Marc Suvall is a regular guy…raised a family, worked hard at a job for many years. Life was good. When the opportunity to retire presented itself Marc realized that this was his chance to do what he really enjoyed…helping people.

When we were introduced we learned about how Marc spends a good part of his week sans suit and tie—teaching at a women’s prison, an inner-city school, helping where he can; places where he can have an impact and hopefully, change lives for the better. One statement in particular resonated with us as we exchanged mitzvah ideas and stories…when the occasion presents itself and Marc hands over a $5 bill to a hungry person or impacts the life of a poor kid in school he feels those are the "moments I found God".

An apt description we think and so, when we heard about IS98 Herman Ridder Middle School in a very poor Bronx neighborhood our interest was peaked. Kids at IS98 come from the nearby housing projects and local shelters. As a volunteer math teacher, Marc knows the conditions these students live in. He also knows that the school’s basketball team currently playing in old t-shirts with numbers painted on with marker, would benefit immensely from more professional uniforms. Having real uniforms would provide a huge lift to the kids and a real sense of dignity and pride.

Could the Good People Fund help? It was our pleasure and pictured above is the team, beaming in their new attire. We suspect this added boost may help them win in many different ways.

Dear Unknown Friend,

Thanks again and again!
Millie

In our previous post entitled Mike and Millie we shared the story of an elderly couple, both wheelchair-bound, for most of their lives. When a devastating neurological event struck Mike he was moved to a nursing home in a mostly non-responsive state. When the electronic lift on the van that was used to bring Millie to a once-a-week visit broke, the family, beset by other financial problems, had difficulty paying for the repairs. A social worker we rely on for cases just like this shared Millie and Mike’s story and we knew the Good People Fund could help.

Clearly, our intervention has meant the world to Millie and her independence…we could not be happier to give her this boost.

Millie and Mike have shared a long life. Despite both of their (lifelong) disabilities which confine them to wheelchairs, they have remained together, stable and devoted to each other’s well-being.

Last year, the unthinkable happened. Mike suffered a traumatic brain injury resulting in numerous hospitalizations and now, confinement in a nursing facility. To make it easier for their son to visit on a regular basis, Mike was placed in a home that is near his son but more than an hour away from Millie. Once each week, their son picks up his mother and brings her to his house and then to the nearby home to be with Mike. Millie reads to Mike, talks to him and holds his hand, certain that despite his lack of awareness he senses that she is there.

And now, a new crisis has occurred. The motorized lift on their son’s van has broken. Without it, Millie’s wheelchair cannot fit in the car and so, when she visits her son she is essentially trapped in the house, requiring help to go anywhere. The cost of repairing the lift was $700 but with very limited income and Medicaid, even that charge is difficult for Millie to cover. (Her son– with the responsibilities of a large family is also living on a limited budget and cannot take on this additional expense.)

A social worker who works with an elderly, indigent population shared Millie and Mike’s story with us this afternoon. Could the Good People Fund help?

Could we not? Within a few minutes of responding we learned that Millie cried when she was told the repairs would be covered. She “couldn’t believe that there were such nice people in this world.”

As we follow the news from Israel, one of the most troubling situations we see is the presence of African refugees from Sudan, Eritrea and other nations who have sought safety in that country. Many are seeking refuge from torture, death threats and systemic rape. The situation is beyond complex.

In the past several weeks we have received first-hand reports about a true humanitarian crisis currently underway in Tel Aviv where more refugees find themselves with neither shelter nor basic food. With an unusually cold and wet winter, the situation has gotten only worse; so much so that a few weeks ago someone actually died of exposure while sleeping in the park.

To meet the extraordinary challenges brought about by this crisis, a few small organizations have joined together to locate an appropriate shelter where many people can spend the night, protected from the cold and rain. With the shelter now in place until warmer weather arrives, we learned about the need for simple mattresses. Within but five minutes this morning a call was made to Israel and we were able to arrange for the purchase of 100 mattresses, at a cost of less than $2000.

Compassion and tolerance…also integral parts of tikkun olam.

Tziona, 18 years of age, is a young woman whose parents came to Israel from Ethiopia through Sudan. She is their first Israeli-born child and to show just how central this aliyah was to her parents, they named her Tziona (towards Zion).

This past year Tziona had the opportunity to meet a gentleman named Zion Moshe Tezazo, who helped many Ethiopian Jews make their journey to Israel. Tezazo has been designated as a Prisoner of Zion, a title given to those who were persecuted for their Jewish or Zionist actions before making aliyah. Hearing his story gave Tziona a new perspective on her parents, their sacrifices and their own journey to Israel. Suddenly, her heritage took on new significance.

Tziona’s introduction to Tezazo and other Prisoners of Zion only came about because of a new project begun by Atzum, a small Israeli non-profit which focuses on social justice issues and founded by Rabbi Levi Lauer. Project Abrah (meaning illumination in Amharic) is an oral history film project for high school students which focuses on bridging the generation gap in Israel’s Ethiopian community by bringing attention to the Prisoners of Zion and their brave actions, introducing the rich cultural heritage of Ethiopian Jewry, and developing community organizing skills among the Ethiopian students who take part.

It was an honor for the Good People Fund to provide significant funding for the early stages of this project and we were thrilled when we received the follow-up from Yael Rosen, Project Abrah’s coordinator:

Tziona wanted to sing at the evening (program). She chose a song called "Reaching the Dream". She explained to the audience why she chose this song and what the meeting with Prisoner of Zion Moshe Tezazo did for her. She started crying when she sang and it took her a few tries until she managed to sing. Afterwards she said that the whole experience made her think of her older sister, who died in Sudan on the way to Israel and whom she never got to meet. It was very moving.

In our summarizing conversations that we held with each of the participants, Tziona said that she didn’t used to think much of her name, but now she is proud of it.

As we are proud of having provided some of the funds to make this all possible.

Here are links to two of the films produced by Project Abrah’s students.

Prisoner of Zion Yalo Malke (English translation):

Prisoner of Zion Moshe Tezazo:

Tania* was a Mom to four children, resourceful and dedicated to their well-being. She had also been a victim of domestic violence for more than 16 years. With the help of a city domestic violence agency she was finally able to secure a safe place to live in public housing and resume an independent life.

All was well until Tania ran into difficulties paying her rent and soon found herself in the midst of eviction. It was then that our friends, Liz and Bruce Gitlin, founders of the New York Center for Law and Justice, met Tania. The Center provides assistance to the New York indigent deaf and hard-of-hearing community, and with their help Tania was able to remain in her apartment. All was well until her former batterer discovered her location-Tania and her children had to quickly move in with a relative and forego their independence.

Determined to return to independent, safe living Tania worked hard to locate a new apartment which would be unknown to her batterer. Last December her dream was fulfilled as she and her family moved into a new apartment in a safe city neighborhood. When we heard Tania’s story we were pleased that her life seemed to be turning around, but were stunned to hear that the family was sleeping on the floor with no furniture or other basic household items. Something needed to be done and with the help of our donors the Good People Fund immediately stepped in. Within a few days, our funds, along with the help of a generous storeowner, provided the family with beds, a couch, table and chairs and other household items.

Once again, small actions, do have huge impacts.

*Tania is a pseudonym