Just as each sisterhood supports the religious school, youth group, college students, and special sisterhood programs and projects within its own congregation, WRJ provides financial support for these types of programs throughout North America and around the world through the YES Fund (Youth, Education, and Special Projects).

 

WRJ’s YES Fund is able to achieve what no one individual, one sisterhood, or even a group of local sisterhoods could do. The YES Fund represents the collective efforts of YOU, our sisterhoods, to strengthen congregations, meet the needs of rabbinical and cantorial students, youth, programs, and institutions of Reform Judaism.

 

The final allocation of money from the YES Fund is authorized by WRJ’s executive committee. An official report of the distribution of the YES Fund is sent annually to each sisterhood to be shared with sisterhood members.

 

 

YES Fund Honor Roll

 

Sisterhoods contribute to the YES Fund through cash contributions, the purchase of YES Fund items, or through a combination of both. Sisterhoods earn honors for their total annual contributions to the YES Fund each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) in the following categories:

• Roll of Chai Honor                     $18.00 or more per member
• Roll of Special Merit                   $10.00 or more per member
• Roll of Honor                             $5.00 or more per member

 

Your sisterhood can become a YES Fund Award winner! Click here for more information.

 

 

How can my Sisterhood Participate in and Promote the YES fund?

• Make cash donations. These are credited toward a sisterhood's contribution to the YES Fund.
   
• Purchase YES Fund items! In addition to an extensive selection of YES Fund items, you can now send YES Fund e-Cards to loved ones or sisterhood members directly from your computer!
  

• Combine both of the above: cash contributions and the purchase of YES Fund items.
   
• Educate your sisterhood! Show the YES Fund Power Point Presentation at the first sisterhood meeting of the year, all Circle of Service events, and all YES Fund events.

• Sisterhoods may raise funds by selling YES Fund items for an amount greater than the purchase price. The cost of the product is paid to WRJ, directly supporting the YES Fund, and the sisterhood keeps the profit. 

• All monies sent to WRJ for YES Fund items during the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) are credited to each sisterhood's annual contribution to the YES Fund. Sisterhoods are also eligible for special awards and recognition.

• Encourage members of your sisterhood and congregation to annually contribute to the Circle of Service and Lifeline Endowment Fund which benefit the YES Fund. Note: An individual or sisterhood’s Circle of Service and/or Lifeline contributions are not credited to a sisterhood’s annual YES Fund contribution.

• Participate as an entire sisterhood in WRJ’s Sisterhoods Say YES! Lifeline Campaign by contributing a Lifeline. Be a role model for your sisterhood members! 

• Plan a Circle of Service event. Invite all sisterhood members and honor those who are Circle of Service and Lifeline members. Click here for a step-by-step guide on planning an event.

• Send a YES Fund e-Card! Spread messages of congratulations, thank you, get well, etc. with WRJ's Uniongram or another YES Fund card.
   
• Incorporate YES Fund information into each sisterhood program. Explain the history of the Uniongram and display all YES Fund items. Educate your members about the great projects supported by the YES Fund.
   
• Every month publish a list of upcoming bar and bat mitzvot, birthdays, and anniversaries in your temple bulletin along with the name and phone number of your Uniongram chairwoman. Suggest donors make a contribution for each person they would like to honor. Charge $1 - $2 per name. The Uniongram chairwoman then sends the Uniongram to the honoree listing all donors’ names.
   
• Encourage sisterhood officers, particularly your corresponding secretary, to use Uniongrams and other YES Fund items for correspondence, notes, and invitations. 

• Urge your rabbi and cantor to use Uniongrams. (Remind them that their education was partially funded from the sale of YES Fund items!)
   
• Use the YES Fund Postcards (S-233) for meeting notices.
   
• Sponsor a Uniongram Recipe Luncheon to which all members will bring recipes written on Uniongrams.
   
• Have your sisterhood perform The Last Rabbi, which tell the story of what would happen if WRJ funding for rabbinic education ceased and there was only one rabbi (a woman) left in the world! Download the PDF here.
   
• Be creative: Make a poster or a display of all YES Fund items to showcase at all functions. Contact WRJ to receive a sample array of Uniongrams, cards, and other items. 
   
• Remember: Invitations to special events become more meaningful when printed on Uniongrams or YES Fund note cards.