In 2014/2015, UJA Federation of Greater REPORT 2014/15 ANNUAL FEDERATION UJA Toronto continued to strengthen its reputation as one of the strongest, committed and united Jewish communities in the Diaspora. Today, as it has done for close to a century, UJA Federation continues help the Jewish people in Toronto, Israel and across the Jewish world by providing for the most vulnerable; advocating on behalf of Israel and the Jews of the GTA, nurturing a strong and proud Jewish identity in our young, and supporting Jewish education – both formal and informal, considered the backbone of Jewish life. And, while we look to the year that was, UJA Federation, as always, continues to look to the future. We thank you for your ongoing commitment to UJA Federation and to the Jewish people. 2015 Annual Report.indd 1 02/12/2015 10:49:03 AM Led by the tireless efforts of Campaign Chairs Andrea Cohen and David Matlow, with UJA. Alison Himel at the helm of UJA’s Women’s Philanthropy, United Jewish Appeal’s Campaign 2015 demonstrated the outstanding generosity Helping and vision of Toronto’s Jewish community. Thanks to our extraordinary donors, UJA’s comprehensive network of more than 100 each other partner agencies and schools continue their collective mandate of providing support and care for the GTA’s most vulnerable; strenghtening the people of Israel and the Jewish world; advocating on behalf of the ANNUAL Jewish community and Israel, and, through a myriad of educational opportunities, building and nurturing a strong Jewish identity in our CAMPAIGN young people. We thank you for your ongoing commitment to UJA Federation and to Jewish values. Proof personified that good things do come in threes, UJA’s 2015 Campaign Chairs Andrea Cohen & David Matlow, as well as UJA’s 2015 Women’s Philanthropy Chair Alison Himel, took to the phones during UJA’s Super Sunday, helping our community do what it does best - come together for the Jewish people in Toronto, Israel and across the globe. UJA Telethons raised $5.5 million to help Jews around the wolrd. 2015 Annual Report.indd 2 02/12/2015 10:49:04 AM ANNUAL CAMPAIGN ANNUAL UNRESTRICTED CORE GIFTS: $57.1M RESTRICTED STRATEGIC SUPPLEMENTARY GIFTS: $5M TOTAL: $62.1M FROM 18,342 GIFTS WITH THE HELP OF 1,600+ VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING: WALK WITH ISRAEL 2015: www.ujafederation.report OVER 17,000 WALKERS AND SPONSORS RAISED OVER $1M OVER 400 VOLUNTEERS GLOBAL SEDER TO FIGHT HUNGER: RAISED $267,000 FROM 3,105 TOTAL GIFTS TELETHONS: RAISED $5.5 MILLION FROM 6,288 GIFTS OVER 17,000 CALLS WERE MADE WITH THE HELP OF 1,126 VOLUNTEERS UJA’S RUN WITH ISRAEL New in 2015, UJA’s Walk with Israel provided Torontonians with a second option to demonstrate their love and support for Israel, with the inception of UJA’s Run with Israel. More than 250 runners joined over 17,000 walkers on Monday, May 18th, in UJA’s signature annual event that unites the Jewish community and other friends of Israel. 2015 Annual Report.indd 3 02/12/2015 10:49:05 AM UJA Federation’s Tomorrow Campaign continues to reshape our city’s Jewish skyline. It is making UJA. enormous strides, raising funds to build the infrastructure for our growing community across the GTA. From downtown Toronto to the City of Helping Vaughan, the impact of the Tomorrow Campaign each other is felt throughout our city. WOLFOND CENTRE FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE build Located on the University of Toronto downtown campus, the Wolfond Centre, home to Hillel Ontario, has been serving students for community over 11 years. Hosting GTA-wide events and programming for the thousands of students from York University, University of Toronto, Ryerson University, as well as some colleges, now, more than ever, their programs support efforts to TOMORROW counter anti-Israel movements on campus. CAMPAIGN MILES NADAL JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE Serving a revitalized and energized downtown community, in the past year, more than 3,700 children participated in various programs and activities, the “Gallery at the J” welcomed over 12,000 visitors to exhibitions, and over 30,000 individuals were part of the Al Green theatre audience. JOSEPH & WOLF LEBOVIC JEWISH COMMUNITY CAMPUS AND SCHWARTZ/REISMAN CENTRE This past year, 16,000 individuals took part in programs and community/holiday celebrations; there are currently 8,300 registered members; and 60 after-school programs operate presently from the Schwartz/Reisman Centre. SHERMAN CAMPUS AND PROSSERMAN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE Over 2,000 people participated in various programs and activities, and close to 1,800 SHERMAN CAMPUS enjoyed community and holiday celebrations in On March 20, 2015, UJA Federation’s Board of the past year. The Lipa Green Centre for Jewish Directors approved the decision to move forward Community Services hosted over 5,000 meetings with the redevelopment of Sherman Campus, a and events at the Conference Centre. $65 million infrastructure project, which will see the completion of the brand new state-of-the-art Prosserman Jewish Community Centre on Bathurst Street, north of Sheppard Avenue. Fred Waks, Chair of the Sherman Campus Leadership Committee, is leading a fundraising campaign to complete the job, and we are pleased to share that a number of significant gifts have already been committed. We are confident that this tremendous momentum will continue in the months leading to the groundbreaking planned for 2017. 