Bob Seltzer You’ve seen this message on your rear view mirrors, but it applies to the Federation’s Annual Campaign as well!

We operate on a calendar fiscal year, so our books close on December 31 of each year. This means that now that the High Holidays are behind us, Thanksgiving can’t be far away, and Hannukah is just around the bend.

We have lots of work to do. And we need your help.

For almost 70 years, the Jewish Federation has provided vital assistance to the most vulnerable of populations – right here, in Israel, and around the world. We alone fund Hillel at Stockton, helping students live Jewishly. We alone fund Israel trip subsidies for our youth who desire to learn and spend time in Israel.

We alone manage a dynamic community website:

(www.jewishbytheshore.org) And calendar-updated daily with news from Israel. We provide much-needed funding to local agencies through our Allocations process, and through our Foundation’s grants process.

Between now and the end of the year, we will complete our outreach to all existing contributors, attempt to secure new gifts from thousands of your neighbors who do not yet contribute, speak from pulpits and before Boards of Directors, utilize direct mail, phon-athons and telemarketing to leave all stones turned.

Have you contributed to our campaign yet?

Especially In this economy, our model assures that all critical agencies get a share of limited available resources. Our Campaign is by no means a replacement for your direct giving to the agencies that touch your heart. It is a supplemental insurance policy which ensures that you’ve covered all the necessary bases.

Based upon our numbers from January through October, we are anticipating approximately $100,000 in reduced gifts from very committed and generous donors. The

only way to grow – or even maintain – our commitments to our agencies for 2010 is to close gifts from new donors, or from those who are able to increase their philanthropy this year.

We know it’s hard out there. But these are the times which define community. So, please log on and pay on line, call us at 822-4404, or stop by our office at the JCC with your credit card or check.

Adjust both your rear view mirror and your philanthropy. And fasten your seatbelts. The ride may be bumpy this year, but there’s a nice parking space just there on the right, in the distance....