2015 annual report

JBI INTERNATIONAL

founded in 1931 as the jewish braille institute

Connecting the Blindand Visually Impaired to the Jewish World

This past May, JBI celebrated its 85th birthday. We are proud to lead this extraordinary organization which has sustained its commitment for so long to the enhancement and enrichment of the lives of blind, visually impaired and handicapped children and adults. When the Jewish Braille Institute

was established in a small Bronx apartment in 1931, no one then involved could have imagined that it would grow to become JBI International, the world’s largest library of Jewish interest for the blind and visually impaired, serving 35,000 individuals worldwide and in nine languages – English, Russian, Yiddish, Hebrew, Spanish, French, Romanian, Hungarian and Polish. All of JBI’s Services are – and always have been – free.

We are very much heartened by the energy and inventiveness of our dedicated staff and by the devotion of JBI’s Studio volunteers who record our Talking Books for a grateful audience. Adoption of the latest technology helps us serve people better and faster. But the hallmark of JBI is – and has always been – the personal service we give to those who turn to us.

We want you, our generous supporters, to share with all of us the rewards and gratification conveyed by the many personal stories that are told by our library patrons (a few of which are shown on the facing page).

Today, parents of blind, visually impaired and reading disabled children discover JBI more easily, thanks both to the internet and to our outreach efforts. JBI’s services remain vital for blind and visually impaired children in their quest to study alongside their peers, participate in holiday celebrations, become Bar/Bat Mitzvah and be active participants in communal life. While responding to requests for customized educational materials remains the most labor intensive and, therefore, the most costly element of our entire library program, these very special texts have an inestimable value. There is truly nowhere else for these children to turn.

At the other end of the spectrum, increased longevity is leading to greater numbers of seriously visually impaired individuals among the senior population. JBI’s Talking Books and Large Print materials, delivered right to their doorsteps, enable them to recapture the joy of reading and provide a feeling of connectivity to the broader Jewish community and to their heritage. One major focus going forward must be continuous outreach to this ever expanding group. We can help them, but first we must reach them -- and we are exploring many routes to that end.

You, too, can help us by spreading the word about the resources of JBI and by continuing to support our determined efforts to change lives for the better. We—and those we serve—thank you with all our hearts.

Steven P. Polivy, Co-Chairman of the Board Judy E. Tenney, Co-Chairman of the Board

co-chairmen’s letter

02 | 2015 JBI INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT

WORDS OFTHANKS

TO JBI

2015 JBI INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT | 03

We all had a beautiful weekend—especially Yael. There wasn’t a dry eye by the time she had finished. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done to help Yael prepare for her Bar Mitzvah and reach this wonderful milestone. She had her d’var torah in Braille and read it smiling and with her head held high. We will be floating on the joy of the past weekend for a long time to come. Many, many thanks.

Rebecca, Herndon, VA

I live alone but, thanks to JBI, I am not lonely.

Helen, Miami, FL

If you or a loved one could benefit from JBI’s services, please call 1-800-433-1531 or visit www.jbilibrary.org. JBI’s knowledgeable librarians will be happy to help.

After her stroke, JBI was very important to my sister, Susan. I so thank you and your colleagues for her intellectual sustenance during her illness.

Jean, New York, NY

I want you to know that every time I get your mailer from my mailbox I feel like I’m meeting an old friend. Lately my vision got much worse so your books are like the rays of sunshine in my life that bring so much joy and warm feelings. I just wanted you to know how much what you do means to me and people like me.

Leonid, Brooklyn, NY

Thank you for making the gift of reading – and rereading available to my father. It has given him a new lease on life!

Barbara, daughter of Murray of Columbia, MD

A few years ago you Brailled the Yom Kippur Haftorah for my son Michael. It has become a tradition for him to chant it every year—which he is very proud of—as is the congregation. Thank you for all that you do.

Randi, Redondo Beach, CA

We would like to thank you for the French/Hebrew Large Print Haggadot you have sent to the Foundation CASIP-COJASOR. Thanks to you, the visually impaired residents of our nursing homes and disabled people were able to join a beautiful Seder.

