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The
State of Your UJA
Dear
Members of the Jewish Community,
As we look forward to the rest of 2009,
I would like to take the time to review the accomplishments
and challenges of the past year. Also, I will present to you
our plans throughout the year.
Your local United Jewish Appeal Aspen Valley
continues to develop, increasing awareness of the service we
support around the world and providing strong support to the
growing Jewish community here.
We had challenges to face in 2008, both locally and
internationally:
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The global economic
crisis and the collapse of the madoff ponzi scheme
affected Jewish fundraising everywhere including our local
community.
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Increased pressure to
streamline expenses while still serving as an important
liaison among all local Jewish organizations.
* Fluctuations
in the US dollar created a challenge to our
recipients within funding programs worldwide.
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Let's
take a look at our accomplishments of 2008
* Allocated $20,000 to
each of our three Hebrew schools
* Served
as an umbrella organization to foster communication
and support each individual congregation
and the general Jewish community.
* Continued
the informative and successful email newsletter;
increased circulation by 10 percent.
* Our
website (www.aspenvalleyuja.org)
provides the latest information on Jewish News across the
globe as well as local issues and activities.
* Provided
Jewish Summer Camp Scholarships to two local children
in 2008 and will provide for six children in 2009.
* Made
available $1000 certificates for travel to Israel to
all of the Valley's B'nai Mitzvot.
· * Co-sponsored
both community Hannukah celebrations.
* Aspen
Valley's first Pomegranate Division held a December
Havdalah craft brunch (The Pomegranates are women who have
made a $1800 annual commitment to UJA) and selected a social
service program to Israel to support.
· * Presentations
by two informative Jewish speakers: Terrorist Expert Micah
Halpern and Actress Marlee Matlin
· * Co-sponsored
Israel's 60th Anniversary Celebration
· * Held
two Lion of Judah events, a
March presentation on Jewish Agency for Israel and a Summer
Luncheon (Lion of Judah is open to local as well as out of
town women who make a minimum $5000 Annual Commitment to UJA
Aspen Valley)
· * Presented
first Aspen Jewish Film Festival held in August 2008
(returning August 2009)
· * Selected
special funding projects for 2009:
-
Feeding the Eldery in the Former Soviet Union
-
Sister City Project with Beer Milka in Israel's Negev
- The
Richard Shenk Discretionary Fund
- Supported
Media Central, which provide serivces
for foreign journalists stationed in Israel
* Scholarships
and general financial support of 2nd
Annual Disabled Israeli soldiers (war/terrorist victims) ski
week in Aspen (March 26 - April 2) |
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You
should be very proud
You should be very proud to know that the Jewish community
and our organization have survived and continues to
strengthen despite the financial challenges.
Our number of donors has increased, although
total contributions were down at the finish of 2008. This is
a very good sign for the future, when we are confident the
economy turns around and we can provide more funding to the
international organizations that are dependent on your
generosity.
Thank you |
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Helping
Jews in Need Around the World
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United Jewish
Appeal/Aspen Valley • PO Box 8590 • Aspen • CO • 81612
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