Each year, the Jewish Community Foundation provides approximately $100,000 in JCF Grants for new and innovative programs and services to benefit residents of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties in New Jersey.
The Spring 2025 JCF Grants Cycle recently ended and results will be announced in early May.
In the meantime, the Jewish Community Foundation is happy to circulate updates on five fantastic, JCF Grants-in-Action, where grant awards benefited programs and services that have helped Southern New Jersey residents in recent months:
1.
Jewish Family & Children's Service : 2nd Annual Holocaust Survivor Celebration
JFCS Grant Coordinator Lydia Silpe informed us of the following initiative (pictured):
Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) joined with organizations around the world to host two events in honor of Holocaust Survivor Day. On Tuesday, June 4 we gathered at the Betty and Milton Katz Jewish Community Center in Cherry Hill, N.J. and on Thursday, June 6th at Beth Israel Congregation in Vineland. More than 50 Survivors joined with JFCS staff members, lay leaders, and volunteers to sing, dance, and reminisce together. Although there was no formal evaluation, participants shared the following thoughts during the event:
“I always feel so special when I come to your events"
"Today's event made me smile and feel good about myself"
"Thank you for always thinking of us the survivors and for making our lives better and easier"
2.
Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey : Teen Hesed Project
Stacey Unterlack, Education & Family Engagement Coordinator for the Federation, offered the following update:
The JCF Grant award was put towards the Teen Hesed Project program as part of the Teen Speakers series in collaboration with Federation, Kesher students from Congregation Beth El, Temple Beth Sholom and supplemental students from Congregation Kol Ami in grades 7-12th grade. Day school students in grades 7-12th grade are also invited to attend. During the first part of the evening, students learned strategies and techniques to moderate and better self-regulate the stressors in their own lives through yoga, sound bath practice and meditation. The focus of the evening then shifted from taking care of themselves, to taking care of others. Students learned all about the power of giving and the impact they can have on giving both to themselves and others. Various organizations were selected to be recipients of mitzvah projects that the students worked on during the evening: making no-sew scarves for the children in Camden city public schools, preparing candy appreciation bags for local police and fire departments, putting together birthday bags for JFCS food pantry clients and making sensory cards for the Adi-Negev school in Israel. These Hesed projects addressed helping others in four specific categories: teens helping teens, teens helping their community, teens helping their Jewish community and teens helping in our global Jewish community.
3.
Jewish Senior Housing & Healthcare Service (JSHHS) : Security Camera Project
Per David Thompson, CEO of JSHHS:
"We requested a grant to support the installation of security cameras at Saltzman House, a Jewish low-income housing building that is home to predominantly elderly residents. This initiative was driven by growing concerns about safety and the increasing risk of crime and hate-related incidents in the area. Given the residents' age, limited resources, and the cultural and religious significance of this community, the need for enhanced security was urgent. The addition of security cameras provides a vital layer of protection, deterring potential threats and offering peace of mind to some of our most vulnerable community members. We are deeply grateful for the support of the Jewish Community Foundation's donors in helping us create a safer and more secure environment for these seniors.
4.
Katz JCC : Martial Arts for Movement
Megan Matis, who runs the Parkinson's Connection at the Katz JCC, reported:
“Martial Arts for Movement” allows individuals in South Jersey with Parkinson’s
disease (PD) and other movement disorders to increase their stamina and
improve their quality of life through participating in martial arts-based fitness.
Research has shown that martial arts activities help to improve balance, core
training, and mindfulness for people with PD.
In addition, some feedback about the program by participants includes:
"The class has been invaluable for me and is a life saver."
"Most beneficial has been a slowing of the loss of cognitive abilities and stressing memory enhancements in the drills and the forms.
"It has allowed me to be much more confident that I am doing all I can to slow the progression of PD."
"My family is very impressed that I have been able to keep paceand earn my Yellow Belt. And the friends being made in the class are lifetime benefits."
5.
Kellman Brown Academy : KBA Teacher PD-- Neurodiverse Learners
Thanks to Shira Weinstein, Director of Student Services at KBA, for the following recap:
KBA zoomed with 2 trainers as arranged through Gateways: Access Jewish Education for 2 workshops to teach professional development to our preschool staff to support neurodiverse learners in the classroom. The presenters and topics are listed below.
• Jodi Katz will be leading Proactive Behavior Management: Planning for Success. She is Gateways’ Behavioral Specialist. She has extensive experience supporting diverse student populations, and student behavior. She is both a practitioner and an professional learning coach. I am excited that you will have a chance to work with Jodi.
• Elana Naftali-Kelman will be leading Creating an Inclusive Early Learning Classroom. She is Gateways’ Special Education Consultant. She is an expert on creating inclusive spaces and has extensive experience supporting young students and early learning educators. After every session she leads, educators share how much they’ve learned and how it has enhanced their teaching practices.
Thank you to the JCF for helping us bring this special programming to KBA!
Mazel tov to all who were involved in making these initiatives come to life, the JCF appreciates the opportunity to help the community in so many diverse ways via our JCF Grants each and every year.
Stay tuned for the Spring 2025 JCF Grants results in about a month, until then, enjoy your spring!
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