Karene Fredj, Paris, France

leadership gifts$100,000 or moreBarbara B. & Stephen FriedmanThe Marc Haas FoundationJudy E. Tenney benefactors$50,000 – $99,999The David Berg FoundationThe Derfner FoundationThe Paul Singer Family Foundation

patrons$10,000 – $49,999Joseph Alexander FoundationAnonymousThe Sandra Atlas Bass & Edythe & Sol G. Atlas FundFrances & Buddy BrandtThe Brenner Family FoundationMirrel Davis TrustRebecca Davis TrustLeroy FademThe Horace W. Goldsmith FoundationJudith & Frank GreenbergLeo Oppenheimer & Flora Oppenheimer Haas

FoundationDr. Ellie Henkind- Katz honoring the birth of Avigail

Bat Miriam Malka & in honor of Hayden PlattusIsrael Charitable FoundationDebbie & Howard JonasThomas G. KahnThe Lucius N. Littauer FoundationLawrence & Patricia Palley in memory of Betty Mae

ShollMoses L. Parshelsky FoundationErwin Rautenberg FoundationIdalia Roth Charitable TrustSusan & Bruce SchlechterAdolph & Ruth Schnurmacher FoundationDan & Gloria Schusterman Charitable FoundationCharles and M. R. Shapiro FoundationThe Slomo and Cindy Silvian FoundationMr. & Mrs. Norman Sturner

sponsors$5,000 – $9,999 AnonymousPaul & Pearl Caslow FoundationThe Ruby Diamond FoundationAlbert E. & Birdie W. Einstein FundHerman Goldman FoundationJill & Myron KaplanAnna-Maria And Stephen Kellen Foundation in

honor of Thomas G. KahnKlaff Family FoundationBenjamin F. Kursman & Denise BlauDiane & Burton LipmanMyron MeilmanSteven P. Polivy & Annette OrenstenCharles & Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation friends$1,000 – $4,999Richard I. Adrian

Mark J. AltschulerSteven Howard Amster Memorial Fund of the

Jewish Federation of ClevelandPaul J. AndrejkovicsNathan ApplebaumStuart S. Applebaum in honor of Sue GeramianRobert & Toni Bader Charitable FoundationBain & Company Inc. in memory of Falk GadieshNan Bases in memory of Joseph & Muriel BasesThe Beer Family Foundation in honor of Paul &

Malka HermanMartin Begun & Louise SunshineJacqueline Bellsey-StarrBengualid FoundationB. Richard & Mary BenioffAmy Berko IlesMichael BernsteinThe Bisgeier Family FoundationDr. Maxwell & Florence C. Blumenreich FoundationSamuel C. Cantor Charitable TrustMarcy & Leona Chanin FoundationArnold Lewis CohenYvonne CohenEstelle CurranEllen David & Martin ZeigerNathaniel De RothschildFeuerring FoundationJohn J. Flemm Foundation in memory of Albert

HornblassMr. & Mrs. Ilan Forster in memory of Bernice

GershonDorothy Fox in memory of Sylvia AigBernice F. FriedmanStanley K. FriedmanDavid FurmanEdward & Arlyn GardnerGerson Family FoundationEdythe GladsteinRuth & Jack Glantz Family FoundationGene, Rosalie and Susan Goldberg Endowment

FundWilliam P. Goldman & Brothers FoundationMark & Audrey GoldsteinPatricia & Bernard GoldsteinLeonard S. Goodman in memory of Barbara Lock

GoodmanSylvia G. GordonBarbara Fried GottesmanGottesman Philanthropic Fund in honor of Judy E.

TenneyDavid and Alan Greene Family FoundationThe Dr. Lewis A. Hare & Ruth Lerman Hare

Charitable FoundationMalka & Paul R. Herman Mrs. Gerry HodesHenry and Myrtle Hirsch FoundationThe David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn FoundationThe Inner CircleJephson Educational Trust #2Ronald M. JerichoIrwin KallmanThe Kaplen FoundationE. Phil & Roberta Kirschner FoundationMr. & Mrs. Charles KofmanLouis J. Kuriansky Foundation

Rona E. Kramer in memory of Paul D. KermanThe Selma and Raymond Kramer FoundationJoann & Robert Todd LangLori B. LavineHortley G. LeBlang Charitable FoundationLemberg FoundationMr. & Mrs. Lawrence E. LernerPeter A. LewisProf. Henry Linschitz in memory of Bernard

