Federation's Opening Night event holds its own

In time of economic uncertainty

By PAUL HAIST

article created on: 2008-12-01T00:00:00

A preliminary tabulation of pledges made at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland’s recent Opening Night event totaled approximately $361,000, with additional delayed pledges yet to be tabulated.

In addition to a banquet and entertainment, Opening Night also includes presentations by top federation volunteers as the formal launch of the federation’s Annual Campaign, its fund-raising drive.

Because Opening Night is a fund-raising event, guests are asked to make their campaign pledges then and there, in response to growing needs at local and overseas beneficiary agencies.

This year’s Opening Night came Nov. 9, well into the worldwide economic crisis that has led to financial retrenchment from corporate boardrooms to family living rooms.

Last year’s Opening Night pledges totaled $366,577, representing a 14 percent gift-for-gift increase over the previous year.

So far, confirmed pledges from Opening Night are up 6 percent. That is, individual donors who pledged at Opening Night last year are collectively pledging 6 percent more this year, with additional pledges yet to be received and tabulated.

Campaign leaders were pleased.

“Under the circumstances, we are delighted that the community is showing its understanding and compassion during this difficult period,” said JFGP Executive Vice President Charles R. Schiffman.

Those in need or at risk prior to the financial crisis face increased uncertainty in their lives now. Few know this better than those whose job it is to help those others. The same is the case for the many service-delivery institutions that rely on voluntary financial support.

Jewish Family and Child Service Executive Director Marian Fenimore reports what she termed “a substantial increase” in the need for the agency’s counseling and other services in the third quarter of this year over the same period last year.

Calls inquiring about counseling services were up 44 percent. Calls inquiring about emergency aid were up 58 percent. Emergency aid may include food vouchers, crisis counseling and financial assistance for shelter, food, clothing, home care or other basic needs.

The number of persons actually served by JFCS also rose dramatically. Home-care services provided by JFCS jumped 108 percent in the third quarter, compared to a year earlier. Counseling and parent-coaching client numbers jumped by 22 percent and emergency aid was up by 25 percent

David Fuks is the chief executive officer at Cedar Sinai Park, the Jewish senior living campus in Southwest Portland that includes the Robison Jewish Health Center—a residential, nursing and adult day care facility, and Rose Schnitzer Manor—an assisted-living facility.

He said he is seeing “a slightly elevated mix of Medicaid clients” now at Robison. He said also that some adult day-care clients “are reducing hours in order to save resources.”

Likewise, said Fuks, occupancy at Rose Schnitzer Manor is lower than expected. “As the economy slows down, people are taking longer to make decisions regarding assisted living. In addition, difficulty selling one’s house can slow down the move-in process.”

He called these circumstances “harbingers of difficulty,” although he said the campus remains on budget and he expects that to remain the case throughout the fiscal year.

Lisa Horowitz is the chief executive officer at Portland Jewish Academy and the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. She too sees change arising from the economy.

At PJA she said some parents have indicated they likely will need increased tuition assistance this school year.

“There is a high level of anxiety among parents in general about tuition and tuition assistance—several parents who have not previously requested assistance have let us know that they will likely do so next year,” said Horowitz, who added that there had been an “uptick” in the amount of tuition assistance requested even before the onset of the financial crisis.

Horowitz stressed that PJA continues to deliver “the same level of educational excellence as in the past,” they are watching their expenses closely and have “frozen all non-essential expenses.”

Noting that some PJA parents have lost their jobs in the new economic environment, she said that the mitzvah moment at this year’s school auction will be dedicated to tuition assistance.

Down the hall at the community center Horowitz reported that so far “a handful of members” have declined to renew their membership “because of economic circumstances.”

She forecast what she termed “a steep hill” to achieve the center’s membership goals in these altered times.

“We are adjusting our marketing to reflect current economic realities—stressing the value we bring, the value of community we offer—and making both retention and recruitment special offers at year end.”