Jewish Federation of Cleveland

DIRECT SERVICES INCLUDE PROGRAMS THAT HELP MEET THE SOCIAL WELFARE, RELIGIOUS, AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN CLEVELAND, ISRAEL, AND AROUND THE WORLD. THESE INCLUDE:1. GROWING JEWISH CLEVELAND'S EMPLOYMENT RELATED SUPPORT PROGRAM PROVIDES ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE FOR THE NETWORKING JOB-READY CANDIDATES WHO ARE NEW TO NORTHEAST OHIO OR PLANNING A MOVE TO NORTHEAST OHIO.2. THE PUBLIC EDUCATION INITIATIVE (PEI) TRAINS AND COORDINATES APPROXIMATELY 75 VOLUNTEER TUTORS WHO PROVIDE LITERACY ENRICHMENT TO 200+ CHILDREN IN THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT EACH YEAR. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND HAS GROWN FROM 1 SITE TO 7. PEI IS WELL-ESTABLISHED AS THE LARGEST LITERACY TUTORING PROGRAM IN THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT. 3. THE JEWISH VOLUNTEER NETWORK (JVN) CONNECTS VOLUNTEERS TO A WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES IN BOTH THE JEWISH AND GENERAL COMMUNITY. IN THE PAST YEAR, JVN VOLUNTEER EFFORTS HAVE INCLUDED SERVING MEALS TO AT-RISK CHILDREN, ASSISTING THE ELDERLY, AND BEAUTIFICATION OF COMMUNITY CEMETERIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS. SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, JVN VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN NEARLY 40 NEW VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES. TO LESSEN ISOLATION, HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS, PLACED CARING CALLS TO 1800 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AGES 75+. THEMED GIFT BAGS WERE DELIVERED TO THE HOMES OF 2400 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AGES 80+ BY VOLUNTEERS. IN TOTAL, APPROXIMATELY, 1,500 VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN OVER 50 NO-CONTACT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. 4. FEDERATION'S COMMUNITY OPTIONS AND JEWISH COMMUNITY HOUSING PROGRAMS HELP 900 SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY LIVE LONGER INDEPENDENTLY THROUGH PROVISION OF ACTIVITIES, ON-SITE HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, AND SERVICE REFERRALS.5. THE OVERSEAS CONNECTIONS COMMITTEE OVERSEES AND RECOMMENDS FUNDING TO JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA OR OTHER NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR A MYRIAD OF SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN, YOUNG ADULTS AND FAMILIES IN ISRAEL, HUNGARY AND RUSSIA, AND TO FOSTER THE REVIVAL OF JEWISH LIFE. CLEVELANDERS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THESE INITIATIVES. 6. THE FEDERATION'S PJ LIBRARY PROGRAM FOR JEWISH FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN (AGES 6 MONTHS TO 7 YEARS), HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER 133,000 BOOKS TO OVER 4,300 CHILDREN (SINCE JANUARY 2009) AND ORGANIZED A LARGE RANGE OF EVENTS TO BUILD COMMUNITY AROUND THE PROGRAM. 7. ACCESS JEWISH CLEVELAND, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE INFORMATION & REFERRAL SERVICE, IS A COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN ACCESS EITHER THROUGH PERSONALIZED, CONFIDENTIAL PHONE ASSISTANCE OR A WEBSITE. THE PROGRAM IS A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE FEDERATION, ITS BENEFICIARY AGENCIES, SYNAGOGUES, AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CLEVELAND JEWISH COMMUNITY AND PROVIDES ACCESS TO A HOST OF INFORMATION ABOUT PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. FEDERATION'S ROUNDTABLE ON FINANCIAL DISTRESS CONVENES ALL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH CLIENTS FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP SO THEY CAN NETWORK AND COLLABORATE ON IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING THEIR CLIENTS. AS A RESULT OF THIS ROUNDTABLE, THE FRONT LINE STAFF FROM EVERY ORGANIZATION HAVE UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF COLLABORATION TO SERVE THE CLIENTS. THIS COLLABORATION LEVERAGES THE SPECIALTIES AND EXPERTISE OF EACH ORGANIZATION AND MAXIMIZES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SERVICES DELIVERED TO CLIENTS BY EACH AND EVERY ORGANIZATION. THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE COORDINATING EFFORTS OF ACCESS JEWISH CLEVELAND.8. THE CLEVELAND ISRAEL ARTS CONNECTION IS A PROGRAM OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF CLEVELAND, CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE MOST DYNAMIC 21ST CENTURY CULTURAL EXPERIENCES THAT ISRAEL HAS TO OFFER. WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTHEAST OHIO'S LEADING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, WE STRIVE TO IDENTIFY, ENHANCE, PROMOTE, AND CREATE UNIQUE AND ENGAGING ISRAELI CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES. THOUSANDS OF CLEVELANDERS ENJOY ATTENDING ISRAELI CULTURAL EVENTS PRESENTED BY OUR FINE ARTS PARTNERS. THE ROE GREEN GALLERY, LOCATED AT THE FEDERATION, HOSTED ART EXHIBITIONS DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO BOTH THE JEWISH AND GENERAL COMMUNITY AUDIENCES.