LinschitzLivingston FoundationHelen LuckensMacy’s FoundationEstelle MarkowitzPeter & Leni MayRenee MehrraMetzger-Price FundMilken Family FoundationMr. & Mrs. Jay P. MillerMorris Morgenstern FoundationMr. & Mrs. Lester S. MorseMoskowitz Family FoundationThe Nash Family FoundationCarol & Melvin NewmanJerome A. and Estelle R. Newman Assistance FundDr. & Mrs. Jack NizewitzMelvin Pomerantz in memory of Isidore PomerantzThe Potter’s Wheel FoundationMario and Sara Rafalin FoundationJoel Rappoport in memory of Seymour RappoportMr. & Mrs. Albert RatnerRoy R. Razien, David Razien and Jill & Robert

SerlingAbraham & Sonia Rochlin FoundationDr. A. Everett Rosen and Ruth E. Rosen FoundationEdward E. and Hilda C. Rosen FoundationCarol Rothschild- KaufmanLawrence RubenLawrence Ruben FoundationRobert Russell Memorial FoundationDavid S. Sabih in honor of Cassandra Farley,

Zachary & Emunah Waxer, and Debbie Winik Barbara G. Saidel & Eddie GoldbergThe Jack & Anita Saltz FoundationDaniel SchreiberMr. & Mrs. Irwin ShapiroMr. & Mrs. Bernard ShavitzIrving I. SilvermanSilverweed Foundation in honor of Judy E. Tenney Arlene & Sheldon SimonMr. & Mrs. Warren SinsheimerElsa & Stephen D. SolenderCari Sommer Charitable FundDr. Jeffrey A. SpitzerJack and Eva Steinberg Endowment FundSidney Stern Memorial TrustThe Philip and Lynn Straus FoundationMr. & Mrs. Daniel TalbotNewman Tanner FoundationTemple Beth-El Sisterhood, Great Neck, NYAlice J. TenneyAmy Tenney-LevereTidewater Jewish FoundationViterbi Family FundWallach FoundationDr. & Mrs. Harvey I. WallackAlvin WarsawMelvin & Ruth WolzingerWomen Of Reform JudaismJudy YehudaLillian Zeides

donors$250 – $999Mr. & Mrs. Morris C. Aaron in memory of Betty

AaronBarbara Abis in honor of Charna Gerstenhaber

our thanks for your generous support in 2015

* This report recognizes donors of $250 and more during the fiscal year 2015. Unfortunately, space limitations make it impossible to list the many gifts under $250. If your name is not listed, or there is an error in the way you are listed, please accept our apologies and let us know how to correct the error. (Please call Beth Rudich at 1-800-433-1531.)

04 | 2015 JBI INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT

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Gloria S. AdelsonRaymond & Barbara Alpert FoundationChris & Susan AndersonAnschel-Eilian Family Charitable FoundationMr. & Mrs. Jacob ApelbergKenneth J. ArrowDr. & Mrs. Mitchel AshkanazyMr. & Mrs. Jay G. AxelrodCorinne & Fillmore BagatellJeffrey BainSharon I. BakerVirginia H. BakerPhyllis Barber in memory of Fred Lee Barber,

Rachel Kahn, Theodore Kahn, & Lillian GoldmanKathy & Dennis BarkerRobert E. BaumProf. Elizabeth BeaujourBeit Tikvah Messianic Congregation, New Castle,

WADr. Marvin BellinMs. Joan BellowsMrs. Judy BergmanMr. George BerkowitzMr. Keith BermanB’nai Israel Congregation, Rockville, MDJulia & Norman BobrowMrs. Marvin L. BookinLynn & Doug BorckNancy J. BrennerAllen H. & Irene Brill in memory of Henry FlambergThe Brook FundAndrea Brown in honor of Israel A. TaubDr. & Mrs. Lewis J. Brown in memory of Irvin

BrownSteven BrucknerDr. David BrustDr. & Mrs. Mel A. BurchmanVivian Burger-Lazar & Matthew Lazar in honor of

