b'Dear Friends, This has been a year forever etched in our collective memory. A year when a global pandemic transformed our livesa year when social isolation and economic insecurity brought so much despair to so many. Lives and circumstances were altered. And, The Associated was ever-present to assist where help was needed.It was also a year when The Associated network was testedwhen many in our community were uncomfortable with the traditional ways of seeking help. Yet, as weve done for more than 100 years, we recognized these new challenges, reimagining our services to support fellow community membersin new and adaptive ways. If ever there was a time to realize how important our system is to the fabricof the community, it was at this critical moment. There were hardships along the way. Yet fortunately, The Associateds operating model as a centralized system with a vast network of specialized agencies made it viable for us to reinvent, adapt and respond quickly to whatever was needed most. From a worldwide health crisis to a tremendous spike in antisemitism from rockets fired on our beloved partner city of Ashkelon to the hopeof the vaccineswe solved problems, allocated funding and provided vital life-saving and enhancing services to make life more tolerable. Our Associated system works because of our committed donors, our strong partnerships with organizations like synagogues and day schools and our dedicated leaders who stand with us when times are tough. Each of you was there during this pivotal year to say Hineni - Here I am and I want to makea difference. Throughout these pages, we share the voices of individuals helped,the voices of community members who used our services in new ways to remain healthy, safe and connected to Jewish life. And, we hear the voicesof individuals who worked with our agencies to step up for social justicegiven this inflection point in our society.Thank you for the role you play in making sure there will always bea place to go when life becomes challenging. We are forever grateful foryour commitment. Beth H. GoldsmithMarc B. Terrill Chair of the Board President'