Thanks to generous community members, Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City ended 2022 having raised more than $6.5 million in support of programs and services for the Jewish community locally, nationally and globally.
This included raising some $225,000 from more than 325 benefactors to support ongoing relief efforts in war-torn Ukraine and surrounding areas.
These relief funds were distributed among Federation’s core overseas partners, The Jewish Agency for Israel, The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and World ORT, as well as other NGOs on the ground in Ukraine.
At the same time, more than $3 million was invested in programs and services in our own community last year, supporting the most vulnerable with direct financial assistance, providing other safety net services like access to food and mental health services, and ensuring access to Jewish education and experiences, from preschool to day school or camp.
Key investments secured in 2022 include a $202,000 grant from the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)’s LiveSecure initiative. The grant is both renewable and expandable, and Federation intends to seek and secure $250,000 in 2023 and then again in 2024, which would result in more than a $700,000 investment in Kansas City’s community security.
“Professionals on the Federation staff work closely with volunteer leaders and generous philanthropists every day to ensure we raise the resources necessary to sustain and enhance Jewish life in our own community and around the globe,” said Derek Gale, vice president and chief operating officer of Jewish Federation. “We acknowledge and appreciate these efforts that help our community to be vibrant, thriving and safe.”
Other notable Federation accomplishments in 2022 include:
Community study action
A Jewish Federation priority was analyzing and acting on the results and conclusions of the 2021 Kansas City Jewish Community Study, the first of its kind in more than 35 years. Throughout 2022, Federation held briefings on the study’s data and findings for all segments of Jewish Kansas City, including customized briefings for its partner agencies, the city’s congregations, and the wider community.
Action based on the study’s data started in the spring with a community planning task force, and a subsequent collaborations task force met over the summer to determine how best to serve the community through collaborative efforts. In the fall, Federation staff began organizing feedback opportunities around connectedness and engagement, focusing specifically on data regarding newcomers to Kansas City and interfaith couples and families. Those efforts continue into 2023 as Federation works with partners across the community to make Jewish Kansas City more welcoming.
Bringing Jewish young adults and families to Kansas City also is a priority based on the study’s finding that the median age of a Jewish adult in greater Kansas City is 60 years old. Federation has created a pilot program to attract Jewish newcomers to Kansas City through short familiarization visits, and has received significant grant funding to launch the program this year.
“We recognize that the future of our Jewish community depends on a thriving young adult and young family population, and we know that half of Jewish adults younger than age 40 have lived in Kansas City for 10 or fewer years, so newcomers are both a key source of youth and of future growth/sustainability for our community,” said Andi Milens, Federation’s Chief Planning Officer.
Engaging the community
Despite the aging population, young Jewish community members are active in the community. Some of Federation’s strongest growth in 2022 was through affinity groups such as its Young Adults Division (YAD).
YAD’s “IMPACT” programs, held in partnership with organizations such as The J, Jewish Family Services, Jewish Community Relations Bureau | AJC, Priya and Village Shalom, show young adults the support that Federation provides to important areas such as cultural arts, older adults, families in need, mental health support and more. As a result, Federation reported more new contributions from young adults in 2022 than in previous years.
Growing leaders
This past spring, Federation launched the second cohort of the Community Leadership Forum, with nine chair-elects for community organizations learning together, on topics including “building leadership teams” and “the challenges of being a board chair.” Part of this program’s purpose is to build connections between institutions’ volunteer leadership, encouraging them to see their roles not just as leaders of singular entities, but as leaders of our community as a whole. By the end of the program, participants were advocating for additional gatherings in 2023.
Fighting antisemitism
Federation’s original short play commissioned as part of the 2021 “Shine A Light on Antisemitism” effort — which featured volunteer teen actors from the local Jewish community — was performed twice in the first half of 2022 at Notre Dame de Sion and Congregation Beth Shalom’s Polsky Religious School. The play will soon be performed again at Notre Dame de Sion’s high school, and Federation is working with partner JCRB|AJC to bring it to other schools this spring.
Additionally, in December, Federation organized two public menorah lightings outside Kansas City's City Hall with additional lightings in City Council chambers, alongside Mayor Quinton Lucas, City Manager Brian Platt, Councilwoman Andrea Bough and a number of other City Council members. Federation urged city leaders to speak out against antisemitism, resulting in a proclamation signed by the mayor and Councilwoman Bough denouncing antisemitism.