Bill GrossLandy-Canarick Family Charitable TrustMr. & Mrs. Michael CanesLawrence CarolineBernie CarrDr. Herbert T. CaskeyThe Chaim FoundationWellington ChenTatiana CherkasRenee CoeCharles P. CohenMr. & Mrs. Gordon CohenBarbara & Bertram J. CohnEllen & Marshall ColeThe Colen FamilyCongregation Agudas Achim Sisterhood, San

Antonio, TXCongregation Beth Israel, Portland, ORCongregation Emanu-El of WestchesterMona Crandell

Kenneth I. Daniels in memory of Jeaneete Lewis Daniels-Chait

Peter DerfnerElisabeth & Alan DoftMr. & Mrs. David A. DurkinMr. & Mrs. Lewis S. EdelheitHoward S. EdelsteinMitzi & Warren Eisenberg Family FoundationTheodore D. EislerCharlotte & David EpsteinMr. & Mrs. Eugene I. Farber in memory of Melissa

HillmanAlfred & Harriet Feinman Foundation Abel FeinsteinHarvey A. FeldmanChaia Feyge Helping Hand TrustDebra FogelJudith R. FormanDr. David ForstDr. Toby FrankelMr. & Mrs. Herbert H. FranksAnne FreedmanMr. & Mrs. Manley FreidNorman FriedStewart GabelAdam GahtanMiriam GalstonGertrude GarfieldMr. & Mrs. Andrew GasparGE FoundationRobert W. GelfmanMr. & Mrs. Stanley GellerPearl GinsburgElisabeth GitterSharon & Herbert GlaserMr. & Mrs. Rubin GoldbergVictor & Shira GoldbergAdrienne GoldfederMr. & Mrs. Eric GoldsteinHelena & Marvin J. GoldsteinDr. & Mrs. Irwin P. GoldsteinMr. & Mrs. Alan L. GordonLois W. Gordon Endowment FundGottstein Family FoundationLouise & James GreilsheimerPaul D. GrosbardPamela H. B. GrossRonald GrossMr. & Mrs. William K. GrossLawrence GrossmanDr. Joseph H. GrovemanRenee and Manfred Gruenspecht Philanthropic

FundPeter F. GrunthalGrynberg Petroleum CompanyDr. Alden N. HaffnerCelia HaftBernard Hammer

Mr. & Mrs. William R. HandelmanRobert V. HedayaPeggy HessBrad Sabin HillDavid Himelberg FoundationFeigy HirthMary Ann HobelMyrna HolzmanEric HorowitzLeo & Sarah HorowitzMilton Houpt & Dr. Evelyn HouptIBM FoundationDr. Ellen IslerA.C. Israel FoundationCharles B. Israel Foundation in honor of Judy E.

TenneySimon & Marie Jaglom FoundationRoe JasenMichael D. JosephMr. & Mrs. Ronald L. KahnMichael & Phyllis KannThe Kandell FundDr. & Mrs. Morton J. KanterJerome A. Kaplan & Deena L. Kaplan Family

FoundationPat & Paul KaplanRita and Henry Kaplan FoundationMrs. Suzanne KaplanBarbara & Leo KarasAlbert R. KashaniMoshe & Adele KatzenelenbogenVirginia & Herbert KeeDoris C. KempnerEllen KiamKings Point Holiday ClubDr. Ronald KipnisHenry KisterSamuel & Francine KlagsbrunDavid J. Klein in memory of Rita & Phil RosenNancy I. KleinMr. & Mrs. John KlingensteinJane & Richard Koch FundBarbara KramerBertram KramerCecelia LanceLucas S. LaraMr. & Mrs. Stephen LassarMr. & Mrs. Meyer LastLautman, Maska, Neill & CompanyBarbara & Jerrold LavineRoslyn & Leo G. LazarJuanita Leff in memory of Joseph LeffSteven LegumMr. & Mrs. David B. LeibDr. Carole R. LermanDr. Richard M. LeveyMr. & Mrs. Irwin B. LevinMr. & Mrs. Alan M. LevineMr. & Mrs. Mark LevineRobert A. LevinsonJaye Friedman LevyMartin R. LewisMr. & Mrs. Mark A. LieberfarbStephen LiebermanAmy & Frank LindeJohn LoCiceroMr. & Mrs. Aaron D. LongSharon & Freddy Loef Philanthropic FundMaurice & Hester Lowenthal Philanthropic FundMr. & Mrs. Lawrence B. LudwigAlain LuxembourgMacArthur Foundation Matching Gift ProgramNan P. MacMasterMrs. F. MandelBarbara & Richard MarcusMarvin MarcusWilliam Maren

