There was a nice editorial in Wednesday's Birmingham News highlighting United Way of Central Alabama's current fundraising campaign and commending the organization for striving to raise more than last year in uncertain economic times.

Highlighted was United Way's Campaign Chair, Robert Aland (pictured here), a member of our Jewish community and a generous supporter of The Birmingham Jewish Federation Annual Campaign.

"United Way of Central Alabama officials and volunteers aren't timid, that's for sure. During a rough economy, high unemployment and rising poverty, the organization upped its fall campaign goal," the editorial noted.

"United Way officials could take the easy way out and keep this year's goal the same as last year or, in this economy, even cut it a bit. It could have done so the past two years. People would understand. The problem is that during these difficult economic times, the agencies and programs funded by United Way of Central Alabama are needed the most. They demand more resources, not fewer," the paper added.

"This year's campaign chairman, Robert B. Aland, president of the Birmingham region of National Bank of Commerce, has his work cut out for him ....Aland and United Way officials know it will be difficult to reach their ambitious fundraising goal, but they're confident the generous givers in the Birmingham area will come through, as they have always done," the editorial continued.

The United Way Campaign provides funding to our Levite Jewish Community Center and Collat Jewish Family Services. Today, in fact, is the day that a United Way representative will be coming to The BJF to solicit our employees for the current campaign.

The BJF is proud of the leadership roles that members of our Jewish community have played in United Way over the years. We encourage all who are able to participate in the United Way campaign generously, increasing their commitment over last year if possible.

As Jews, we are taught that all Jews are responsible for one another. Thus, we, at The Birmingham Jewish Federation, are not only concerned about our Jewish community locally, but we're equally committed to our Jewish community globally.

One of the ways we express this commitment is by providing donors the opportunity, through The BJF Campaign, to fund programs and projects which enrich the lives of Jews abroad. The following -- from the website of the Joint Distribution Committee, which is one of the agencies we fund -- offers one more example.

Kevin O., 23, hardly remembers the TV broadcasts that inspired Argentineans to take to the streets as their economy collapsed in 2001. That's because the crisis in his home started long before then.

When Kevin was five years old his father fell ill from diabetes, had his legs amputated, and became bedridden for the next six years. He had been the family breadwinner, but now the family needed to use insurance money from their stolen car just to pay for his medication. "Food was very scarce, we seldom got clothes, and we went without many essential things," Kevin recalled.

Kevin's father passed away as the economy crashed, leaving his mother alone to support the family on an unsteady income. That's when the family first turned to the Jewish community -- and with JDC's support, their call was answered. "I remember during the crisis we received food bags and a food card because we had almost nothing to eat," he said.

Kevin had been a member of the community since he was a child, attending Jewish kindergarten and elementary school, and participating in the youth group. "I honestly believe that being Jewish means belonging to a bigger family. In times of need, my community has helped me the way family members do for each other when one of them needs help."

TURNING AGAIN TO JDC

When Kevin decided to pursue studies in electronics engineering at the National Technological University, his modest income as an IT associate was not enough to support him and his mother and put himself through school. So, he turned once again to JDC.

JDC's Buncher-NET Program for Jewish university students from low income families gave Kevin the help he needed: a monthly stipend to help pay for books and transportation, and mentorship over the course of his studies. In turn, Kevin and other Buncher-NET beneficiaries participate in community activities as volunteers, visiting elderly and children in need, leading training sessions, organizing Jewish celebrations, and staffing learning experiences such as camps.

Kevin's very first assignment as a volunteer, working with an elderly blind man at the LeDor VaDor (Generation to Generation) Home for the Elderly in Buenos Aires, made a lasting impression. "I was supposed to read the newspaper to him every Sunday but that only happened once because instead, we talked and talked and became good friends."