An Open Letter to the MetroWest Jewish Community

We need your help.

For over 86 years, supporters of the United Jewish Appeal of MetroWest NJ have responded to the needs of the Jewish people near and far.

We have raised money and awareness, and we have built a Jewish community which can feel proud of its many accomplishments and continued ability to serve those in need.

However, we have not seen an economic crisis like this in quite a while.

To be sure, we have responded. For our local community we have raised much needed funds through the “MetroWest Helps” campaign. And internally, we are responsibly cutting close to $1 million from our operating budget.

We will continue to show leadership during these difficult times.

But here’s the reality:

With four months left, our 2009 UJA campaign threatens to fall short of its goal by more than $3 million, close to 15% down from last year.

Three million dollars is enough to give anyone reason for pause. That massive financial gap can jeopardize the very same core services we hold dear and thought to be safe. Admittedly, it’s a daunting challenge to overcome.

We have never, as a people, walked away from a challenge; and today is no different.

We are therefore proud to announce that a number of our most loyal and generous MetroWest supporters are offering a Matching Gift Opportunity* for our community.

Between March 22nd and May 4th, any new gift or the increased portion of a repeat-gift will be matched dollar for dollar.*

This means, for both first-time supporters as well as for past donors, the new portion of your support to the Annual Campaign will be doubled in value during this period.

Our community is now at a critical juncture.

Help us raise the money needed to continue these vital services in what we all know will be a most difficult time going forward.

These services include:

· Subsidized Mental Health Counseling for those who are uninsured or can’t afford the fee

· Subsidized home care for frail Holocaust survivors whose average age is 84

· Career Counseling and Job Placement Services for newly unemployed MetroWest residents looking to their community for help

If you have supported UJA in the past but have not done so yet this year, please make your pledge to the 2009 UJA Campaign. We need your help now.
We need you to Help MetroWest.

If you receive a phone call to ask for your continued support, please respond.

If you have already made a contribution to the campaign and can make an additional commitment, please do. Please Help MetroWest.

And if you Help MetroWest between March 22nd and May 4th with either a new gift or an increased gift, those new dollars will DOUBLE.

Because of you, we have done the extraordinary for 86 years.

With you, we will continue.

Thank you.

Gary O Aidekman President/Campaign Chair 2007	Max Kleinman Executive Vice President
Scott Krieger General Campaign Chair	Leslie Dannin Rosenthal Women’s Campaign Chair
General Campaign Chairs Lori Klinghoffer Kenneth Heyman David Saginaw Ellen Goldner 2005 2003 2002 2000 Wendie Ploscowe Steven Klinghoffer Adele Lebersfeld Stanley Strauss 1998 1996 1994 1990

* We would like to thank these contributors to date for   making this opportunity possible:   Lorraine & Jerry Aresty   Judy & Stewart Colton   Thelma & Richard Florin   Audrey & Norbert Gaelen   Annette & Mel Gebroe   Jewish Community Foundation of MetroWest NJ   Dana & Peter Langerman   The Reitman Family   Jeffrey H. Rosen   The David A. Tepper Charitable Lead Annuity Trust   Judy & Josh Weston