“It's what we do; we step up to help our community. It can be Hartford, Dallas, or anywhere in the world. We are built for times like this!” – Carolyn Gitlin, Federation’s Chair of the Board

All Jews are responsible for one another — which is why, when the Dallas and Houston metro areas were walloped by ice, snow, and a devastating freeze this February, Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford sprang into action to help our friends recover. Generous donations to the Annual Campaign allowed us to make a special allocation to the Dallas and Houston Federations, offering relief to affected Jewish organizations and individuals. 

When Federation President and CEO David Waren and Chair of the Board Carolyn Gitlin heard about the devastation to Jewish communities in Texas – extensive damage to Jewish agencies, schools and retirement facilities; homes with burst pipes; no electricity for days on end – they decided to spearhead a donation drive among the large and intermediate size (LIFE) Federations across North America. With the approval of the Board of Directors, our Federation made the lead gift of $10,000. Other LIFE Federations and our umbrella organization, Jewish Federations of North America, soon followed - raising more than $145,000 in relief funding.

Our friends at the Houston and Dallas Federations were deeply touched, and they shared their gratitude during a March Board meeting. Mariam Shpeen Feist, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, shared that “[your] allocation dollars provided close to 5,000 hot kosher dinners and Shabbat packaged dinners. We were also able to provide kosher for Passover food for another 500 people!”

Together, we truly demonstrate the power of the collective. 

Above: A frozen street in the heart of Texas, February 2021.