March 12, 2009

We need your help. For over 86 years, supporters of United Jewish Appeal of MetroWest have responded to the needs of the Jewish people near and far.

We have raised money and awareness, and we have built a Jewish community whose members can feel proud of its many accomplishments and continued ability to serve those in need.

However, we have not seen an economic crisis like this in quite a while.

To be sure, we have responded. For our local community, we have raised much-needed funds through the “MetroWest Helps” campaign. Internally, we are responsibly cutting close to $1 million from our operating budget.

We will continue to show leadership during these difficult times.

But here’s the reality:

With four months left, our 2009 UJA campaign threatens to fall short of its goal by more than $3 million — close to 15 percent down from last year.

Three million dollars is enough to give anyone pause. That massive financial gap can jeopardize the very same core services that we hold dear and that we thought to be safe. Admittedly, it’s a daunting challenge to overcome.

We have never, as a people, walked away from a challenge; today is no different.

We are therefore proud to announce that a number of our most loyal and generous MetroWest supporters are offering a Matching Gift Opportunity (see box) for our community.

Between March 22 and April 30, any new gift or the increased portion of a repeat gift will be matched dollar for dollar. (See box)

This means, for both first-time supporters as well as for past donors, the new portion of your support to the annual UJA Campaign will be doubled in value during this period.

Our community is now at a critical juncture.

Help us raise the money needed to continue these vital services in what we all know will be a most difficult time going forward.

These services include:

• Subsidized mental health counseling for those who are uninsured or can’t afford the fee
• Subsidized home care for frail Holocaust survivors, whose average age is 84
• Career counseling and job placement services for newly unemployed MetroWest residents looking to their community for help
• A hot lunch for every senior in need of basic nutrition and socialization at our community’s Congregate Meal programs

If you have supported UJA in the past, but have not done so yet this year, please make your pledge to the 2009 UJA Campaign. We need your help now.

We need you to be part of Help MetroWest.

If you receive a phone call to ask for your continued support, please respond. Please Help MetroWest.

If you have already made a contribution to the campaign and can make an additional commitment, please do. Please Help MetroWest.

And if you Help MetroWest between March 22 and April 30, with either a new gift or an increased gift, those new dollars will double.

Because of you, we have done the extraordinary for 86 years.

With you, we will continue.

Thank you.

Gary O. Aidekman
President/campaign chair 2007
Max Kleinman
Executive vice president
Scott Krieger
General Campaign chair
Leslie Dannin Rosenthal
Women’s Campaign chair

General Campaign chairs
Lori Klinghoffer 2005
Kenneth Heyman 2003
David Saginaw 2002
Ellen Goldner 2000
Wendie Ploscowe 1998
Steven Klinghoffer 1996
Adele Lebersfeld 1994
Stanley Strauss 1990

Comment: comments@njjewishnews.com

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