[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 20, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 
                            90TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 20, 2007

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to all 
the friends, family and supporters of the UJA-Federation of New York on 
the occasion of its 90th anniversary. Since its establishment nine 
decades ago, UJA-Federation of New York has provided a voice of 
compassion and caring as the philanthropic arm of New York's Jewish 
community. Throughout its history, UJA-Federation of New York has been 
guided by its precepts of chesed and tikkun olam, while fulfilling its 
essential and righteous mission of extending a helping hand to those in 
need. Its extraordinary success in serving the underprivileged and 
disadvantaged have placed the UJA-Federation in the forefront of 
efforts to serve poor, the elderly, and people in need in New York, 
Israel, and throughout the world.
  Ingrained with the compassionate and philanthropic spirit that has 
characterized Judaism throughout its history, UJA-Federation's record 
of generosity is unparalleled. It is ably led by distinguished civic 
leaders, including its President, Morris W. Offit; the Chair of the 
Board, Susan K Stern; and Executive Vice President and Chief Executive 
Officer John S. Ruskay. UJA-Federation takes pride in its dedication to 
strengthening communities, advocating for at-risk youths, empowering 
the disadvantaged, and educating people of all ages. Operating through 
more than 100 agencies, including some of the leading institutions in 
New York's 14th Congressional District that I am privileged to 
represent, such as the 92nd Street Y and Beth Israel Medical Center, 
UJA-Federation has helped more than 4,000,000 people in New York and 
throughout the world. UJA-Federation and its affiliated network have 
provided a vast range of vital services, including home visits to the 
housebound elderly; social and emotional support for Holocaust 
survivors in New York; scholarships allowing children from the 
metropolitan area to attend Jewish sleepaway summer camps; and 
counseling, peer mentoring, and workshops on education and prevention 
for women battling breast and ovarian cancer on Long Island.
  The UJA-Federation's accomplishments extend far beyond our borders. 
Using cutting-edge technology, the UJA-Federation of New York has 
provided assistance to Jewish communities from Belarus to Buenos Aires. 
The UJA-Federation makes possible initiatives such as teaching Hebrew 
to Ethiopian Jews immigrating to Israel, providing crisis counselors 
after the Beslan school hostage crisis, and furnishing 13,600 elderly 
Jews in the former U.S.S.R. with hot meals and companionship.
  The UJA-Federation's compassion is also reflected in its commitment 
to emergency response and disaster relief. In 2002, the UJA-Federation 
formally established and funded the Israel Trauma Coalition, an 
alliance of medical and social service providers working to improve the 
trauma-response capacity of the Israeli mental health system, a program 
that has expanded from seven organizations to encompass more than forty 
agencies. Since the tragic 2004 tsunami that devastated Sri Lanka, 
India, Thailand and Indonesia, the UJA-Federation's Tsunami Relief Fund 
has successfully raised more than $3.5 million that was allocated to 
the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee to support emergency 
and long-term aid to affected areas. In the United States, the UJA-
Federation's Hurricane Relief Fund has raised more than $5.1 million to 
provide desperately needed assistance to Gulf Coast communities ravaged 
by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.
  The steadfast and enduring commitment of UJA Federation-New York to 
serving others is reflected in its newly renovated building at 130 East 
59th Street in New York City, where the Federation has been 
headquartered for half a century. The bright new farade, lobby, 
internal systems and office facilities reflect the dedication and 
bright future of the UJA-Federation of New York.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the extraordinary success and achievements of UJA-
Federation of New York on the occasion of its 90th anniversary.
    




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