Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago

Programs: The federation's largest endeavor is to allocate funds to a network of nearly 70 agencies in the chicago area that provide assistance to 300,000 chicagoans of all faiths, including: hot meals and groceries, utility and rent assistance, prescriptions and medical care for impoverished families; job training and placement for people who are out of work; therapeutic school and specialized care for children with disabilities; support services for holocaust survivors; assisted living, specialized alzheimer's care and transportation for seniors; respite services for caregivers of frail seniors and people with disabilities; counseling, prevention and intervention services for troubled teens; and an entire continuum of prevention and therapeutic services for individuals and families in crisis. Because the jewish united fund of metropolitan chicago (juf) and the jewish federation of metropolitan chicago are so closely linked in numerous ways (combined board of directors, shared professional staff, shared office space, etc. ), and because the juf annually provides a significant grant to the jewish federation, we measure and report our program and service results jointly for the combined juf/federation enterprise, which are summarized below:local human services- 469,288 meals, food bags and grocery cards were delivered to needy local jews. - 3,730 households received more than $4. 7 million in emergency financial assistance to pay for housing, healthcare and other critical expenses. - 1,055 workers secured paid jobs. - 1,202 impoverished jews received life-preserving prescription medications. - 22,947 individuals received free or highly-subsidized mental and physical healthcare. - 5,802 seniors received services enabling them to stay in their homes. - 1,587 people learned credit repair skills and business basics to write a business plan, secure loan funding, and start a microenterprise. - 2,505 people received assistance applying for public benefits. - 523 low-income families received free or subsidized legal assistance. - 148 people were placed into more affordable, stable housing. - 472 holocaust survivors maximized their independence through in-home services, emergency financial assistance, group support, advocacy and socialization. - 922 children with disabilities received intensive therapeutic services and education. Formal and informal jewish education services:- 22,483 children and youth engaged in jewish learning and built stronger jewish identities through formal and informal jewish educational experiences;- 75% of jewish day school students received scholarships and/or tuition assistance;- 3,009 students received tuition financial assistance at 14 local jewish day schools;- local day schools got assistance with facilities management, security, loan guarantees, governance, benchmarking, and resource development;- 1,497 children received more than $1. 1 million in scholarships for jewish summer camp experiences;- 302 children received financial assistance or subsidies for a jewish early childhood educational experiences. Israel connections, advocacy and education services:- 1,531 jewish young adults went on free trips to israel courtesy of juf birthright israel, strengthening their connection to the jewish homeland;- 868 youth received juf-supported scholarships that helped them afford pivotal educational experiences in israel;- 4,208 teens gained knowledge and skills to better articulate support for israel through juf-supported programs in local high schools and jewish summer camp;- on 16 major campuses statewide, the jcrc/hillel israel initiative partners with other religious, ethnic and cultural groups to present pro-israel programs for hundreds of students and faculty; - hillel's landmark reach across illinois campuses program offers israel advocacy programming on 10 illinois campuses without a formal hillel presence; - 4 major illinois universities now have flourishing israel studies programs, established in partnership with juf/federation to share israel's contributions to technology, science and culture;- 52 participants from 12 area high schools engaged in write-on for israel, an intensive, two-year israel advocacy training program for upperclassmen. Services for families with young children:- 6,200 families with young children received free, monthly jewish books and music through juf's pj library program;- 694 jewish families with young children participated in "joyfully jewish" programs, exploring jewish life through arts & crafts, storytelling and holiday celebrations in public venues;- 302 families received $500-$1,000 juf right start gift vouchers towards tuition to a jewish early childhood program for the first child in their family to attend jewish preschool; - 148 new jewish parents received "shalom baby" gift packages, and 77 chicago newcomers received informational "shalom chicago" gift packages. Hands-on volunteerism and teen services:- 2,728 jews of all ages volunteered through juf's tov volunteer network, providing hands-on assistance from serving meals to people in need to tutoring at-risk children;- 449 teens and college students made a difference in the lives of poor jews, seniors and people with disabilities through juf-sponsored volunteer services;- 49 teens in grades 7-10 [plus 5 junior counselors in grades 11-12] from 25 schools participated in a week-long, interactive day camp held twice in august, combining service learning activities with hands-on volunteer work in the jewish community and the community-at-large;- 75 teens in grades 6-12 from 38 schools participated in monthly community service projects;- 36 high school students participated in voices: the chicago jewish teen foundation, building their skills in philanthropy and grantmaking. Young adult engagement and leadership development services:- 3,269 college students engaged in jewish activities on illinois campuses, raising their awareness of jewish values, knowledge of israel and commitment to the greater jewish community;- 28 local college students participated in an intensive summer work/study program in chicago jewish communal service, working for agencies or departments of the jewish united fund/jewish federation of metropolitan chicago;- 1,509 young business professionals attended 14 events focused on engaging the next generation of jewish businessmen and businesswomen;- 375 russian-speaking jewish young professionals came to 15 specialized events to connect with each other, the broader community, and with their own jewish identity;- 285 young professionals were engaged in a leadership capacity as members of the boards of the young leadership division, young women's board and young women's city council, which in turn gained the participation of 4,831 individuals in 99 education, advocacy, fundraising and outreach events, setting them on the path to intensive jewish involvement;- 23 professionals in their 30s and 40s, selected for their leadership potential, began participation in an intensive jewish leaders institute, grooming them for the institution's most senior leadership positions through orientation to juf/federation; organizational leadership training; education about jewish history, values and community;- some 79,431 unique visitors came to oy! Chicago, the outreach blog for unaffiliated local 20- and 30-somethings;- 86 community members serve on the juf/federation board of directors, and 350 additional community members participating in the board's 30 standing committees. Rescue and resettlement services:- 30,505 immigrants were assisted with job preparation and placement, language skills, housing and socialization programming to help them integrate into israeli society. - 17,932 jews from across the world began new lives of freedom in israel.

refugee social service program - the jewish federation of metropolitan chicago administers all refugee social services on behalf of the state of illinois. The illinois refugee social service consortium is comprised of 9 direct service agencies committed to providing quality refugee social services including: employment, english language training, cultural adjustment, mental health, senior services and school adjustment services for kindergarten to 12th grade to refugees from around the world. Contracts are funded through a combination of federal and state resources. The federation's program responsibilities have evolved over time to include: agency monitoring, program coordination and planning, development of program policy, including rfp development and management of the procurement process; technical assistance; financial management; and data collection and reporting.

hillels of illinois - federation supports a vast array of jewish activities for students at colleges, universities and professional schools in illinois. The hillel program provides opportunities for jewish students to explore and celebrate their jewish identity at 16 different college campuses in illinois, as well as through hillel regional programs. Hillel adds value - and jewish values - to the lives of jewish college students and the entire campus community. Hillel seeks to create a pluralistic, welcoming and inclusive environment for jewish college students: an environment where students are encouraged to grow intellectually, spiritually and socially.