The beginning of the new year is a great time to take a step back and review your non-profit. Ask yourself, what is it doing right? What could it do better? What are its work and volunteer culture? I would like to invite you to join me as we take an in-depth look at Jewish Free Loans’ contribution to the Jewish community. This year, Jewish Free Loan looks forward to hosting the 2012 International Conference of Jewish Free Loans. Some of our past accomplishments include giving out 60 interest-free loans at mid-year totaling $138,797.

These loans represent individuals and families who required loans to assist them in crises, funding education, debt consolidation, medical and dental costs, women and children in hardship, as well as a variety of other necessities. In the upcoming months, we will be promoting our loans for business development, Jewish camping, student Israel trips as well as our education loans. We also have dollars available for adoption and infertility treatments. Let’s take a closer look at the programs that promote Jewish Free Loans. Thanks to our devoted leadership, we have three new committees functioning.

The first is responsible for our “Yes I Can” campaign, which introduces our tzedakah cans to the youth. The second is our Business Leaders program, which is dedicated to getting the word out about our business development loans. The third, which we have just initiated, is our Full Circle Club for former borrowers who have now become contributors. We are very grateful to everyone who is a part of the Jewish Free Loan. We have board members who participate in committees and our borrower interviews; donors who like to give a “hand up” not a “hand-out”, and grantors to whom our work resonates. There is also another category of individuals whose generosity we salute; our borrower’s guarantors. These guarantors have said, “yes I will co-sign for your loan” to a borrower’s request and make it possible for the borrower to receive an interest-free loan. In assessing ourselves, we feel very good about our ability to respond to our borrowers.

We believe we can do a better job of getting the word out about our services so that more people who could use assistance through our loans, are able to find us. That is where you can help. Please pass the word along to people you know. We thank you for partnering with us. In the new year, everyone is thinking about eating healthier, exercising more, and spending more time with family and friends. Well, maybe we started thinking about it as the last few weeks of December rolled around. As I sit here thinking about a new post for the Jewish Free Loan blog, I begin to wonder why we only think about our resolutions and continue to work on them for only a few weeks out of the year. There are 365 days in a year; what happens that makes us forget our resolution for the remaining 345 days? We are so excited to have a list of resolutions in January, but in a matter of days, or even months, we don’t look at the list again! Why aren’t we thinking about what we are committed to every single month? Why don’t we focus on what we want to change or modify, or what impact or difference we can make?

Why isn’t every day our New Year’s day? I believe we should try to make a difference more than once a year by looking at every day as a new year and an opportunity to improve at least one thing. I want to look at my list every day and have it be my mantra for the year; used as a direction and philosophy to where I want to go this year. By doing so I will wake up every day and say, “what can I do to make a difference today?” When the day is over, I want to go to sleep knowing I did one good thing; whether it involves helping someone, attending an important meeting, eating healthier, or exercising.

These are little steps and accomplishments that over 365 days will add up to a wonderful and meaningful life. Soon, January will turn into February. Before we know it, another year has gone by with an unaccomplished resolution. Therefore, I invite you to join me in thinking of each day and month as an opportunity to make it a New Year’s Day. Remember to review your list, cross off some accomplishments, and add more challenges and opportunities. Let’s check back in with each other in a few months and see how we are doing. We will also keep you updated on the accomplishments of the Jewish Free Loan as we try to make 2012 a more successful and meaningful one for the people who walk through our door.