100 years ago a seed was planted HIAS CHICAGO

Transcription

1 100 years ago a seed was planted HIAS CHICAGO Annual Report 2011

2 HIAS Chicago Services Pre-Migration Leaving one s country, family and friends is a difficult and often painful journey. One hundred years ago HIAS Chicago was created to help those seeking safe haven in America, and today their work continues. The agency coordinates refugee processing, helps clients sponsor relatives immigration and assists with consular authorities while providing emotional support every step of the way. Post-Migration Coming to America is, for many, the realization of a life-long dream and the start of a new beginning. Since 1911, HIAS Chicago has welcomed new arrivals and made sure they received the assistance they needed on the road toward citizenship. This on-going support continues today. Once new immigrants and refugees arrive, HIAS Chicago helps them apply for lawful permanent residence, assists Holocaust survivors seeking reparations and reunites family members with long-lost relatives and friends. Citizenship Services There are many steps to becoming an American citizen. HIAS Chicago has the skill and experience to guide clients through the citizenship process, ensuring them full protection and equal opportunities under United States law. HIAS Chicago s professional staff offers a bilingual telephone hotline, a human connection to answer questions callers may have about the complex immigration process. Additional citizenship services include assessing each client s eligibility and preparing and filing their citizenship applications, organizing volunteer driven citizenship classes and in-home tutoring, assisting in applications for disability medical waivers and providing interpreter assistance for the disabled at citizenship interviews. Staff also help to advocate and solve problems on a case by case basis. Community Outreach and Education Through ethnic media and community outreach and education meetings, HIAS Chicago informs the community about pertinent immigration issues and promotes the importance of getting on the path to citizenship and becoming a U.S. citizen. Small group community meetings are conducted throughout the metropolitan Chicago area, with focus in the north and northwest suburbs, as requested by the community or when pertinent immigration issues arise. For our Russian client community, HIAS Chicago provides community outreach on citizenship and immigration related information through periodic radio presentations on three Russian language radio stations, and through regular articles in Russian language newspapers. Community Enrichment Initiative Becoming a naturalized citizen is a major step toward joining American social and community life. HIAS Chicago is proud to have launched a new initiative that strives to improve immigrant integration in local communities through strategic municipal leadership. The project works toward addressing the needs of new immigrant residents, appreciating the diversity of new citizens and encouraging their participation in economic, social and civic life. These initiatives help our communities and our country benefit from the talents, skills and experiences that new citizens bring with them to America. HIAS Chicago Scholarships HIAS Chicago s scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students recognize the many talents that immigrants contribute to their new country. Our scholarships and funders are: The Benton-Bernstein Scholarship for graduate students in the helping professions; the Max and Anna Warshofsky Scholarships; the Bernard Gordon Memorial Scholarship Fund; the Michael Polsky Family Scholarship Fund for high school graduates and career enhancement, and the Ruth Schultz Memorial Scholarship Fund. Advocacy Services Since our founding, HIAS Chicago has been the voice for new arrivals to this country. Speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves, HIAS Chicago is a strong advocate locally and nationally for the needs and rights of immigrants and refugees, keeping the community informed about any changes in the laws that affect immigration issues.

3 For 100 Years... T he mission of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS Chicago) is to guide Jewish immigrants and others through the immigration process to the ultimate goal of United States citizenship; to aid them in bringing their families here as new immigrants and to reunite them with family or friends already here; to foster American ideals among the newcomers and to instill a knowledge of American history and institutions, a sense of true patriotism and love for their adopted country, and to make better known to the people of the United States the need to promote immigration. In 1911, the founders of HIAS Chicago made a commitment to help newly arrived immigrants, welcoming strangers as friends in a new land. Today, 100 years later, HIAS Chicago s mission is as important as ever. We believe that all people refugees, immigrants, the elderly, victims of discrimination, Holocaust survivors and others in crisis, no matter their race, religion or country of origin, should be treated with dignity and respect. Our professional staff is dedicated to treating each client as an individual, with sensitivity and care. As we respond with foresight and flexibility to our community s evolving needs, we vow to continue to help those seeking refuge, and to advocate for those without a voice.