INDIRECT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE FEDERATION THROUGH ITS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS INCLUDE:1) HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH CULTIVATES AND DEVELOPS LEADERSHIP FROM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.2) THE PLANNING AND ALLOCATIONS DEPARTMENT, WHICH WORKS WITH A NETWORK OF 15 LOCAL BENEFICIARIES AND PROGRAMS TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS, ENGAGE IN LONG-TERM AND STRATEGIC PLANNING, AND ALLOCATE FUNDS TO PRIORITY PROGRAMS. THE COMMUNITY PLANNING COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED A TASK FORCE TO EVALUATE SERVICES FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND OTHER DEMENTIAS. THE TASK FORCE'S RESEARCH HAS BEEN SUMMARIZED INTO A FINAL REPORT, AND THE STAFF, IN COORDINATION WITH APPROPRIATE BENEFICIARY AGENCIES, ARE BEGINNING TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND CARE NAVIGATION AND BECOMING A "DEMENTIA FRIENDLY" COMMUNITY. 3) THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE (CRC) SERVES AS THE CENTRAL COORDINATING AND RESOURCE BODY FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS FIELD AND IS AN ACTIVE FORCE IN CLEVELAND'S CIVIC AND COMMUNAL LIFE. THE CRC: PROMOTES EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND FULL CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES FOR JEWISH AND ALL OTHER RACIAL, RELIGIOUS, AND ETHNIC GROUPS IN CLEVELAND; ENCOURAGES AMICABLE RELATIONSHIPS, MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, AND RESPECT AMONG THE VARIOUS GROUPS IN CLEVELAND; HELPS CREATE AND MAINTAIN CONDITIONS THAT ARE CONDUCIVE TO ENCOURAGING THE CONTINUITY AND VITALITY OF JEWISH LIVING IN A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY; PROTECTS AND STRENGTHENS THE RIGHTS AND INTERESTS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN CLEVELAND; COMBATS ANTI-SEMITISM AND EVERY OTHER FORM OF RACISM OR GROUP PREJUDICE, PROBLEMS, CONCERNS, AND COMMITMENTS; AND PROVIDES FORUMS FOR JEWISH COMMUNAL LEADERSHIP TO EXCHANGE VIEWS WITH KEY LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND GLOBAL PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND INFLUENCERS.4) CENTRAL SERVICES PROVIDE BENEFIT PROGRAMS, SECURITY ADVICE, RISK MANAGEMENT ADVICE, INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE, FUNDS FOR CAPITAL REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS, AND TRAINING AND INFORMATION ON TOPICS SUCH AS SECURITY, RETIREMENT PLANNING, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO THE FEDERATION'S 15 LOCAL BENEFICIARIES AND PROGRAMS.5) THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE ADVOCATES ON ISSUES SUCH AS SECURITY, MEDICAID, MEDICARE, TRANSPORTATION, AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND NUTRITION, HELPING CLEVELAND CITIZENS RECEIVE NEEDED SERVICES AND SUPPORT.6) THE ENDOWMENTS AND FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT TO HIGH PRIORITY FEDERATION INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS AND OFFERS DONORS OPPORTUNITIES TO FUND INNOVATIVE AND PRIORITY CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS, AND PROMOTES COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE FEDERATION AND OTHER FUNDERS IN CLEVELAND.7) THE FEDERATION PROVIDES FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR SECURITY SERVICES TO LOCAL JEWISH BENEFICIARY AGENCIES, SYNAGOGUES, JEWISH PRESCHOOLS, AND OTHER JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS. THE FEDERATION ENGAGES JFC SECURITY, LLC (A SINGLE-MEMBER LLC WITH THE FEDERATION AS ITS MEMBER) AS ITS PRIMARY PROVIDER OF SUCH SERVICES.