​

AUGUST 14, 2023 - NEWS UPDATE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear MJFLA Community,

​

As previously announced in April, after founding MJFLA and leading the organization for 15 meaningful years, I have decided to retire from my position as executive director at the end of 2023. [READ THAT ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW]

 

Today, I am thrilled to announce a new chapter in MJFLA’s journey with the appointment of our new executive director, Anna Goldstein Koenig. With experience as both an assistant director and interim executive director, and a proven track record of leadership, outreach, and a commitment to excellence, Anna is poised to guide MJFLA into a future filled with innovation, growth, and continued success.

 

Anna brings with her not only a passion for social justice and making a positive impact on the lives of others, but also a family history of making interest-free loans dating back to her grandmother, a Holocaust refugee who came to the U.S. when she was eight years old. Anna’s dedication to our mission makes her an exceptional fit to lead our organization and will undoubtedly propel MJFLA to even greater heights.

 

Thank you to Sarah Platt, our board president, for your guidance and leadership throughout this process, and to the MJFLA Succession Planning Committee: Eileen Graves, Marlene Lauwasser, Jamie Miller, and David Wyatt. Both Anna and I are looking forward to working together over the coming months to effectuate a seamless transition for the organization!

 

Please join us to welcome Anna in person and learn more about her vision for our shared future at MJFLA’s 14th Annual Movie Night fundraiser, honoring Marlene Lauwasser, on October 14, 2023. We are confident that, under her direction, MJFLA will continue to thrive and make a meaningful impact in the Greater Milwaukee community. With your support and Anna’s leadership, MJFLA will undoubtedly go from strength to strength!

 

With gratitude,

Ginny Gendelman

MJFLA Executive Director

​

​

APRIL 21, 2023 - NEWS FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear MJFLA Community,

As we reach the 15 year mark, Milwaukee Jewish Free Loan Association is growing and helping more people than ever! With new funds that empower people to become homeowners and to repair homes and make them more energy efficient, more funds to empower families to grow through adoption and other means, more funds for students to get an education, and larger funds to make it possible for employers to empower their employees to become financially stable, it is an exciting time!
 
With all of this excitement, it is time to bring on a passionate, skilled, and energetic executive to become my successor and take the lead in running this important community resource. After 15 rewarding years of leading MJFLA, I have decided to retire from my position as executive director sometime around the end of 2023. Rest assured that I will not be leaving MJFLA until we identify and onboard the next capable leader of this strong and thriving organization. We are planning for a smooth overlap to transfer knowledge and equip the next executive director to succeed. The MJFLA board, under the leadership of our president, Sarah Platt, has convened a search committee and we are committed to finding a caring and community-minded leader to take the baton after a sufficient transition period. This has not been an easy decision, as I founded this organization in 2009 and I have found immense joy and purpose working with the many dedicated members of our boards of directors and our development director, Felicia Miller, to serve the individuals, families, and employers of Southern and Southeastern Wisconsin to improve lives every day.

Since making the first interest-free loan in 2009, MJFLA has grown exponentially, but remains focused on a single mission - making interest-free loans to help people with temporary financial needs. To date, over $1,746,000 has been loaned, and those funds continue to be recycled into new loans, as MJFLA maintains a 99.6% repayment rate. We began with emergency and personal loans, and loans to help people avoid or escape predatory payday lenders. Over time, we added student and employee loan programs, as well as loans to help families grow. Most recently, we have partnered with Acts Housing to empower low-income families to improve their credit and qualify for mortgages so they can become homeowners, break the cycle of poverty, and begin to establish generational wealth. I could not be more proud and humbled. All of this - the immense impact MJFLA has had on the people of our community - would not have been possible without all of you, our donors. I will be forever grateful.

As we work harder than ever this year to continue empowering people in our community to improve their lives, I hope you will continue to empower MJFLA with your support. MJFLA's spring challenge appeal will be in the mail to you soon and we have a generous donor that will match every gift, up to $25,000, received by June 30!  Also, I hope you will save-the-date and attend MJFLA's 14th Annual Movie Night on October 14, so that I can thank you in person!

Sincerely,

Ginny Gendelman
MJFLA Executive Director

​

​

APRIL 3, 2023 - SOFT PULL CREDIT REPORTS

MJFLA is now able to run all "soft pull" credit reports, which is fantastic for our clients and their guarantors!  What Is a Soft Credit Check or "soft pull"?  A soft credit check is an inquiry into your credit report initiated either by you or a company. It can occur even if you didn’t apply for credit and is primarily used to screen for preapproval financing offer or background check. The good news is that a soft inquiry does not affect your all-important credit score, which is a numerical representation of your creditworthiness intended to help creditors determine the likelihood of being paid back if they extend credit to you. [click here for more information] 

​

​

APRIL 1, 2023 - NEW FCC RULES REGARDING SMS MESSAGING

To communicate with MJFLA via text messaging you can now text OPT-IN to 414-961-1500 to enable MJFLA to text with you.  Also, by submitting any MJFLA application or donation form, calling 414-961-1500, emailing info@MJFLA.org, or using the website chat to contact MJFLA, you will automatically opt-in to receive sms messages from MJFLA. You may choose to opt out by replying STOP to unsubscribe at any time.

​

​

MARCH 1, 2023 - MJFLA IS HELPING MORE PEOPLE IN MKE TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS

MJFLA is working with new community partner, Acts Housing, to help people reduce their debt-to-income ratio and improve their credit score so they can qualify for a mortgage and become homeowners. This empowers people in our community to escape the cycle of poverty and begin to build generational wealth.  Visit this page for more information.

​