On healthy charities and brothers

 
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–The Jewish Federation of San Diego County has recently earned the coveted 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. “Thanks to the diligence of the Board, staff and volunteer leadership, your Federation can now count itself among the top 25% of charities in the nation,” Federation chair Claire Ellman and Interim CEO Michael Sondak said in a statement.

Charity Navigator, America’s premier charity evaluator, highlights the fine work of efficient, ethical and open charities. They do this by evaluating two broad areas of performance; Financial Health and Accountability & Transparency. The ratings show donors how efficiently a charity will use their support today, how well it has sustained its programs and services over time and their level of commitment to being accountable and transparent. In the world of charitable giving, a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator is the ultimate stamp of approval, signifying that an organization is a sound social investment for prospective donors.

“We are so very proud of our board, our staff and our volunteer leadership for making this all possible,” Ellman and Sondak said. “We have worked hard to make sure we’re creating the greatest possible impact as efficiently as we can, and we’re proud to have earned this distinction. We’re grateful to all of you for supporting our work, and we’re glad to show you that we’re using your donations responsibly.”

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SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–Jewish Family Service has recounted the following: When Aaron was 11, his father died of cancer. About a year later, Aaron’s mother thought that Aaron might benefit by having a male role model in his life. Aaron was introduced to Mike, his new Big Pal, and what started out as a good match evolved into a deeper relationship. The two have been paired together for four years and they feel like family.

Mike was at Aaron’s Bar Mitzvah, watching proudly. He attends as many of Aaron’s baseball, basketball, and water polo games as he can. And Aaron trusts Mike: they talk about school, relationships, and what he wants to do next in his life.

In Aaron’s most recent meeting with a BIGPals supervisor, the question came up about what he would like to do in the next year together, and his answer was “to learn to tie a tie.”  It seems so simple, but it’s something a father would teach a son. Mike, Aaron’s Big Pal, will never replace Aaron’s father, but now Aaron has another person in his life to care about him, watch him grow, and help him along the way.

Moments like this are what make Jewish BIGPals such an incredible program. All it takes is a few hours a month doing things you normally do—like going to the beach, attending community events, BBQing, or shooting hoops. You can make a big difference in a child’s life. And you never know—your life might be changed too.

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Preceding supplied by the Jewish Federation of San Diego County and Jewish Family Service