News

Thanks to our donors, we are here for the Community.
JFM pandemic relief surpasses $530,000.

Dear friends,

As our city and province take steps toward re-opening, we begin to shift our mindset to one of cautious optimism. We see community programming gradually resuming within the scope of a new normal. With this shift comes the realization that this is the start of a chapter, and that certain elements of our community will continue to need enhanced financial support. The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, through the generosity and foresight of our donors, continues to stand ready to respond to those needs.

Over the past few months, the JFM's support has come in the form of our three-phase pandemic relief initiative, which to date has distributed more than $536,000 to assist charitable organizations in our province. This response was made possible by redirecting funds from our 2020 Jewish and Community Grants which, in a typical year, would have been distributed to these same organizations to support projects and programming they would have been able to offer.

With Phase 1, the JFM distributed $295,800 in relief funding to 28 Manitoba based Jewish community organizations as well as 4 front line charities that are caring for our city's most vulnerable. An additional portion of Phase 1 saw the spring distribution of our 2020 Women's Endowment Fund Grants direct $30,000 to agencies within our province, providing essential support to women and children in need.

For Phase 2, application criteria were developed that allowed community organizations to apply for grants to assist them in their recovery from the economic impact of the pandemic. We are now in the process of distributing $210,500 to 11 Manitoba based Jewish organizations.

Details of Phase 3, the final stage of the JFM's 2020 pandemic relief initiative, will be released this fall. For a full breakdown of our COVID-19 relief response, please CLICK HERE.

Although we have focused on critical community needs associated with the pandemic, we want to assure you that the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba continues to provide all of the services and support that our community has come to expect. This includes the 2020 JFM Educational Awards & Scholarships. On June 22, this year's 75 recipients were invited to the Asper Community Campus to receive their scholarship letters and be photographed for the Educational Awards & Scholarships report. Our sincere congratulations and a hearty mazel tov go out to each of them, and we wish them all the very best in their studies.

Our 2019 Annual report is arriving in mailboxes now. This year's report reflects upon a very successful year in all facets of the Foundation's business. One highlight that fills us with so much pride is the almost 4,000 messages of love and support sent through our JFM tribute card program. These heartwarming sentiments are a testament to the care and compassion of our community members and underscore your understanding that a tribute gift to the JFM is a meaningful way to reach out to people while leaving an enduring gift to our community. We hope that you enjoy this look back at 2019, as we continue to build toward a bright future in 2020 and beyond.

We are delighted that over the past months, so many of you have reached out and had conversations with our staff members. Hearing from you has been a breath of fresh air and a sign that life is indeed gradually returning to some kind of normal. If you have questions regarding endowments, distributions, or anything else, we are ready and available to speak.

Your continued commitment to endowment building ensures distribution dollars are available to support our community's needs through the most challenging and the most prosperous times alike. Every one of our donors plays a role in sustaining our extraordinary Jewish community.

We learn. We respond. We move forward.

Be well.

Sincerely,