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<\/a>The last campaign raised $600,000 in each of three years, Pinsky said, and organizers hope this effort will be at least as successful, if not more. The campaign has been underway for several weeks and culminates at the end of this month. A major celebration \u2013 Eight Over Eighty \u2013 takes place May 25, when eight individuals and couples will be recognized for lifetimes of dedication to building community.<\/p>\n
The campaign is important to the facility, Pinsky said, because the calibre of the home and hospital depends on the support of donors. The Louis Brier does not receive funding from the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver allocations or from United Way, Pinsky said, and the Jewish-specific components of the home\u2019s character are not funded by government allocations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn order to make sure that we have the best facilities for seniors in our community the Louis Brier Aged Foundation needs to raise the money to distinguish it from other seniors facilities \u2013 many of which are very good, but they do not have the Jewish component,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Pinsky identified programs and activities such as kosher food, daily services, Shabbat services on Fridays and Saturdays, Yiddish and Hebrew classes, Jewish-themed discussion groups, films, lectures and performances as examples of the type of \u201cextras\u201d the fundraising supports. Louis Brier also has top-notch physiotherapy, art therapy and music therapy programs, he said. The differences made by these services are significant, he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost people in the Jewish community have had someone connected to them who has been in the Louis Brier and we also know from people who have loved ones, relatives or acquaintances in other facilities that the Louis Brier is a step above in many respects,\u201d said Pinsky. \u201cAnd we owe it to the people who established this community to give them the kind of dignity and the kind of retirement and life that they would want at this stage of their lives and it\u2019s only us who can help because nobody else will pay for that.\u201d<\/p>\n Harry Lipetz, co-chair of the campaign with Pinsky, emphasized the Louis Brier\u2019s dependence on the generosity of the community. \u201cThe Louis Brier Home and Hospital doesn\u2019t have memberships such as synagogues [do] to draw upon,\u201d said Lipetz, who is also president of the Louis Brier Jewish Aged Foundation. \u201cWe simply rely on the entire Jewish community.\u201d<\/p>\n Lipetz said the Louis Brier\u2019s reputation is due to the resources provided by community support. \u201cThe level of care that\u2019s provided is probably rated the highest in British Columbia due to the additional funding that the foundation provides annually,\u201d he said. \u201cI am satisfied that our efforts really do bring quality of life to people, as we say, \u2018adding life to years and years to life\u2019 is something we are accomplishing.\u201d<\/p>\n Lipetz asks people to take the initiative to support the campaign. \u201cWe have a limited ability to reach out to individuals,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is a relatively large Jewish community. We would hope that individuals would come forward whether they are contacted or not to support this campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>