Dear Friend,

The Israeli writer Amos Oz offered a beautiful metaphor for what it means to confront a world filled with suffering and injustice. He imagined a great fire burning and three possible responses: Some people run away. Others write angry letters demanding that someone put out the fire. And then there are those who pick up a teaspoon, fill it with water, and begin trying to extinguish the flames.

“The teaspoon is very small and the fire is very large but there are many of us and everyone of us has a teaspoon.”

I keep returning to these words because they capture something essential about the Good People Fund and the extraordinary people we support. Our grantees do not wait for someone else to solve the problems they see around them. They recognize a need, roll up their sleeves, and get to work. They understand that even the smallest acts of kindness, generosity, and courage can change someone’s life. And they know that when enough people come together, those small acts can become something much bigger.

Oz’s words also echo a timeless teaching from Pirkei Avot: “It is not up to you to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” We are not expected to fix everything. But we are called to build a more just and compassionate world in ways that are within our reach.

As I write this message, I am preparing for the Good People Fund’s first group trip to Israel, where we will meet with remarkable Israeli changemakers and spend time with grantees whose work continues to inspire me. I am looking forward to seeing their work firsthand, listening to their stories, and witnessing the relationships and communities they are building under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. I hope you’ll follow our journey on Facebook and Instagram.

In many ways, this trip is an opportunity to see what happens when teaspoons come together. Our grantees bring vision, determination, and an unwavering commitment to the people they serve. Our donors, volunteers, and friends bring the resources, encouragement, and relationships that help their work flourish. None of us can do this work alone.

Thank you for being part of this community of good people, and for all the ways you help us carry this work forward.

With gratitude,

Julie Fisher, Executive Director