We loved this picture sent this morning by Yoni Yefet-Reich from Kaima in Israel. The chicks are part of Kaima’s extensive sustainable organic farm which brings youth who struggle in traditional settings to the farm to learn about business practices, agriculture, the environment and so much more. The Good People Fund’s donation allowed for the purchase of the chicks and the design and building of the chicken coop which was undertaken by the young farmers. We understand that these egg-laying chickens have provided the main ingredient for many delicious omelets supplemented by the farm’s outstanding vegetables.

B’tayavon! (hearty appetite!)

It is hard to imagine that anything positive has come out of the extraordinary tragedy that resulted from the shooting of Michael Brown last August in Ferguson, MO. Even today, eight months later, news headlines continue to share the harsh and difficult realities of life in Ferguson.

But — somewhere in the midst of all the negative reporting there were at least two people who decided that someone had to do something to help save the kids of Ferguson. Dan Grabel and Andy Brown, both social workers and educators with a combined 40+ years of experience in camping and youth work know how important the camp experience can be to any kid, particularly kids raised amidst poverty and deprivation. #Camp Ferguson is their way to try to help the kids who have been caught up in the trauma of Ferguson. Partnering with several local schools, two graduate social work programs and other nearby community organizations, Dan and Andy have already held a few retreats and this past week welcomed 31 high schoolers and 3 teachers to Camp Manitowa (the camp they themselves operate) for some time filled with a ropes course, canoeing, sports, hiking, a campfire and even s’mores! Ongoing contact with the kids will hopefully give some of them a sense that people really do care.

When we learned about Dan and Andy’s ideas we reached out and offered to help them as they began the program. With the Good People Fund’s support, kids on these retreats will enjoy some great meals along with fun activities and the chance to know that there are people who care.

We started with two residents: the first, an elderly man in his 90’s who appears to be sleeping most of the time, began to smile faintly while hearing his favorite music, and when I later removed the headphone he said “more” and was able to tell me which songs he prefers. The second resident, a psychiatric patient with a very emotionless affect, was animated and his face lit up as he recognized the music of Beethoven, which he had specifically requested.
We’ve long touted the amazing success of the work done by Dan Cohen and Music and Memory, his ground-breaking program that brings personalized music via iPods to elderly individuals suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s and other isolating conditions and living in nursing homes and other similar settings.
We think so much of this program that a few years ago we encouraged Zissie and Sandy Gitel, founders of our Israel-based grantee, In Their Shoes, to introduce M&M in that country. Last month when we met the Gitels in Israel they expressed some disappointment that the program was not catching on in Israeli nursing homes the way they would have liked. This morning’s email proves that much has happened since we met only four weeks ago. The above comments come from a nursing home in Tzfat that has been using the program for only two weeks but has already had success.
Certainly is music to our ears…

Who can ever forget their first bike? Their first crush? That first teacher who inspired you to reach for the stars?

“Firsts” are somehow always indelibly etched in our memories, hopefully most often imbued with warmth and positivity.

Fraidy Reiss, founder of Unchained at Last, a grantee for the past few years, was featured in an article written by Samuel Freedman appearing in Saturday’s New York Times. From the day we first met Fraidy over two years ago, heard her story of escaping an arranged marriage and her wish to help other women whose cultures forced them into similar circumstances, we knew that this was an effort we wanted to help. Within a few days, Fraidy and Unchained received their first funding, a grant from the Good People Fund which started them on the road to success. Further funding to Unchained has continued and has also included direct help to some of Unchained’s clients who struggle with serious and often life-threatening situations.

So, it is with great pride that we share the Times’ article…
http://tinyurl.com/m965ton

We are proud of Fraidy and all of the brave women who choose to take this journey to freedom.

Carmela* has called Manhattan’s Morningside Heights her home for over a decade. Though certainly the “big city,” for many of the elders living in the neighborhood, in good part thanks to LiLY’s  Morningside Village program, it is a community where many know each other and stop to chat with neighbors and shopkeepers. At age 91 and with very little English in her vocabulary, Carmela managed with the help of her sister with whom she resided.

That all changed recently, when the landlord tried to evict her after her sister’s death. Fortunately for Carmela, Lifeforce in Later Years-LiLY, one of the Good People Fund’s grantees, was able to come to the rescue. Thanks to our recent grant which allowed Irene Zola, LiLY’s dynamic founder, to hire a Spanish speaking social worker, Carmela was able to prove that she has indeed resided in the apartment for the past decade and all eviction proceedings ground to a halt. Carmela’s daughter says, “I didn’t know we still have people with big hearts. You are like family. I was tormented, and my mother was in tears. Now I am consoled. We can sleep better. God bless you and everyone from LiLY!”

*a pseudonym

Who among us hasn’t teared up at a wedding when the ceremony ends and the groom breaks the serious mood by stomping down on a glass to a chorus of “Mazel Tov” from family and friends?

Though we could not be in attendance there were tears in our eyes as well this morning when Laurie Groner from our Israel program, Inbar, shared this picture and word of last night’s marriage of two Inbar clients (there were actually ten last year alone!). This young organization  offers social events as well as courses in relationships and social integration to people with disabilities and its work is bolstered by the efforts of several matchmakers and other volunteers who work hard to promote Inbar’s goals.

As Laurie wrote, I wonder if it’s the first time the groom has broken the glass under the chuppah with crutches.

It may not have been the first time but we are so proud that the Good People Fund can be part of such special work.