Date: May 4, 1931
Location: Northampton, MA
(Original document available here)
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is starting an effort to raise two and onehalf million dollars for the relief of their race in central and eastern Europe. The need for rehabilitation in that area is great and the organization for collecting and disbursing money is effective and complete. Our benefactions for foreign countries are very large. Scores of millions have gone to Near East Relief and hundreds or millions to other agencies. But the work is not yet done and should continue.
This is only an example of the constant and enormous charities of our country. In 1929 the amount of contributions is estimated at about two and one-half billions, which is more than one-half the cost of the national government and about 3 per cent of the national income. As an example of the generosity of a whole people there was never anything to compare with it in magnitude. Instead of putting all the emphasis on the great amount of wealth our country has accumulated, some thought should be given to the amount it is continually giving away. These are our permanent investments on which the returns are most satisfactory.
Citation: Calvin Coolidge Says: Dispatches Written by Former-President Coolidge and Syndicated to Newspapers in 1930-1931 (Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation)
The Coolidge Foundation gratefully acknowledges the volunteer efforts of Craig Eyermann who prepared this document for digital publication.