Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

Ensuring a Jewish future:jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta ensures a strong Jewish future by helping to instill Jewish people with a knowledge of and passion for our heritage and the Jewish people. We do this through a myriad of programs and avenues including: -providing Jewish educational experiences for our youth, as well as adults -immersive experiences like Jewish overnight summer camp and peer trips to israel -supporting Jewish life on Georgia college campuses -embracing interfaith families -fostering new gateways for involvement in Jewish life -connecting people with israel, its people and land -giving israeli and russian youth a foundation in Jewish heritage and global peoplehood -ensuring the next generation becomes the Jewish leaders and philanthropists of tomorrowwe concentrate on this area of impact because we know that there is a direct and measurable link between certain experiences that help people engage jewishly and future Jewish identity. In particular, attending Jewish overnight camp, attending Jewish day school and going to israel are the top three indicators of lasting Jewish identity. Within our Atlanta Jewish community, there is a lower-than-average percentage of age-eligible children attending Jewish overnight camp, a higher-than average intermarriage rate, and a very low percent of community members who feel connected after bar or bat mitzvah. Through our efforts in Jewish education and Jewish engagement, we can affect life-changing connections to judaism for entire generations.

Caring for jews in need: Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta cares for jews in need in order to create a safety net for the more than 120,000 jews in Atlanta, as well as jews worldwide. We do this through a myriad of programs and avenues including: -assisting seniors through services like adult day care, transportation, affordable housing, case management, counseling and wellness programs -after-school programs for at-risk youth -job training and counseling for families in distress -feeding the hungry -supporting caregivers as they care for a loved one -embracing and educating individuals with disabilities -offering interest free loans for higher education and for emergency needs -delivering immediate support in times of crisis around the world, whether related to natural disaster, political unrest of economic instabilitywe concentrate on this area of impact to help individuals weather life's unpredictable storms. Georgia is one of the fastest aging adult populations in the country, creating many needs as people live longer. Factors such as the economic downturn and continued high unemployment increase the need for financial assistance as well as mental health services. One in six children born in the u.s. is diagnosed with a developmental disability, and it is no different in the Jewish community. While Jewish households may have a lower-than-average ratio of families living in poverty, the 2013 pew study still suggests that 20% of Jewish households earn less than $30,000 a year, creating a need for services to promote financial independence. We provide for needs, and we also empower self-sufficiency, not just in our local community but also worldwide, providing, for example, empowerment programs, tutoring and language/job training for ethiopian families who immigrate to israel.

Strengthening the Jewish community: Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta is ultimately focused on one thing - strengthening the Jewish community that ties us all together and is there for all of us in a way that no single organization or institution can. We do this through funding a myriad of programs and avenues, including: -identifying unmet and underserved needs within the Jewish community -working collaboratively to create solutions for challenges our community faces -training volunteer and professional leaders -encouraging Jewish social innovation -providing community-wide support services in an efficient, cost-efficient manner -ensuring every dollar contributed is stewarded effectively to impact as many lives as possible -bringing people together through events and educational programs centered around our missionwe concentrate on this area of impact because no other organization in our community has the responsibility of caring for jews globally. We have the infrastructure to address and fill gaps in services, which creates a more vibrant community. Working together as a community, we use resources more wisely and have a stronger impact on people's lives. We leverage our collective voice to make change. We are the only Jewish Atlanta organization that looks beyond any single entity to ensure that the collective needs of the community are supported. We ensure a strong community for today, and we nurture the leaders of tomorrow so that community remains vibrant for future generations.

Other program services: these program services principally consist of grants to organizations that support cultural, social, welfare and educational programs in the general community.