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Philanthropy

I looked up UJA in the telephone book and they had an office in Mt. Vernon. I called them an...

I looked up UJA in the telephone book and they had an office in Mt. Vernon. I called them and introduced myself. I said, "Nobody has called me for my UJA contribution and I'd like to give $125," which was a lot of money then. There was sort of a dead silence, and I said, "By the way, is there any work I can do?" About 15 minutes later, there were two professionals in my living room and I was the chairman of everything in sight -- not what I had planned. *Comments taken from Oral History, recorded on August 19, 1985

Elaine Winik, President of UJA of Greater New York, 1982-1984
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Philanthropy

From both my JDC days and my Baltimore days, it had become clear to me that as goes the New ...

From both my JDC days and my Baltimore days, it had become clear to me that as goes the New York Jewish community, so goes the Jewish world; that this is the key to the whole international and continental approach to Jewry; and that an integrated, well-developed New York UJA-Federation was essential to realizing a number of the international and national objectives that I felt were essential for Jewry to come to grips with in the latter part of the twentieth century. *Comments taken from Oral History, recorded on June 13, 2001

Stephen Solender, Executive Vice President of UJA-Federation, 1986-1999
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Philanthropy

We lost my dad, Herbert Henig, in April of last year. He was 93 and his body gave up on him...

We lost my dad, Herbert Henig, in April of last year. He was 93 and his body gave up on him before he gave up on it...He loved life and living, and a big reason he felt he lived so long was because of swimming, it was his life. And the MIYJCC was the center of that life for him, and for us, especially after he passed. Dad was a presence at Mid Island, everyone knew him, loved him, and took great care of him. The pool was his home. As a way to honor and remember him, and to turn his passing into something that would be positive, into an act of love and remembrance that he too would have treasured, the Y helped set up a fund in his honor that would support an existing swimming program for kids with disabilities. Dad would have adored this. It was a way for us to give back to the Y, for friends and family to help honor his fun and unique spirit, and it was a way to help another generation of swimmers in the pool, where he himself found love and a cherished home.

Pete Henig
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Philanthropy

Growing up, I wanted to be the first in my family to attend college, but the cost was scary. My family didn't have the means to pay, so I hoped to secure a scholarship. There weren't many opportunities or dollars ...

Growing up, I wanted to be the first in my family to attend college, but the cost was scary. My family didn't have the means to pay, so I hoped to secure a scholarship. There weren't many opportunities or dollars available and there was a lot of competition. It wasn't until someone suggested that I contact UJA that I began to have hope. They worked with me and recommended me to the 92nd street Y. With the support of UJA, I received a $500 per semester scholarship from the 92nd street Y, and I was on my way to college. When the tuition went up in my third year, UJA and the 92nd street Y came through without having to ask and increased my scholarship. UJA and the 92nd street Y gave me a tremendous opportunity and I’m proud to support UJA as I promised to do.

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Philanthropy

First, giving to Federation and UJA - separately at that time - because my in-laws said you ...

First, giving to Federation and UJA - separately at that time - because my in-laws said you had to give. If you only send them a hundred dollars, you have to do it… I was 26 or 27 years old at the time I wrote a $100 check because you have to do it, that's your obligation. So that's where it began. *Comments taken from Oral History, recorded on September 28, 1995.

Alan Jaffe, president of UJA-Federation, 1992-1995
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Philanthropy

I came to US from Azerbaijan and was almost immediately embraced by the Jewish community. We rented an apartment and slept on the floor for the first night. To our surprise the door bell rang in the morning and it ...

I came to US from Azerbaijan and was almost immediately embraced by the Jewish community. We rented an apartment and slept on the floor for the first night. To our surprise the door bell rang in the morning and it was a furniture delivery from the local Jewish families organized by wonderful people Ira and Dorothy... I will never forget that little miracle and there were many, many more...

Anna Frolova
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Philanthropy

My favorite part of Jewish New York is that giving is so ingrained in the fabric of their co...

My favorite part of Jewish New York is that giving is so ingrained in the fabric of their community. My first short lived job was at UJA as a telemarketer at 16. There I learned so many Jewish traditions that benefit the welfare of others and the Earth. Now as a parent and clinical social worker, I share the importance of philantrophy with my son and clients through the PJ Library books that I recieve for free that strengthens my knowledge on various Jewish traditions. As a black, Catholic girl from Brooklyn, I appreciate all that I've learned about Tzedakah and desire to give as much as I receive from the diverse city and world around me through service and monetary contributions.

La Shawn Paul
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Philanthropy

I remember the day I changed how I think about philanthropy. I was about to give away a bunch of shoes. Some of them were brand new, others barely worn. Hundreds of dollars of shoes. As I was packing them ...

I remember the day I changed how I think about philanthropy. I was about to give away a bunch of shoes. Some of them were brand new, others barely worn. Hundreds of dollars of shoes. As I was packing them up, I started to think about how easy this was for me - to spend on shoes I never wear - and yet, how I anguish over whether to give a $36 gift to a meaningful charity. It made me re-think my priorities. And how I can make them better align with my values. I still give away too many pairs of shoes, but now I also support the things I care about in a more substantial way.