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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE – AUGUST 2022
It has been a very busy summer at Hebrew Free Loan of San Diego! With almost 30 applications received in the month of July alone, HFLSD is establishing a foothold in the San Diego community as an important financial resource for those in need. We are helping loan recipients as they strive to attain financial security or to improve their lives or businesses. This first year has demonstrated that there is a definite need in our community to assist people and help them feel successful as they work to achieve financial freedom. We have granted loans in many of our loan categories, including education, personal needs, debt consolidation, rental assistance, car repairs, emergency assistance, and our very first small business loan.
As summer comes to an end, and students are looking towards fall semester, we have had a substantial increase in requests for Education loans. Helping students prepare for their future by providing funds to access higher education is a great way to encourage the next generation to invest in their future and the future of the San Diego Jewish community. The HFLSD loan portfolio is heavily weighted in Education loans, with almost 33% of our loans in that category. Helping students achieve their goals also helps HFLSD achieve ours as one of the strategic pillars of HFLSD includes increasing engagement of borrowers in the local Jewish community. By focusing on educational loans, HFLSD hopes to encourage these students to eventually join our full circle club, where borrowers become involved and engaged community members as well as potential donors. As one education loan recipient shares, he was so grateful for the support and so impressed with the process and the HFLSD program, that he has offered to be a campus ambassador for HFLSD. He truly believes that “It is so important to have this type of organization in the San Diego community and to let Jewish student’s know that this resource is available. I know so many students that could really benefit from this loan program, both for education expenses as well as living expenses. It helps so much when you know that an organization like this is out there to help!!” In fact, we met over coffee last week to discuss ways that he can become more involved in HFLSD and share ideas for outreach, and he is going to join the HFLSD Outreach committee. That is a win-win!
Constant outreach to increase awareness of our interest-free loan program is a large focus of my day-to-day activity, creating opportunities for collaboration both within and outside of the Jewish world. Referrals and word of mouth is a critical part of our growth. Please join me is sharing the success of HFLSD. We are here and waiting to help.
Charlene is the Executive Vice President of the Leichtag Foundation, a private independent foundation which works to ignite and inspire vibrant Jewish life, advance self-sufficiency and stimulate social entrepreneurship in coastal North San Diego County and Jerusalem. She has served on the boards of the Jewish Funders Network, San Diego Grantmakers and many committees and councils.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
