 | |
| Founded | 1934 |
|---|---|
| Type | Charity for Holocaust survivors |
| Location | |
Key people | Masha Pearl, Executive Director |
| Website | bluecardfund.org |
 |
The Blue Card is a national non-profit organization solely dedicated to providing financial assistance to destitute Holocaust survivors residing in the United States. [1] [2]
Established in Germany in 1934, The Blue Card’s sole purpose was to provide financial assistance to Jews fleeing from that country’s growing persecution. The organization’s name is derived from the blue cards that were given to Jewish donors who raised funds for Jews who lost their jobs. [3] It was re-established in the United States in 1939, to continue aiding refugees escaping from the Holocaust. Today, it is the only organization in the United States whose sole mission is to aid needy Holocaust survivors by providing cash assistance. [1]
The Blue Card is a charitable organization aiding Holocaust survivors since 1934. It is dedicated to the support of European Jewish survivors in this country, who still suffer from the aftereffects of Nazi persecution, are sick or emotionally unstable, have been unable to achieve economic independence, or have lost it through sickness or old age; in many cases the Holocaust has deprived them of a family. The Blue Card’s activities are not duplicated by any other Jewish welfare agency. During the year 2013, The Blue Card made grants amounting to nearly $1.9 million. This brings the grant total since the Blue Card’s inception to $25.5 million. [1]
The Blue Card provides aid to over 2,400 annually. [4] Programs The Blue Card provides to the survivors include:
Since 2009, The Blue Card has been an Official Charity Partner of the New York City Marathon. Team BlueCard is The Blue Card's endurance team, which participates in endurance events such as the 2011 TD 5 Borough Bike Tour in New York City and the 2015 Panasonic Life Time Triathlon. It is composed of participants from countries such as Argentina, Austria, France, Israel, Italy, Mexico, and South Africa. Team BlueCard has raised over $1,000,000 since 2009. [6]
The Blue Card participates in many fundraising events annually, including:
In 2013, Charity Navigator announced that the Blue Card earned its ninth consecutive four-star rating for its ability to deliver services in a cost-effective manner. Fewer than 10% of rated charities have received at least four consecutive four star evaluations, indicating that The Blue Card outperforms most charities in America in its efforts to operate in the most fiscally responsible way possible. [31]
The Blue Card is accredited by the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. In order to meet accreditation standards, the Blue Card demonstrated its compliance with 20 stringent regulations regarding transparency standards and effectiveness reporting. The strictness of the standards ensures that only the most qualified charities are able to maintain their rating. [32]
In 2012 and 2013, the Blue Card was voted one of the Best Jewish Charities by the Federal Times . The Blue Card was also awarded with the Independent Charities of America (ICA) Best Seal of Excellence. [33]
A triathlon is an endurance multisport race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall completion time, racing each segment sequentially with the time transitioning between the disciplines included. The word is of Greek origin, from τρεῖς or treis (three) and ἆθλος or athlos (competition).
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