At the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday night, we announced our financial achievements for the year. Our Campaign goal of $13.5 million, the highest ever for our community, was attained. Our Foundation, now with over $200 million under management, added over $18 million. Our work to raise Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) dollars for our Jewish day schools and Jewish preschools hit an all-time high of nearly $4.4 million. When one adds in dollars from other generous funders — including our partners at the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, who provide us with a $900,000 block grant for health and human services — your Federation secured over $38 million.

With all that being said, I related in my Annual Meeting address that, while we may seem like a fundraising organization, we are primarily a fund-distribution and community-building organization. Our efforts are not just to raise money for the sake of raising money, it’s all about the impact that those dollars make. And they are making quite an impact!Thanks to each and every one of you for your financial support and, more importantly, your trust and confidence in your Federation to carry out critical work for our community both locally and internationally. I look forward to many more successful years in fundraising so we can have an even bigger impact in the future.Shabbat Shalom and Shanah Tova (Happy New Year).

I wish each of you and your families a good, healthy and fulfilling year.