Jewish Federation of the Desert awards $1M in grants to a variety of organizations

Jeff Hocker
·3 min read
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Jewish Federation of the Desert Co-President Cora Ginsberg, left, Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs Director of Operations Leonard Perez, JFED Vice President of Campaign Arnie Gillman, and JFED CEO Alan Potash, during the Grant Distribution Event in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on August 22, 2022.
Jewish Federation of the Desert Co-President Cora Ginsberg, left, Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs Director of Operations Leonard Perez, JFED Vice President of Campaign Arnie Gillman, and JFED CEO Alan Potash, during the Grant Distribution Event in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on August 22, 2022.

Each year, Jewish Federation of the Desert (JFED) provides funding to local, regional and international organizations in a variety of categories. An event was held Aug. 22 to distribute grants to wide array of agencies, which quite often, are on the front lines helping individuals, families, seniors.

In total, these worthwhile organizations were allocated more than $1 million.

“The Jewish Federation of the Desert works diligently to educate and engage the community to help us meet our core mission to raise funds to distribute back to the community,” said Jackie Cohen, board co-chair, JFED. "Our goal is to assist individuals and families in need and provide a better tomorrow."

Jewish Federation of the Desert Vice President of Campaign Arnie Gillman, left, Joslyn Senior Center President of the Board of Directors Beverly Fitzgerald, and JFED CEO Alan Potash, during the Grant Distribution Event in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on August 22, 2022.
Jewish Federation of the Desert Vice President of Campaign Arnie Gillman, left, Joslyn Senior Center President of the Board of Directors Beverly Fitzgerald, and JFED CEO Alan Potash, during the Grant Distribution Event in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on August 22, 2022.

Distribution of local allocations

Caring for the vulnerable: JFED brings together communal agencies, organizations and congregations to identify the needs of the vulnerable and determine how to address them. The organization partners with these nonprofits to ensure that the vulnerable in our community are taken care of and can live with dignity no matter what their circumstances. These include: Angel View, Bikur Cholim, Jewish Family Service of the Desert, Mizell Center, Temple Sinai and The Joslyn Center.

Jewish education and engagement: These allocations encourage and assist Desert Area Jews to explore, strengthen and expand their communal engagement with vibrant Jewish living and learning throughout their lives. This core mission is accomplished by providing creative insight, expertise and financial resources to organizations that inspire a life-long connection to the Jewish community, make Jewish education meaningful and accessible and deepen Jewish identity. Congregation Beth Shalom, Congregation Har El, Inland and Desert Hillel Council, Temple Har Shalom, Temple Isaiah and Temple Sinai are among JFED's grantees.

Community inclusion, security and addressing anti-Semitism: A few of the organizations who have received support are Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs, Inland and Desert Hillel Council, Secured Community Network, Holocaust Museum Los Angeles, Or Hamidbar, as well as ADL- A World of Difference Institute.

Jewish Federation of the Desert Co-President Cora Ginsberg, left, and Anti-Defamation League Education Director Annie Ortega-Long, during the Grant Distribution Event in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on August 22, 2022.
Jewish Federation of the Desert Co-President Cora Ginsberg, left, and Anti-Defamation League Education Director Annie Ortega-Long, during the Grant Distribution Event in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on August 22, 2022.

Distribution of overseas allocations

Israel and world Jewry: Jewish communities, both abroad and locally, continue to face economic hardship, isolation, anti-Semitism and social welfare needs, particularly among the elderly. Here in the desert, we are working to build a more meaningful, mature relationship with Israel and to grow our support for global Jewish communities in need. These organizations include: Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind, Jewish Agency for Israel, Jewish Federations of North America, Joint Distribution Committee, Ramat HaNegev – Center for Children with Special Needs and their Pithat Nitzana (children and youth programs).

Alan Potash, CEO, JFED, said: “The Jewish Federation of the Desert takes pride and responsibility in raising funds and allocating those funds appropriately. One of our core values is collective responsibility, and we demonstrate this by both raising money from the community and distributing back to the community. As a community, we work hard at making sure needs are met as they are aligned with our mission.”

Jewish Federation of the Desert Co-President Cora Ginsberg, left, Anti-Defamation League Education Director Annie Ortega-Long, JFED CEO Alan Potash, and JFED Vice President of Campaign Arnie Gillman, during the Grant Distribution Event in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on August 22, 2022.
Jewish Federation of the Desert Co-President Cora Ginsberg, left, Anti-Defamation League Education Director Annie Ortega-Long, JFED CEO Alan Potash, and JFED Vice President of Campaign Arnie Gillman, during the Grant Distribution Event in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on August 22, 2022.

JFED's mission is to enhance and enrich the quality of Jewish life by recognizing and supporting the charitable, educational, humanitarian and social service needs of the Jewish community locally, nationally, overseas and in the state of Israel.

For information on how you can support Jewish Federation of the Desert, call (760) 324-4737 or visit jfedps.org.

Jeff Hocker is the publicist and marketing specialist for Jewish Federation of the Desert.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Jewish Federation of the Desert Palm Springs awards $1M in grants