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The Good People Fund

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Good News Update

11,000 Acts of Kindness in Boston

Good People Fund grantee Everyday Boston, founded by Cara Solomon, continued their beautiful tradition of “Love Your Wicked Awesome Neighbor,” their annual Valentine’s Day kindness card campaign, now in its seventh year. Community members across Boston, in schools, workplaces, nonprofits, and prisons, sit down and write heartfelt notes of encouragement to strangers. The cards are then collected and distributed to strangers across the city on Valentine’s Day.

This year they surpassed their goal of 5,000 cards, ultimately collecting 11,000. Everyday Boston strives to make Boston the most connected city in America, using a signature curriculum that helps people strengthen the listening and communication skills needed to connect across differences. We celebrate their good work spreading kindness, fostering connection, and building bridges.

A Special Message from Naomi Eisenberger

Surely there is something symbolic about the fact that I am writing my final message as The Good People Fund’s Executive Director in the midst of our 18th year celebration! What a ride it has been. I feel deeply grateful to have had the zechut, the honor, to act as your Shlicha Mitzvah — your messenger of acts of kindness. And I am tremendously excited to pass the baton to Julie Fisher, who will assume the role of Executive Director on July 1st. I have every confidence that Julie will carry out our mission with love, clarity, and deep compassion. In the 2+ years that she has been by my side, she has already created many new programs to benefit our grantees as well as strengthen our internal structures. I know that in Julie’s hands, The Good People fund will continue to grow, thrive, and catalyze more good.

When I think  back to 2008, the year this adventure began, I remain grateful to The Good People Fund’s founding board for sharing my vision and bringing it to fruition by adding their talents and generosity. I am also indebted to our current board, whose foresight and commitment has made it possible for the work to continue. Together, we have all built something truly unique in the Jewish philanthropic world. We have invested in so many extraordinary people in exciting and impactful ways, almost too numerous to mention … helping feed those who are hungry, welcoming the stranger to a new country, empowering women too often left behind, or combating hatred and bigotry in Israel and in the US.

Thanks to your generosity, we have sparked hope and goodness in a world that is often consumed by despair. This work has given me the oxygen to breathe each day, and is an antidote to the depletion many of us are feeling at this moment.

No organization can succeed without a staff that is also deeply committed to its mission and while the The Good People Fund’s staff is small, it is also mighty — and more than a little fun! From Jordan Namerow and Randi Cairns (the first former grantee who fulfilled a lifelong dream to work for The Good People Fund), to Sandy Ungar, Sondra Kasdon and though no longer here, Glenn Rosenkrantz, z”l, our former Communications Consultant who died tragically last December — thank you for the many talents you have brought to our work. And, finally, to Andrea Good our Director of Operations whose title barely describes her many talents and her deep commitment — thank you for embracing the true meaning of this special work.

For me, the new titles of Executive Director Emerita and Master Mentor mean that I will continue to be part of the family that I helped create, and do one of the things that I most enjoy — mentoring our grantees as they build their programs.

The greatest joy of my life, aside from my beautiful family, has been the chance to meet both our inspiring grantees and the generous people who believe in a modest experiment and helped transform it into a meaningful force in Jewish philanthropy today.

I am deeply grateful to all of you for joining me on this remarkable journey. Together, we have touched and changed countless lives — and we have much more work to do together! I will always treasure the role each of you plays in The Good People fund, and look forward to championing the next chapter.

Naomi

When Our Good People Meet…

We love to connect our Good People to each other for community and collaboration! This past week, Good People Fund grantees Elhanan Miller, Founder of People of the Book, and Mohammad (Mo) Al Samawi, Founder of Abrahamic House, met in Washington, DC for the first time. They are each doing important bridge-building work and approach their work from different lived experiences. Elhanan is Jewish (and a rabbi!) and from Israel. Mo is Muslim and from Yemen, originally. They share a deep commitment to breaking down barriers and building bridges of connection and conversation. We look forward to what will come out of this connection and are thrilled that the Good People Fund brought them together.

A Year of Healing and Harvest at Ruca’s Farm

2025 was a year of tremendous growth for Good People Fund grantee Ruca’s Farm, founded by Nir Lahav, to offer support and healing to people suffering from PTSD. The farm doubled its participant numbers, welcoming more than 180 individuals through core programs like Arugot (rehabilitation for long-term PTSD) and Shavim (early intervention for October 7 soldiers struggling to return to routine life after hundreds of days in reserves). Two new programs launched this year: Marva, supporting women whose partners cope with PTSD, and Advot, group therapy for couples dealing with early signs of post-trauma. To maintain connection with alumni, the farm developed on-site workshops including baking, handmade pasta-making, beekeeping, ice baths, photography, vegetable pickling, and writing/songwriting with a member of the band Hadag Nahash, along with monthly lectures and community events. The therapeutic staff expanded significantly, and in December, 250 people gathered to celebrate the farm’s third anniversary, a testament to how this place has become home for so many.

Beyond therapeutic programming, Ruca’s Farm strengthened its agricultural foundation and volunteer community in 2025. With support from expert agronomists the farm significantly improved agricultural planning, beautifying the grounds and cultivating thriving organic vegetables now distributed to Tel Aviv employees, sold direct-to-home, and marketed to restaurants and health-food stores. Bee Hill underwent a major transformation with new pergolas, pathways, a small pond, and plantings, creating a peaceful sanctuary where expanded beekeeping programs now include rehabilitation courses for participants. The volunteer base grew to over 100 regular weekly volunteers, plus more than 1,200 corporate volunteers from 50+ high-tech groups, and international delegations from Birthright and Jewish Federations. Seven enthusiastic shin-shinim (national service volunteers) joined in September, supporting agricultural work, assisting participants in the field, organizing events, and conducting outreach with at-risk youth in neighboring Or Yehuda. Looking ahead to 2026, the farm plans to open a women-only PTSD group, construct a creative arts center, install a traditional Middle Eastern bustan garden, develop the Ayalon Creek gathering space, and add solar panels that will generate both power and income.

Serving Up Soup—and Community—at Zumwalt Acres

Good People Fund grantee Zumwalt Acres in Illinois, co-founded by sisters Gavi and Remi Welbel provides Community Soup to their neighbors as a way to build community, address food insecurity, and offer dignity. This is a wonderful project in which there is no difference between anyone who attends, offering community and soup to all. Everyone is encouraged to bring containers to take soup home. The Good People Fund was proud to assist with a matching grant to help fund this beautiful initiative.

Pictured here is Gavi Welbel, co-founder of Zumwalt Acres, with her apple harvest.