Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jewish Federation and the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona together with local families created a pandemic relief fund to provide resources to help the community during these challenging times. To date, more than $300,000 has been raised for pandemic relief efforts.
The fund’s first disbursements were $20,000 each to Jewish Family & Children’s Services, for its Jewish Emergency Relief Fund and Jewish Elder Access program, and Interfaith Community Services, whose services to the greater Tucson community include two food banks currently operating on a drive-through basis, senior services, and an emergency relief fund.
The fund enabled JFCS to use Handi-Car for its Mitzvah Magic and Matza & More deliveries to Jewish families in need.
Last week, the Jewish Community Pandemic Relief Fund awarded a $2,075 grant to Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network. The grant to TIHAN will enable more than 50 households with members who have pre-existing medical conditions and are at high-risk of contracting COVID-19 to engage in lifesaving telemedicine
Also last week, the board of the Free Loan designated $20,000 for interest-free loans to people directly affected by COVID-19. Those in need can apply for up to $750 without a guarantor or up to $5,000 with guarantors. For more information, contact yana@thefreeloan.org.
On April 20, 49 community stakeholders attended a Zoom panel discussion hosted by JFSA and JCF, “Philanthropic Leadership in Times of Crisis: Preparing Ourselves and the Nonprofit Community for What’s to Come.” Graham Hoffman, JCF president and CEO and JFSA president and CEO-elect, moderated the discussion with panelists Helaine Levy, John C. Amoroso, and Jody Maizlish Gross.
Levy is the executive director of the Diamond Family Philanthropies and a principal of Diamond Ventures, a privately held company specializing in real estate and private equity investment. She currently serves on the JFSA board of directors. Levy co-founded two non-profits, Nonprofit Loan Fund of Tucson (now Growth Partners Arizona) and Social Venture Partners Greater Tucson. Amoroso is the executive director of The David and Lura Lovell Foundation, which focuses on mental health, integrative health and wellness, youth access to the arts, and gender parity. Amoroso has a Master of Nonprofit Management degree from Regis University and currently serves as chair of the board of directors of the Arizona Grantmakers Forum. Gross is the director of the Maizlish Family Foundation, established by her parents, Irvin and Phyllis Maizlish. She divides her time between Tucson and Park City, Utah. She has served on the national board of Jewish Federations of North America and as vice chair of the Park City Community Foundation.
For more information about community resources, including opportunities to volunteer, visit www.jfsa.org/pandemic.
To donate, go to www.jfsa.org/pandemicrelief.