2015 Annual Report.indd 4 02/12/2015 10:49:05 AM TOMORROW CAMPAIGN TOMORROW Risa Dulberg enjoying art class at the Schwartz/ Reisman Centre located at the Joseph & Wolf Lebovic Jewish Community Campus. “This is one community centre that offers everything. It’s a one-stop shop for fitness, programming and socialization for all ages. It feels like home, a place where I feel comfortable to hang out, meet people, and stay connected.” www.ujafederation.report 2015 Annual Report.indd 5 02/12/2015 10:49:06 AM The Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto is UJA. dedicated to creating long-term resources to meet the challenges and needs of the Jewish community. As the endowment development and planned giving program of UJA Federation Helping of Greater Toronto, the Foundation works in partnership with individuals, families and private each other foundations to enhance Jewish community life. The Jewish Foundation is a community foundation that makes charitable giving easy fulfill and rewarding so that individuals and families can fulfill their personal philanthropic goals and translate their charitable vision into viable solutions to some of the community’s most philanthropic pressing needs. Jewish tradition teaches that one of our key responsibilities is to make the goals world a better place for future generations. JEWISH FOUNDATION INVESTMENT RETURN 9.3% GRANT DISTRIBUTIONS OF $23 MILLION TO OVER 300 ORGANIZATIONS OVER 875 FUNDS AT THE JEWISH FOUNDATION OVER $580 MILLION DOLLARS IN ASSETS AND EXPECTANCIES CONNECTING PASSIONS TO COMMUNITY NEEDS 2015 Annual Report.indd 6 02/12/2015 10:49:06 AM WHY WE CHOSE THE JEWISH FOUNDATION FOUNDATION JEWISH “To us, philanthropy is very much a family affair. And, since our family is actually comprised of four families plus our mother, there were many opinions as to the route we should take for our tzedakah before we came to a unanimous decision: The Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto. Once we learned about its diversity of giving options, the Foundation’s efficiency, low fees and terrific return, it quickly became the only option that made sense as far as we were concerned. And since our philanthropic choices come from our heart, as well as our head, everyone was excited to go with the Jewish Foundation which we all knew meant ensuring the ongoing strength and vibrancy of Toronto’s Jewish community, something we all care about very much. It’s a win-win situation!” -Shirley Diamond and Family www.ujafederation.report INVESTMENT RETURN 9.3% GRANT DISTRIBUTIONS OF $23 MILLION TO OVER 300 ORGANIZATIONS OVER 875 FUNDS AT THE JEWISH FOUNDATION OVER $580 MILLION DOLLARS IN ASSETS AND EXPECTANCIES TO COMMUNITY NEEDS 2015 Annual Report.indd 7 02/12/2015 10:49:07 AM Over the past 37 years, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto has established an exceptional UJA. bond with the State of Israel including investments in aliyah and absorption, vulnerable populations, education, healthcare, and Helping cutting-edge technology. Through strategic partnerships, UJA multiplies donors’ dollars by leveraging millions of dollars from the Israeli strengthen government, Israeli philanthropists and private foundations, for a significantly bigger impact. the people UJA IN PARTNERSHIP AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION of Israel COMMITTEE (JDC) JDC is the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian assistance organization, impacting millions of lives of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable Jews in more than 70 countries. ISRAEL & Their efforts help revitalize Jewish life in remote communities, build tomorrow’s leadership among Jewish youth, and rescue victims of OVERSEAS global emergencies. UJA, in partnership with the JDC, has: Assisted 160,000 Jews living in poverty in Former Soviet Union Supported JDC’s Crisis Relief and Rescue efforts in Ukraine Sent 1,500 children from Europe to international Jewish summer camp in Szarvas, Hungary THE JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL (JAFI) FOLLOWING THE For over 80 years, The Jewish Agency has VIOLENT CONFLICT served as the link between Diaspora Jews worldwide and Israel. UJA in partnership with IN UKRAINE THAT JAFI: ERUPTED IN APRIL 2015, Brought 26,500 new olim to Israel UJA FEDERATION, IN Empowered over 12,000 Israeli at-risk youth through the Youth Futures program PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL (JAFI), HELPED 5,920 JEWS FROM UKRAINE MAKE ALIYAH AN INCREASE OF 195% OVER 2013. 2015 Annual Report.indd 8 02/12/2015 10:49:07 AM ISRAEL & OVERSEAS & ISRAEL Eilat’s FIRST robotics team has twice taken first place in the Israel national competition, as well as first place in the Rookies Division in last year’s world championship.