Newspaper Page Text
AJF’s YLC will hear
Constitution’s T eepen
Tom feepen, Editorial Pageeditor —7" ..
of the Atlanta Constitution, will
speak to the Men’s Division of the
Atlanta Jewish Federation’s Young
I eadership Council (YLC) at 7:30
p.m. Monday. Feb. 3.
I he program will cover Teepen’s
perspectives on the issues currently
affecting the state of affairs in the
Middle East. The YLC event is
being hosted by Brenda and Mark
Lichtenstein at their home, 35 Finch
Forest Road.
A minimum pledge of $ 180 ($ 15
a month or 10 x “Chai”) to the 1986
Federation Campaign, is required
for admission to the program. This
contribution is payable throughout
the year.
Gerald Elorowitz is general chair
man of the 1986 Campaign. Shiel
Edlin is co-chairman of the Young
Leadership Council. I arrv Chesin
Tom Teepen
and Jim Grien are co-chairmen of
the YLC Men's Division.
Eor more information, contact
David Seed, 873-1661.
New volunteer program
to provide aid for lonely
The Atlanta Compeer Program
begins this month. The Metro Atlanta
Deinstitutionalization Task Force,
which has been spearheaded by
Jewish Family Services, chaired by
Rona R. Schpeiser, and with the
support of many public and private
agencies in Atlanta, has secured
funds for an 18-month pilot program
to provide volunteer friends to
elderly, mentally ill and develop-
mentally disabled adults. To date,
funds have come from Junior League
of Atlanta, Metropolitan Atlanta
Community Foundation, Trust
Company Bank, and Department
of Human Resources. Other funds
are being sought.
The “Compeer Atlanta” project
is modeled after a successful program
that started in Rochester, N.Y., 12
years ago. Compeer programs are
now operating in 50 communities
around the country. This project
continues the basic objective of the
Metro Task F'orce, which is to
utilize volunteers effectively with
people who are at risk of inappro
priate institutionalization.
Compeer means a companion
who is also a peer or equal. This
project matches caring, sensitive
and trained volunteers with lonely
people who are developmentaily
disabled, mentally ill, or elderly in
a one-to-one friendship relationship.
Volunteers will be carefully
screened, trained and supervised
and the clients will be referred by
their therapists. Volunteers are asked
to make a commitment of two to
three hours a week for a minimum
of one year.
The volunteer fills the gap that
may occur between treatment and
services and the absence of an
adequate natural support system
of family and friends.
Volunteers report great satisfaction
as they feel they are making a
significant contribution to another
person’s life. Therapists report that
their clients have become more
productive as they feel cared about,
supported and worthwhile. This is
a unique opportunity to augment
agency services without substantial
budget outlays. Agencies have not
had adequate funding or staff to
meet the needs of clients. It is
expected that with Compeer, volun
teers and clients will have significant
impact on each other, and agencies
will be cooperating with Compeer
to provide theirclients with important
supports.
For further information, contact
Bill Corley, Compeer coordinator,
894-4214, Rona R. Schpeiser, 873-
2277, or Sonia Kuniansky, 262-2700.
American
Red Cross
| THE JEWISH HOME]
wishes to thank all of the individuals and organizations who
made the Second Family Council Staff Appreciation
Christmas Program a resounding success.
Participating organizations included:
B’nai B’rith Gate City Lodge, B’nai B’rith Kehillah Lodge,
B’nai B’rith Nachal Lodge, The Jewish Home Family
Council, The Jewish Home Volunteer Service Corps.
PAGE 9 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE January 24, 1986