The first million dollars in individual contributions toward the $6,000,000 fund which the United Jewish Campaign of New York is seeking as New York’s share in the $15,000,000 overseas chest, has already been pledged, according to an announcement made yesterday by Dr. David M. Bressler, vice-chairman of the New York Campaign. These gifts are made up of contributions from thirteen individuals and total $1,025,000.
Mr. Warburg heads the group of contributors with a gift of $400,000 which he pledged at the Philadelphia conference held last September when plans for the launching of the $15,000,000 fund under leadership of David A. Brown, were adopted. Mr. Fox is second on the list with a donation of $250,000. The other contributions are as follows: Herbert H. Lehman, $50,000; Louis Marshall, $50,000; Benjamin Winter, $50,000; Henry Ittelson, $40,000; Paul Baerwald, $30,000; Commodore Louis D. Beaumont, $30,000; Jacob J. Newman, $25,000; Samuel C. Lamport, $25,000; Joseph Frankel, $25,000; Henry A. Dix, $25,000; Gregori Benenson, $25,000.
“Unquestionably, this is a splendid showing, for which we all have reason to be satisfied,” said Mr. Bressler, in making this announcement. “It is unprecedented that so large a sum of money should be subscribed in advance of a drive. It demonstrates two things: one, that the Jews of New York are beginning to understand the great need, the great tragedy, and second, that they are Beginning to understand their responsibility to their brethren overseas.”
“The example set by New York will be an added stimulus to the rest of the Jews of this country,” Mr. David Brown, national chairman, declared.
With assurance from many communities that they are taking active steps to respond at the earliest possible moment, over $100,000 has been received at National headquarters of the United Jewish Campaign in response to an “S.O.S.” recently issued by David A. Brown.
The “S.O.S.” was a message sent by the campaign chairman to all of the members of the national committee of the United Jewish Campaign, to all the state and community campaign officers calling upon them immediately to forward to head quarters 10% of the first year’s quota in order that a substantial measure of relief might be rushed to Poland, Bessarabia and other East European countries where hundreds of thousands of Jews are reported to be in the direst distress.
Among the larger sums which have been received in response to this message are $35,000 from Texas; $25,000 from Cleveland, Ohio; $10,000 from California; $7,500 from Springfield, III.; $6,000 from Miami, Fla.; $5,000 from Delaware; $2,000 from Tennessee; $1,084 from Douglas, Ariz.; $1,000 as a personal contribution by L. Herkheimer of Wheeling, Va.; and $600 from Sumter, S. C.
Other remittances are en route to national headquarters according to telegrams received by Mr. Brown.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.