Molly BarrettMilda B. CohenEdward R. FarberJack FivelLaurette GenslerArlene R. GordonGloria HandlerMartin J. HertzDavid L. Joseph

Gerald M. KassThelma S. KleinGertrude KlempnerLeon LeibowitzHenry Chaim LernerClaire B. LubowEsther MankoHarriet MerewitzLucienne W. Muller

Dr. Abraham NemethRita & Philip RosenEthel L. SchwarzmanRuby StraussMartin F. WitkinNathan L. Wolfson

legacies & bequestsWe gratefully acknowledge the thoughtfulness and compassion of those whose forward thinking has done so much to enable JBI to meet the special needs of the blind and visually impaired. We will always remember their kindness.

2015 JBI INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT | 05

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ję Joel MarkelJean MarksSeymour MarksMr. & Mrs. Stuart MarksWillard L. Marmelzat FoundationAmy Mates in memory of Estelle & Irving MatesEdna MatianThe Jacob and Ruth Mazer FoundationJulius & Evelyn Melnick FoundationDennis M. MeyersArlene & David MeyersonCaryn MillerMorgan & Marjorie MillerJean and Saul A. Mintz Family FoundationJeffrey Mollin in memory of Lorraine MollinJoy MoserAnnette MoshmanMount Herman Full Gospel Ministry, Adager, ALMr. & Mrs. Jose MugrabiRon MurchDavid and Inez Myers FoundationMaxine L. MyersThe Nanus Family FundSeymour NashThe Nathanson-Abrams Family FoundationRisa & Pierce NeumanMr. & Mrs. Alan NeustadterNew York Community TrustWilliam & Anita Newman FoundationMartha NierenbergHarvey M. NusbaumJane E. OppenheimDr. & Mrs. Lawrence C. PakulaPaler FoundationThe Larry and Nancy Pantirer Family FoundationEd PeabodyNina PearlmutterDr. & Mrs. Mark L. PerecmanPaul A. PerlinMr. & Mrs. Michael PerlmutterHarry J. PetcheskyJoseph S. PetrilloDonald & Cecelia Platnick Charitable Gift FundPlaza Jewish Community ChapelHarold V. Posniak

Dr. & Mrs. Martin Prager in honor of Alissandra Mechaly

Arn Pressner in memory of Lawrence PresserSteven PretsfelderMorris and Anna Propp Sons FundDr. Robert G. PugachNaomi RaberLaszlo RegosMr. & Mrs. Jay S. ReshRiverside Abstract LLCHelena RoehrsDr. Bruce RollmanFrederick P. & Sandra P. Rose FoundationMr. & Mrs. Richard RosenbergMartin RosenfeldJames H. Rosenfield in honor of Judy E. TenneyLinda & Harold RosensonDr. Alan RosenthalEve RothDr. Christopher Rothko in memory of Bernice

MandellJoseph B. Rubin & Dr. Corinne B. WinstonRichard RubinMr. & Mrs. Daniel F. Rubinstein in honor of Isabelle

GoldflamFlorence RubinsteinEdmund & Norma SacksHeber L. SanchezMurray SarwaySandra R. Schenkel in memory of Elsa SchenkelThe Frances/Lillian Schermer Charitable TrustGloria SchertzDr. Mervin Livingston Schloss FundWilliam Schuman in memory of Ben BraikerMyles W. SchumerWendy Sclight & Gerald MonroeShadrow Family FundJay B. ShapiroJudith ShapiroDrs. Lola & Jacob ShapiroRuth ShapiroAlbertine ShekarchiJoseph I. SherwoodShusterman FoundationJoseph & Margaret SiegelThe Ruth and Jerome A. Siegel Foundation

The Sisterhood of Har Sinai Temple, Pennington, NJ, in memory of Hildred & Irving Gross

