April 2025

This past weekend, we celebrated my adorable nephew’s bar mitzvah in Chicago. Surrounded by family who traveled from all corners of the globe, we momentarily set aside the world’s challenges and created a space for pure joy.

Despite his youth, or perhaps because of it, my nephew shared profound wisdom. He spoke of the power each of us holds—to either destroy or to build. He reminded us that we choose what we contribute to the world, and encouraged us to work toward creating more good. He’s already living this ideal by supporting people who are homeless in his community and inspiring others to do the same.

His words struck me deeply. Lately, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but focusing on acts of kindness can spark joy and offer hope.

At The Good People Fund, we witness sparks of hope every day through our incredible Good People. One is Shoshana Barzel, founder of New Neighbors Partnership, who is doing vital work supporting refugees. Her story, featured on this month’s Good People Talk podcast, is a powerful reminder that compassionate action can create real and lasting change in our communities. Shoshana’s small act of passing on clothing from one family to another led to the creation of a network of support and caring among hundreds of families and volunteers.

With spring and Passover approaching, we reflect on timeless themes of freedom, resilience, and hope—qualities embodied by our grantees who, even in the face of adversity, carry out their missions with unwavering spirit. Their determination is truly inspiring.

Thanks to your continued support, we stand alongside them, building a more just and compassionate world—one act of kindness at a time.

Even in the most difficult times, we have the opportunity to choose to create, to build instead of destroy. I’m deeply grateful to my young nephew for reminding us of this powerful truth.

I’d love to hear how you’re finding moments of joy and hope during these challenging times. Please hit reply and share your thoughts.

Julie