Please uncheck the optional Zeffy fee at checkout so you aren’t charged extra and can complete your donation without added costs
Sami’s Story
Sami Steigmann is a Holocaust survivor in his late 80s who endured extreme hardship as a young child in a Nazi labor camp in Ukraine. He suffered starvation, brutal conditions, and was subjected to medical experiments that caused lifelong pain. After the war, Sami rebuilt his life, eventually immigrating to the United States alone with no money and without knowing English, where he worked to support himself and later made New York City his permanent home.
Rather than living as a victim, Sami chose to become a survivor and educator, dedicating his life to sharing his story and teaching lessons of resilience, compassion, and courage. He has spoken to thousands of students and communities and has been honored for his work in Holocaust education.
Today, Sami lives alone in an apartment in Harlem that is unsafe for his aging needs. Project Ahava is raising funds to help move him into a safe independent living facility where he can live with stability, security, and proper support.
Monthly Housing Cost
Independent living rent: $6,000 per month
Existing Monthly Support
- Social Security: $1,600
- Romanian Holocaust reparations: $700
- Blue Card assistance: $1,500
- Total monthly support: $3,800
The Real Gap
Monthly shortfall: $2,200
What Project Ahava Covers
- Closes the monthly shortfall
- Prevents displacement
- Creates predictable, long-term stability
Why We Are Raising $132,000
- Covers the effective $2,200/month gap plus inflation over 5 years
- Guarantees five years of independent living
- Removes financial anxiety
Where the Money Goes
- 100% goes directly to a Holocaust survivor
- No taxes taken
- No administrative fees
- No organizational overhead
The Impact
- Five years of stable housing
- Five years of independence
- Five years of dignity
This is not emergency relief. It is planned certainty.
This is what Project Ahava exists to do.
If you would like to support Sami by check, please make it payable to Project Ahava: Sami Steigmann and mail it to the address below.
Mailing address:
Chicago Jewish Alliance
4950 Madison St, Unit 321
Skokie, IL 60076
⚠️ The Chicago Jewish Alliance utilizes Zeffy, a 100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits, to ensure every dollar raised goes directly to the cause. At checkout, donors can select a $0 contribution toward fees, meaning neither the donor nor the nonprofit is required to pay any transaction costs. This ensures complete transparency and maximizes the direct impact of every dollar given.
*All funds raised will be placed in a restricted fund in accordance with 501(c)(3) guidelines and used for Holocaust survivor housing.