Sisterhood of The Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue, New York, NY

Sisterhood of Temple Beth Hillel, Valley Village, CASisterhood of Temple Emanu-El, Dallas, TXAndrew B. SimmonsMichael & Ruth Slade FoundationRuth SlaterVirginia B. SlaughterRobert H. SmallMelody SmythHarvey SobelmanRobert & Judy SoleyMarshall S. SolomonSue & Martin SpectorPaul J. SperryBrenda & Joel SpiraSephora SteinSheldon SteinThe George Stern & Sara Stern FoundationAudrey F. SteuerNorman StillmanAdina StrausMaxwell Strawbridge Charitable TrustDr. Abraham SudilovskyDr. Lynn M. SugarmanAbraham SultanikAllan D. & Anita SuttonDr. & Mrs. Martin SwerdlowDr. & Mrs. Jaime SznajderStephanie & Arthur C. TatgeE. & R. Teltscher Family TrustTemple Israel, Norfolk, VAMr. & Mrs. Marvin L. TenzerTouro Fraternal AssociationMr. & Mrs. Aron P. TrombkaTropham FoundationThe Trust at JP Morgan Chase in memory of Reba

AbisUnited Jewish Federation of Tidewater, VATikun Olam Program of United Synagogue YouthJohn VeronisVillage Reform Congregation, Pembroke Pines, FLDaniel VinikElaine WagensbergWallerstein Foundation For Geriatric Life

ImprovementHarold & Brenda WaltMarcia WarnerIra & Barbara M. WarrenWashington Hebrew Congregation Sisterhood,

PotomacMr. & Mrs. Charles H. WeinerHarris WeinsteinJ. Weinstein FoundationSamuel Weinstein Family FoundationKenneth & Carol WeiserCharles WeissmanDov WeitmanWhizin FoundationJoan WiesenLeslie WiesenfelderJames & Linda WimmerDiane Wohl in honor of Frances BrandtMartin WyckoffBarry Yavitch in memory of Dorothy & Yasha YavitchJerold & Abbe YoungJudith ZaraRabbi Irwin Zeplowitz, The Community Synagogue,

Port Washington, NYEdith & Robert ZinnDavid Ziskrout

the tikvah society of jbiThe Tikvah Society acknowledges with gratitude the many friends of the blind and visually impaired who have included JBI in their wills or who have named JBI as the beneficiary of an insurance policy, trust, IRA or gift annuity:

Gloria S. AdelsonMaimoona M. AhmedMark AltschulerSelma & Joseph BaumgoldFrances BrandtWilliam H. BrandtPamela CarltonJeannette CelemenskiGloria CohenEllen DavidMichael L. & Carol L. DeanAaron EdenDavid Bernard EichhornLeroy FademMildred FeuersteinSaerree K. FiedlerDavid & Paula FishmanSara FishmanBetty H. FreedmanBarbara B. FriedmanBernice F. Friedman

Ralph FriednerStanley GanerEarl & Mary GlennWilliam K. GrossSylvia HaaseMonika HamburgerPaul HermanHortense HurwitzThomas G. KahnJeanne KaiserMyron KaplanIrene KitzmanLouis KlaffBarry Martin KramerNaomi KronishStephen S. KutnerHarriet B. LeviNorma U. LevittStanley MossRae NatkinBeth Omansky, Ph.D.

Gloria OstrinPoppy ParkerHarry J. PetcheskyRonald PriceStanley E. RoseNorman RossFlorence RubinsteinRoslyn SchwartzbergAnna ShrifterArlene Stolper SimonAdele SteinHarold SteinbachFaye SueskindJudy E. TenneyEstelle & Seymour WallnerPaulette A. WeillSelma WeintraubGertrude ZehnerAnn & Herbert Zukerman

For more information or to become a member of The Tikvah Society, please contact Beth Rudich at 1-800-433-1531 or brudich@jbilibrary.org.

06 | 2015 JBI INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT

JBI extends its gratitude to New York City Council Members Daniel R. Garodnick and Helen Rosenthal, as well as to the Manhattan Borough President’s Office for their support in 2015.

OUTREACH TO THOSE IN NEED • Reaching out to the blind, visually impaired,

reading disabled and physically handicapped through schools, JCCs, senior centers, social service agencies, advertisements, etc.

