With catastrophic earthquakes rocking Latin America, the Jewish Federation has broadened the scope of its earthquake relief efforts to encompass Chile as well as Haiti.
To date, the Jewish Federation Haitian Earthquake Relief Fund—which now will be known simply as the Jewish Federation Earthquake Relief Fund—has raised nearly $737,000 for non-sectarian humanitarian aid to earthquake survivors in Haiti. As of March 1, new contributions also will benefit affected Chileans.
Contributions may be made via the Federation’s secure site, by calling the Jewish Federation Earthquake Relief hotline (312-444-2869), or by sending a check to: Jewish Federation Earthquake Relief Fund, 30 S. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60606.
As Jewish Federation is absorbing all administrative costs, 100% of collected funds will assist earthquake survivors and their communities.
“We are proud that our Federation is able to respond quickly to such crises, proud of our Chicago Jewish community’s extraordinary generosity, and proud that the community expects and trusts us to be the conduit for that generosity,” said Jewish Federation Chairman David Sherman.
The Federation has been helping fund on-the-ground efforts in Haiti by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and IsraAID, a coalition of Jewish and Israeli rescue and relief organizations. In highlighting its relief activities in Haiti, IsraAID has cited Chicago’s Federation as one of its primary sources of support.
With community support funneled through Chicago’s Federation, JDC and potentially IsraAID also will assist on the ground in Chile. World ORT also is poised to assist in meeting local needs.
JDC is now receiving up-to-the-minute reports from its Latin America team on the ground, which is conducting a full and rapid assessment of the situation, working closely with Chile’s Jewish community to determine critical next steps based on immediate needs of the hardest-hit areas. This includes assessing the impact of the earthquake on the Jewish community, which numbers about 16,000. As it has done in Haiti, JDC will leverage its strong partnerships in the region to provide a quick and effective response to the needs of those affected.
Chile is home to the Latin American Headquarters of World ORT, which has a track record of providing educational and vocational support to both Jewish and non-Jewish Latin Americans for some five decades.
