From Marvin Schotland, President & CEO
Welcome to Giving Voice! Our new online publication is meant to inform, inspire, and engage you on topics of philanthropy and share news about our grantmaking and our evolving organization.
Reflecting on the past year, I am grateful that The Foundation was able to allocate more than $8 million of institutional grants for COVID-19 relief. It’s the largest amount by far that we have ever committed to one cause, and it’s in addition to millions of dollars recommended by our donors.
I’m also grateful to our donors, professional advisors, and grantees—and other funders we work with—for collaborating on a historic effort at tikkun olam last year. And I am most grateful to our dedicated staff who does not relent in the face of pressing needs throughout our community. In spite of a difficult year, 2020 ended quite positively for us, with $127 million in total grants distributed, $100 million contributed to charitable funds, and total assets reaching a record $1.4 billion.
Additionally, I’m pleased to share that we have just awarded $20,000 in grants for Passover to four nonprofits in Israel to help those in need celebrate the holiday. Speaking of Passover, the below four questions on philanthropy offer a creative way to explore your charitable passions at the Seder table.
On behalf of The Foundation, warmest wishes for a meaningful Passover holiday!
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Four Questions for Your Passover Seder
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This Passover, we encourage you to ask these Four Questions and find your philanthropic passion.
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$1.3 Million in New COVID-19 Response Grants
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Jewish Family Service, Los Angeles Jewish Home, Jewish Free Loan Association, Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital, and Venice Family Clinic are the newest local recipients of $1.3 million in COVID-19 Response Grants awarded by The Foundation to address urgent physical and mental health care needs arising out of the pandemic. The grants are part of our comprehensive $8 million-plus COVID-19 relief program.
“This award ensures Los Angeles Jewish Home will be able to continue providing the highest quality of medical care – including essential safety materials – to meet the challenges of COVID-19.”
— Dale Surowitz, CEO and president, Los Angeles Jewish Home
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Meet Our New Board Chair, Evan Schlessinger
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We are happy to announce that Evan Schlessinger, longtime Foundation trustee, has been elected board chair.
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Ideas for Giving: Food Insecurity
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We've selected eight organizations addressing food insecurity across LA for your consideration as you prepare for your Passover Seders this year.
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We are proud to introduce a new grant opportunity to help local Jewish nonprofits and synagogues reimagine, adapt, and evolve their work in response to COVID-19.
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We’re pleased to welcome our newest trustees: Daniella Naim Kahen, Heidi Monkarsh, and Scott Sandler who are all distinguished community leaders.
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Can't Decide Where to Give? Four Questions to Guide Your Decision
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by Naomi Strongin, Center for Designed Philanthropy
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Nearly 30 percent of low-income Angelenos do not know where their next meal is coming from. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 in 5 families in Los Angeles faced food insecurity. Now, approximately 1 in 4 households lacks access to affordable and nutritious food.
With so many people going hungry, how can we help them, especially now at Passover time, when "feeding the hungry" is tradition? Myriad organizations and food banks address this issue, but how do you choose which ones to support? When making your decisions, consider the following:
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- Is there a specific population you would like to help, such as seniors, college students, or children?
- Do you want to focus on a local issue or something beyond your community?
- Do you want to effect policy change or provide directly to those in need?
- Does the organization have a strong track record of success?
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We hope these questions help you focus your search and find what is important to you when selecting where to give. There are many excellent organizations in Los Angeles, nationally, and in Israel addressing food insecurity that we can share with you, including the eight recommended nonprofits in this issue of Giving Voice.
Please contact the Center to learn about these organizations and ways to enhance your philanthropy.
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