• Educating the community at-large about JBI’s free and unique services

• Engaging blind and visually impaired subscribers through JBI Talking Book Groups

ISRAELI ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND OUTREACH TO EUROPE AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION • The JBI Low Vision Clinic and Mobile Screening Program (Tel Aviv) • JBI sponsored recording studios at the Central Library for the Blind in Israel • Outreach to the visually impaired and distribution

of Audio and Large Print foreign language materials throughout the FSU, Hungary and Romania

LIBRARIES AND LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES • Circulating library of more than 22,000 Audio, Braille & Large

Print titles • Customized educational materials for students • Special publications and liturgical materials • Volunteer recording studio program • Audio books and other materials available in 9 languages

distributed globally. • Web-based downloadable Braille

JBI PERIODICALS SERIES AND EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS • Audio concert, drama and lecture series • Popular magazines in Audio format (e.g., selections from

Jerusalem Report, Commentary, Moment, Tikkun, Hadassah) • JBI Voice and Jewish Braille Review - JBI’s own monthly

anthology of articles from a wide variety of publications, with distinct Russian and Spanish language versions

JBI Programs

jbi international(ESTABLISHED AS JEWISH BRAILLE INSTITUTE OF AMERICA)

*In certain cases, for the purpose of clarity in the pie chart, percentages represent combined related programs.

Condensed Statement of ActivitiesYear Ended December 31, 2015

REVENUES, GAINS AND OTHER SUPPORT 2015Contributions and grants 1,955,694Legacies & bequests 3,637,955 Investment income 127,237 Other revenue and support 84,647

Total revenues gains and other support 5,805,533

EXPENSESProgram services: Libraries and library development services 1,394,349 Educational and cultural programs 100,088JBI periodicals 304,763 Outreach to Europe and the former Soviet Union 109,497Israeli assistance program 182,520Outreach and Library recruitment 804,479 Total Program Services 2,895,696

Management and general 252,379 Fundraising 376,552 Total Expenses 3,524,627 Change in Net Assets 2,280,906

Condensed Balance Sheet Year Ended December 31, 2015

ASSETS 2015 Cash (including money market funds) 1,916,461 Investments in securities 8,621,681 Contributions receivable 129,522Fixed assets, net 6,845,592 Other assets 658,642

Total Assets 18,171,898

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETSLIABILITIES:Accounts payable and accrued expenses 77,049 Other liabilities 373,235

Total Liabilities 450,284

NET ASSETS:Unrestricted:General operating 238,305 Board designated reserve 159,868 Board designated endowment 5,206,850Land, building and equipment 6,845,592

Total Unrestricted 12,450,615

Temporarily restricted 2,361,413 Permanently restricted 2,909,586

Total Net Assets 17,721,614

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS 18,171,898

2015 JBI INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT | 07

48%28%

10%*14%*

jbi board, officers & staffBOARD OF TRUSTEESMark J. AltschulerFrances BrandtEllen DavidLeroy Fadem*Barbara B. Friedman*Frank GreenbergDr. Ellie Henkind KatzPaul R. Herman, Esq.Hortense Hurwitz*Thomas G. KahnMyron Kaplan, Esq.Nancy I. KleinCharles KofmanLori B. LavineJay LeventhalNorma U. Levitt*Diane LipmanBlair C. MarksSteven P. Polivy, Esq.Ellen Y. RosenbergFlorence RubinsteinBarbara G. SaidelSusan L. Schlechter

Arlene SimonStephen D. SolenderDr. Jeffrey SpitzerNorman SturnerJudy E. Tenney

ADVISORY COUNCILWilliam K. GrossDov KramerBenjamin F. Kursman, Esq.Naomi KronishStephen S. Kutner, M.D.Phyllis Raskin-HadleyDr. Dennis ShulmanHarold I. SteinbachSelma WeintraubAnn Zukerman

