The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is grateful for the extraordinary support of our Jewish community during the crisis in Ukraine. As of May 20, our Emergency Response campaign focused on Ukraine has raised $1.25 million, which aids in providing critical humanitarian work on the ground.

This tremendous effort is part of a North American emergency fundraising campaign. As of May 10, the Jewish Federations announced that the aid to Ukraine has topped $60 million. Funds have been allocated to thirty-five NGOs that are operating on the ground in Ukraine and neighboring countries, including our core partner agencies, The Jewish Agency for Israel, The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), and World ORT. They are using these funds to provide housing, clothing, cash assistance, medical attention, mental health services, life-saving rescue operations, security, and transportation to refugees, including those who are making Aliyah.  To take just some striking examples from the work that two of our partners, the JDC and Jewish Agency are doing:    

• 34,000 people have been served through the JDC
• 2,415 people have received medical assistance
• 12,276 people have been evacuated to other countries
• 1,800 people have been treated using telemedicine at Israel’s field hospital
• 11 emergency hotlines have been set up
• Over 11,500 olim have come to Israel from Ukraine and Russia
• 18 facilities have been operated at 5 border crossings

Local Grants

Locally, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Emergency Response Committee reviews and approves requests for support.

“It is encouraging to see our local community coming together as part of the national effort within the
Federation system, giving generously in support of our Ukrainian Jewish brothers and sisters,” said
Adam E. Laver, Chair of the local Jewish Federation’s Emergency Response Committee. “Dollars received
from our Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia contributors are supporting organizations that are
saving lives each and every day.”

To date, the following distributions of emergency fund dollars have been made : 

• $755,000 as part of The Jewish Federations of North America national campaign that provided funds to 35 NGOs operating on the ground in Ukraine and neighboring countries
• $342,000 emergency funding for:
  • Ongoing refugee trauma services
  • Emergency and medical services in Ukraine
  • The Emergency Volunteer Project (EVP) to send 12 Greater Philadelphia firefighters to Ukraine to assist rescue and recovery teams
  • Financial resources for refugees in our Partnership2Gether region in Israel
  • IT Works, a pilot project based in Israel that offers employment training services for immigrants from Ukraine and Russia
• $13,975 to HIAS PA for interpretation and legal services in anticipation of refugees coming to the Greater Philadelphia area

Help The Crisis in Ukraine Now
Click here to donate to the Emergency Response Fund