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15 October 2021
2021 hasn’t been easy, as we all know. Many in our community have faced significant challenges. And yet, 2021 also highlighted our community’s strength, resilience, and compassion. I encourage you to take a few moments to peruse Federation’s just-released 2021 Annual Report—a fully digital, immersive, and interactive showcase of our work over the past year as well as a look forward.
Among the highlights:
- We continue to partner with donors and communal leaders to address the most pressing needs in our community. With the millions we have raised for COVID-19 relief and human service needs, we are caring for individuals and families in the short term and planning for the long term. And through 703-J-CARING: the Jewish Community Support Line and our anti-poverty initiative, we are furthering our capacity to support local community members in need.
- We are connecting more families with young children to opportunities for engagement in Jewish life, including through PJ Library, JFamily Ambassadors, and more. Across DC, MD, and Northern VA, 8,100 local children receive monthly PJ Library books, empowering their parents to celebrate and engage them in Jewish life, culture, and values.
- And we are engaging communal leaders—convening conversations and creating learning opportunities through which they are developing rich relationships. In turn, we are deepening connections to enable new ideas, collaboration, and change—translating theory into collective action.
Although the pandemic placed a harsh spotlight on how pervasive our needs are, it also presented an opportunity to rethink our approach and learn more about our community. I’m proud of what we have accomplished together and encouraged by all that’s on the horizon.
As we enter Shabbat, I thank you. Our team at Federation is deeply grateful to you, our partners in building vibrant Jewish life in Greater Washington. Thank you for your generosity, your leadership, and your passion for ensuring a bright future for us all. We hope you feel as proud as we do of all we have achieved together and equally as inspired to move forward.
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil