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The commitment that Joe Goldberger and his family have to the Jewish community goes back decades – to a time when the community stepped up to help Jews from the former Soviet Union resettle in the community.
But as those needs waned, Joe Goldberger merged that fund with one that his brother Jay had started to assist lower-income families who had children with autism. Now, the Goldberger Family Fund, administered by the St. Paul Jewish Federation, is helping children with special needs develop their full potential. The Fund provides financial support for a wide range of needs, including therapy, recreational programs and lessons, adaptive equipment, and access to specialized camps.
“We were able to combine those funds into something that more broadly helped children with special needs,” Joe Goldberg said. “With the current leadership and the St. Paul Jewish Federation, it’s really starting to get some traction, which we’re really excited about.”
Goldberger said that the fund covers purchases and program fees that a family may not otherwise be able to afford.
“We will make a grant for that purchase, or for their child to go to camp, or for their child to go to some special program that can help improve their life,” he said. “Many families within our community have challenges, and this fund is set up to help them.”
The fund’s impact is evident through testimonials from beneficiaries. One family shared their experience, noting how the grant enabled their son to access a unique program with a therapy dog, which decreased his anxiety and improved his abilities: “Our son has autism and requires special care that can be hard to find. While insurance covers some things, it certainly doesn’t cover enough. We found a special program where our son could have access to various therapies with a therapy dog. We have seen his anxiety decrease and his abilities grow. This unique programming would not have been available, or even possible, for our family without this grant. We are so grateful to the Goldberger Family for their impact on our son’s care and development.”
Another family benefited from the fund by obtaining private swim lessons for their child, which were crucial due to the challenges faced in group settings.
“The Goldberger grant has had a significant impact on my family. They assisted us in paying for private swim lessons so that my child could be safe in the water. With their challenges, group swim lessons were not successful. And thanks to the grant, we were able to sign up for private lessons without worrying about funds. When my child is helped, it helps our entire family, and for that, I will always be eternally grateful.”
Director of Community Engagement Ellen Konstan elaborated on the role of this Fund.
“The Goldberger family wants to create a more inclusive and supportive community, rooted in the value of tikkun olam, repairing the world,” she said. “It’s life-changing for the kids – and for their entire families – to be able to participate in programs and activities that develop their physical, social, and emotional skills.”
Goldberger, who has seen the effect participating in sports has had with his nephew, said that the fund helps keep children with special needs engaged in their communities.
“That happens in many different ways,” he said. “I’ve seen my nephew at Herzl, seen him in sports activities. The alternative is them sitting at home, and this fund is set up, very broadly, to help children and their families who truly need it to get them as involved as possible.”
The application process is open on a rolling basis, so apply any time at Goldberger Family Fund Application.