4 Staff & Board of Directors HIAS Chicago Staff Former Staff who assisted in the success of FY11 Director Suzanne Franklin, M.Ed. David Zverow Retired Director Assistant Director Susan Wexler, LCSW** Danielle Cairoli Citizenship Coordinator Staff Leonid Gordon Immigration Caseworker Immigration Caseworkers Leon Gribelsky** Igor Litvak** Margarita Sandler** Lyudmila Smotkina** Daniella Verde HIAS Chicago Board of Directors Citizenship Coordinator Kathryn Dudzik Immigration and Outreach Services Maya Gumirov Lili Lang Maria Medina Support Staff Office Manager Joyce Smith Office Staff Nonna Bolotina Jeanine Howard President Jeffrey Kriezelman Executive Vice President Irena Persky Vice Presidents Stephen D. Berman Igor Boguslavsky Stanley Horn Richard Levenfeld Treasurer Ellen Gutiontov Secretary Eleanor Wolfe Board of Directors Melanie H. Berkowitz Justin Burton Samuel Cohen Rabbi Capers C. Funnye, Jr. Roman Kahn Julia Levine Sara Levinson Gary Light Marta Litas Michael Polsky Linda Saiger Annette Schneider Ross Siegel Julie Smolyansky Eugene Steingold Honorary Board Sallie Blann Gertrude Charlet Charles Gold Ann Izen* Sara Jacobson* Ruth Levinstein* Ruth Rosenblum* Golda Rashkow Anna Rotman* Ruth Schultz* Franz Steintz, MD. John M. Weiner* Founder Adolph Copeland* Past Presidents Alfred Decker* Abraham J. Minkus* Harry J. Dunn* A. J. Klickson* Dr. N.D. Leigerfarb* Clement Shapiro* Irving S. Abrams* Joseph J. Karlin* David White* Edward A. Addison* Albert I. Zemel Arthur H. Barbakoff* Peter B. Sherman Corinne Wexler* Ralph Ruebner Randy Felsenthal * Deceased * *Accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals

5 HIAS Chicago Services Pre-Migration Services 5.64% Leonid Gordin Leon Gribelsky Igor Litvak Margarita Sandler Lyudmila Smotkina Totals for Fiscal Year 2011 Citizenship Coordinator Clients Assisted by Service Danielle Cairoli Immigration and Information & Referral... Outreach Services 2,880 Maya Gumirov Information & Referral 32.98% Citizenship 56.07% Pre-Migration Lili Lang Maria Medina Permanent Residency Support Staff Holocaust Related Services Office Manager Citizenship... 4,897 Joyce Smith Total... 8,733 Office Staff Holocaust Related Services 2.77% Nonna Bolotina Jeanine Howard Permanent Residency 2.54% Revenue and Expense Summary Services and Support For Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2011 HIAS Chicago is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation qualifying for tax-exempt status under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Revenues are received in the form of: contributions; grants from foundations and corporations; contracts and grants from federal, state and local government; and fees for certain program services. Revenues are used to fulfill the organization s chartered purpose. The 28 member voluntary Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing and charting the organization s operations. Sources of Operating Revenue Jewish Federation...$ 95,976 Government grants ,386 Income from investments and Endowment Foundation ,194 Restricted grants and income for scholarships... 32,000 Contributions ,352 Program fees and revenue... 70,252 Fund transfers ,684 Total Operating Revenue...$ 1,008,844 Operating Expenses Personnel...$ 619,195 Occupancy ,105 Scholarships... 32,000 Specific assistance to clients... 9,340 Other program expenses ,204 Total Operating Revenue...$ 1,008,844 HIAS Chicago gratefully acknowledges the critical financial support received from the following: Anonymous Donors Harry and Sadie Lasky Foundation HIAS Chicago Endowment Foundation Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights Illinois Department of Human Services Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Michael Reese Health Trust Fund for Innovation in Health Polsky Family Foundation United Way

6 HIAS Chicago 216 W. Jackson, Suite 700, Chicago, IL F or over a century HIAS Chicago has guided tens of thousands of men, women and children who have made the journey from strangers in a new land to proud American citizens. HIAS Chicago s long history of providing a safety net for those fleeing oppression and persecution continues today. HIAS Chicago has sheltered and nurtured those who sought refuge here, helping families grow roots in their new communities. As a symbol of HIAS Chicago s 100th Anniversary, 100 trees will be planted to mark this historic milestone. The HIAS Chicago Freedom Grove will be created to honor, remember and celebrate the lives of families, friends and loved ones who have been touched and changed forever by HIAS Chicago. Donations will be recognized with the planting of trees and shrubbery to signify HIAS Chicago s vital role for the past 100 years and into the future. HIAS Chicago has been the gateway agency for thousands of immigrants and refugees to our community. The 100th Anniversary Campaign will celebrate the contributions and leadership immigrants have made to our city in business, science, sports, education and the arts. CHICAGO JEWISH FEDERATION/ JEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO CHICAGO JEWISH FEDERATION/ JEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO The HIAS Chicago 100th Endowment Foundation was created in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago s Agency Endowment Program that was established to assure that HIAS Chicago and its sister agencies have the necessary resources to meet community needs. Please consider making a donation to the HIAS Chicago Freedom Grove to honor family members or loved ones. For more information about the HIAS Chicago Freedom Grove and other endowment opportunities, contact Suzanne Franklin at or her at suzannefranklin@ jcfs.org or Deborah Samuels at the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago at or [email protected]. Please visit our website at Help us to offer the same compassionate care for those who will need us in the future. HIAS Chicago works proudly with Jewish Child & Family Services, a partner in serving our community, receiving support from the Jewish United Fund/ Jewish Federation. HIAS Chicago is a state licensed agency accredited by the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals and the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families & Children, Inc. (COA) We are the stories we tell. Share your immigration story with us at