Jewish Funds for Justice collects money to help oil spill relief

Jewish Funds for Justice is accepting donations to help in the cleanup from the Gulf Coast oil spill.

Tax-deductible donations can be made by individuals and organizations to the JFSJ Gulf Coast Disaster Recovery Fund online at jewishjustice.org or http://bit.ly/9UfGSU, by phone at (212) 213-2113 x3, or mailed to JFSJ, 330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY.

May 4, 2010 – Jewish Funds for Justice (JFSJ) announced today that it is accepting donations to help affected communities in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. This is the first Jewish disaster fund to help residents and communities impacted by the oil spill. Building on JFSJ’s long-term commitment to and deep relationship in the region, the Gulf Coast Disaster Recovery Fund will provide an effective vehicle for distributing financial resources to community-based organizations on the front lines.
Already, more than 6,800 square miles of federal fishing areas have been shut down in the Gulf of Mexico, eleven Deepwater workers are presumed dead, and 210,000 gallons of crude oil are being spewed into the gulf each day. The Gulf Coast fishing industry, which is the largest seafood producer in the continental United States, may lose $2.5 billion because of the spill, according to early estimates.
“From the first report of the explosion, Jewish Funds for Justice has been in communication with our partners on the ground from New Orleans to Boothville, from Plaquemines Parish to the Houma Nation,” said Simon Greer, JFSJ CEO and President. “The message we’re hearing is clear: workers and families are at risk of losing their livelihoods permanently. Jewish Funds for Justice believes we have an obligation to help the most vulnerable among us and to ensure that families have the support they need, whether it’s helping to employ displaced workers in new jobs, making sure homes aren’t lost to foreclosure, or keeping families safe from environmental pollutants.”
Since 2005, JFSJ has led rebuilding efforts through its Hurricane Recovery and Redevelopment Fund. In partnership with a broad segment of the Jewish community, including the United Jewish Communities, UJA-Federation of New York, Union for Reform Judaism, Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, and the Andrea & Charles Bronfman Fund, the Fund helped channel the Jewish community’s outpouring of support in response to Hurricane Katrina. JFSJ works with grassroots organizations that have earned the trust of their communities and are well positioned to give voice to and address unmet needs of low-income residents.
Through this fund and its other Gulf Coast initiatives, JFSJ will work with its long-standing community partners to provide both immediate and long-term assistance.  Tax-deductible donations can be made by individuals and organizations to the JFSJ Gulf Coast Disaster Recovery Fund online at jewishjustice.org or http://bit.ly/9UfGSU, by phone at (212) 213-2113 x3, or mailed to JFSJ, 330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY, 10001.

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Jewish Funds for Justice (JFSJ) is a national public foundation guided by Jewish history and tradition. JFSJ helps people in the United States achieve social and economic security and opportunity by investing in healthy neighborhoods, vibrant Jewish communities, and skillful leaders. Our holistic approach to social change includes grantmaking and community investing, service learning and leadership development, organizing and advocacy.
 - Jacob Berkman