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.