The Safety Net When Disaster Strikes

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Endowment Fund

The images flashing across our television screens were nothing short of devastating. Homes under water and families who had lost everything.

More than 70% of Houston’s Jewish community lives in the area that was flooded by Hurricane Harvey, including nearly 12,000 Jewish elderly. Eight major institutional facilities in the Jewish community sustained catastrophic damage, including synagogues just weeks before the High Holidays.

Because of the strength of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Endowment Fund, we were able to take care of our fellow Jews and others suffering in Houston, and provide immediate financial support. Funds sent by the Federation were used for immediate cash grants for flood victims’ essential needs: extended day-camp programming to make up for delayed school openings, expanding the capacity of Jewish Family Services to provide one-stop assistance, grants to synagogue discretionary funds for specific congregational needs, and trauma counseling.

Weeks later, Hurricane Irma made landfall on Florida. Luckily the damage was less than feared but still, some communities were shattered. Again, Federation sent funds to support to those who were affected.

Then, after Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and the damage resulted in a humanitarian disaster. The Federation’s Endowment Fund again enabled us to send support to storm victims in Puerto Rico.

In these and other times of crisis, our Endowment Fund is a vital safety net. This is just one of the many ways that our Endowment Fund makes a difference. The Endowment Fund also supports our Jewish community in Cleveland by meeting needs that go above and beyond what can be supported by our annual fundraising effort, the Campaign for Jewish Needs.

Last year alone, the Endowment Fund provided financial aid for college students, helped families afford Jewish camp for their children, aided children with special needs who seek a Jewish day school education, and supported Israel by providing tools to those encountering the anti-Israel Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) on college campuses and elsewhere.

We cannot foresee what the needs of our community will be — which is why it is crucial that our Endowment Fund continues to grow. You can help by including the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Endowment Fund in your estate plan. By supporting our Endowment Fund, you will ensure that whatever the future brings, we will be able to respond as a strong, vibrant Cleveland Jewish Community.

Meet Matthew Kaliff

For more information, contact Matthew Kaliff at 216-593-2831 or mkaliff@jcfcleve.org.