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What would you do with $131.3 million? Good question. How would you distribute $131.3 million for the greatest collective impact? Better question. To answer, I’m going to pull back the curtain and reveal one of the most important aspects of our work — how we take the funds entrusted to us by donors and allocate them to the agencies and…►

Many people might hear a heart-rending story on the news and wish they could do something to help, but it takes a unique breed of person to respond immediately. More than 400 attendees gathered at UJA-Federation of New York’s Investment Management Division (IMD) Event at the Plaza to honor just that breed of leader. Bruce J. Richards, president and chief…►

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is speaking face-to-face with members of our community. We discuss a broad range of issues about Jewish life in New York, Israel, and throughout the world. However, when the conversation shifts to Jewish poverty and I share the magnitude of the numbers, the response is often disbelief or denial. “I just…►

Among the organizations still grappling with the steepest decline in giving on record is the UJA-Federation of New York, which expects to raise $141-million in its annual campaign this year, down from a high of $153-million before the recession…►

Poverty has risen dramatically in the New York Jewish community since the previous study in 2002, according to UJA-Federation of New York’s “Jewish Community Study of New York: 2011 Special Report on Poverty,” released on June 6th. More than 560,000 people in approximately 200,000 Jewish households are poor or near-poor, and 45 percent of the children in Jewish households now…►

Senator Charles Schumer, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, and Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny, along with many others in the Russian community, helped celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of UJA-Federation of New York’s Russian Division at the 2013 Charity Ball held June 2nd. More than 200 guests turned out for the event held at the Harmonie Club in Manhattan that honored Felix…►

Those who sit on the board of trustees of a not-for-profit organization take on a responsibility for the greater good, and on May 30th, UJA-Federation of New York paid tribute to the people who have given of their time and expertise twice over. The Agency Trustees Recognition event honored the dedication and leadership of the network agency trustees who serve in…►

I recently read an informative report by Beth Cousins on behalf of UJA-Federation of New York. This report dealt with approaches to dues in synagogues. It came up with three models: the Mishkan, Journey and Hybrid…►

“Pirkei Avot tells us that ‘Deeds of giving are the very foundation of the world.’ Our honorees — Ellen and Michael Brown, Karen and Edward Friedman, and Rabbi Lester Bronstein — are individuals who have given most generously of themselves,” said Pam Wexler at UJA-Federation of New York’s Westchester Celebration on May 30th. “Their vision, passion, wisdom, and commitment continually…►