On January 30, 2008 a group of the Good People Fund’s most ardent supporters gathered in New York City on a cold and snowy night to officially launch the organization. It was, at once, both exciting and most definitely a bit frightening as well. Had any of us realized the economic trauma that was to unfold but a few months later, perhaps we would not have even considered this tzedakah venture. Lehman Brothers was a strong, reputable institution and the name Bernie Madoff elicited thoughts of a really bad movie from years ago.

As we begin our sixth year we could not be happier. We have raised and disbursed more than $3,500,000 and helped dozens of exciting Good People achieve their own inspiring tikkun olam. Our donors count on us to identify creative, cost-efficient ways to invest their tzedakah dollars and we do just that.

This morning, we are poised to take our next step and Debbie Klein who has worked with us on a part-time basis for almost two years, will assume the position of Associate Director of the Fund. We are all excited about this new addition to our family. While Debbie brings an impressive background to our work, even more meaningful is the passion she feels for the Good People Fund model. She is an enthusiastic “cheerleader” and “mitzvah broker” in her own right. With two of us now carrying out this important work we can only imagine how much more will be possible.

Welcome on board, Debbie. We are excited to have your talents working on our behalf.

Hi, Ms Naomi,
Thank you so much for your suppert (sic). I am able to go to College today and you mask (sic) this to happen. I will never forget this and I will make something will be happy, and also I promise I will work hard to pay the price of the amount the you support me with. thank you so much.

The writer of this short note of thanks is a young man named Guy who escaped from Darfur where he lost his family in that country’s genocide. As was the case with so many escaping Darfur, Guy fled to Israel. While there he became involved in refugee organizations, often acting as a translator or helping wherever his talents could be helpful. Always in the back of Guy’s mind was his dream — to come to America and get a college education. Defying the odds and with the help of others who believe in him, he has done just that. Guy now lives in Illinois and this week began his first semester of college.

A few weeks ago we were approached by people we know in the African refugee community in Israel and asked if there was any way we could help Guy. There was something so compelling about his story and, of course, so reminiscent of the circumstances of many of our own relatives escaping tyranny and certain death. Through the generosity of some of the Good People Fund’s donors we were able to cover part of this semester’s costs and Guy’s dream is now a reality.

Typically, the story does not end here. A few days ago we learned that Guy was one of the people who helped the Good People Fund last winter as we served breakfast early each morning to the hundreds of refugees congregating in Levinsky Park. Without Guy’s competent help, Gideon Ben-Ami who volunteered his services setting up the breakfast and making sure it ran smoothly, would have had to be on site very early each morning. Guy was an important part of the success of that effort during the cold winter months in Tel Aviv.

How nice that we could, in some small way, repay him for his own kindness.

Our friends at the Forgotten People Fund shared Zahava’s story recently and when we learned about her ambitions and her bright educational promise we knew the Good People Fund should step in to help make some of her dreams a reality. Zahava herself is a sabra, though her parents and two siblings came from Ethiopia about 20 years ago. Now being raised by her mother, Zahava, only 16, is the family star. One of six children, she excels in school and numerous extracurricular programs including recent participation in the prestigious Samai Program, a 2 week trip to Ethiopia set up by an Ethiopian reporter with the Hebrew newspaper “Yediot Achronot”, to help Ethiopian teenagers regain the identity they have lost in Israel. Zahava was interviewed by the paper and appeared on TV talking about her experiences on the Samai journey. With such promise, we decided that buying her a laptop would be an excellent investment in this young woman’s future.
As we learned this morning, Zahava “still can’t believe that she has her own laptop! You did a real mitzvah.” Indeed, our donors did!

I wish to thank you for your amazing support. The treatments helped and I feel very happy with the result. It was very difficult to have a tattoo that disgraced my status. Now, thank G-d, I feel I am complete as a Jew and not looking different than who I really am.

Last May we shared the story of two young Ethiopian women from the Falash Mura community. The young women are part of a program that fosters volunteer work, education and leadership training. While still in Ethiopia custom dictated that the Falash Mura were tattooed with the mark of a cross on the forehead and hand. Whether this was to avoid persecution by Christians is up for debate, but several years ago the Chief Rabbi in Israel did accept the aliyah of this group. These two women had the markings and as a result were ostracized not only by their peers but also by the children in the schools where they volunteer.

This morning we received the short note quoted above. The writer, Dasash, was one of the women whose treatment was covered by the Good People Fund. Included was this picture.

How little it took to make such a profound difference in the lives of these two young women.

It was certainly no surprise to us to hear about MSNBC’s holiday feature on our friend Jack Hairston III, aka Jack the Bikeman.
One of Jack’s main activities is to collect and repair used bikes which he gives away to local kids each December.

Take a few minutes to watch this clip. It reminds us of just why the Good People Fund loves to support Jack’s work. CLICK BELOW

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It was only a few days ago that we shared the story of the students at Broad Meadows School in Quincy, MA and their special work on behalf of  less fortunate kids around the world. (Tzedakah Diaries, December 8, 2012 Power Tools for Kids).

It was with great surprise but completely understandable to learn that today’s NY Times featured a story about the kids and their extraordinary teacher, Ron Adams. Michael Winerip’s column only affirms that our commitment to the Quincy Kids is well deserved. Read on http://nyti.ms/UzdIpd It is a great story.