OFFICERSSteven P. Polivy, Esq.Judy E. TenneyCo-Chairmen of the Board

Dr. Ellen IslerPresident and CEO

Israel A. TaubVice President and CFO

Thomas G. KahnSusan L. SchlechterStephen D. SolenderNorman SturnerVice Chairmen

Frances BrandtTreasurer

Ellen DavidAssistant Treasurer

Myron Kaplan, Esq. Secretary

Paul R. Herman, Esq.Assistant Secretary

HONORARY OFFICERSBarbara B. FriedmanHonorary Chairman of the Board

Leroy Fadem Honorary Vice Chairman

EXECUTIVE STAFFBeth K. RudichDirector of Development

Barry PelofskyProduction/Circulation Manager

Jane BlecherManager of Audio Production

FOUNDERLeopold Dubov**

* Honorary Life Trustee** Deceased

JBI INTERNATIONAL110 EAST 30TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10016 | TEL: 212 889 2525 | TOLL FREE: 800 433 1531WWW.JBILIBRARY.ORG

jbi misssion statementJBI International, founded in 1931 as The Jewish Braille Institute, seeks to empower blind, visually impaired and reading disabled individuals to participate fully in educational, cultural and communal life by providing free access to works of Jewish and general interest through its Braille, Large Print and Audio Libraries. Our global programs in many languages serve people of all ages and backgrounds.

the jbi libraryJBI’s global library offers Jewish and general interest materials – fiction, nonfiction, periodicals, cultural and liturgical materials – in accessible formats in English, Russian, Yiddish, Spanish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Romanian and Polish. We serve readers on six continents.

jewish education & jewish continuityJBI enables blind, visually impaired and reading disabled children to obtain a Jewish education alongside their peers by providing customized educational materials in Braille, Large Print and Audio. The JBI Library also helps adults blind from birth as well as those who have become visually impaired later in life to savor the joys of reading and lifelong learning.

israel programIn 1983, JBI established and has since continued to support the premier Low Vision Clinic in Israel, located at the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv. The Clinic seeks to maximize the residual vision of those with severe impairment, whether it be the result of congenital disease, aging or injury.

JBI International, Inc. 2015 Program Highlights

JBI provided every blind and visually impaired student who turned to us with tailor-made textbooks and other educational materials, Bar and Bat Mitzvah materials, Jewish summer camp songbooks, and anything else related to participation in Jewish life and learning, in Braille, Audio, or Large Print format. In 2015, as always, the variety of requests was extremely wide-ranging: from a 362-page Hebrew grammar book in Braille for an 11th grader to Braille flash cards and worksheets for a kindergartener. JBI’s dedicated staff worked one-on-one with parents and educators to make sure that each book was ready for a child when he or she needed it. JBI was committed to reaching out to and serving the fastest growing senior population in history. As longevity increases, so does vulnerability to glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and a host of other debilitating diseases that can rob one’s ability to read standard print. As a result of our outreach efforts this past year, JBI enrolled new visually impaired and blind clients year round. The JBI Library is now making their lives more meaningful and more pleasurable. We serve every new client with the same level of personalized service and attention that has always been our hallmark. We collaborated with other organizations to help serve their constituents. For example, more than 1,400 homebound elderly in Brooklyn and Queens received information about JBI through JASA’s Kosher home meal delivery program. And in 2015 JBI provided Plaza Jewish Community Chapel with copies of Large Print and Braille versions of all the materials—liturgical and informational—they utilize, benefiting many who came through their doors. We added 58 new Talking Book titles in English, Russian and Spanish to our collection and produced 44 Audio and Braille magazine issues and cultural programs. These materials, as is the case with all Audio, Braille and Large Print publications, are put into circulation and sent directly to our patrons’ doorsteps. The depth and breadth of JBI’s collection notwithstanding, we often receive special requests. For instance, in 2015 we received a request from a visually impaired woman interested in participating in an adult education course where, each week, an article or short story was to be discussed. With the knowledge that JBI could help her by providing customized Large Print versions of the texts, she was able to participate in the course. JBI remains in a period of great technological change caused by the shift from analog to Digital Talking Books, the new distribution platform mandated by the Library of Congress’ National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). The digitization of JBI’s retrospective library collection is a necessity if we are to ensure continued access to JBI’s Talking Books collection. In 2015 we converted 651 titles to Digital Talking Books format. In 2015, there were 4,036 visits to The JBI Low Vision Children’s Clinic at Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv.