Dollars at Work in the Community

The Foundation and its many partners—including donors and grantees—have made a difference in the community in many ways over the years.  Here are a few examples.

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee – Eshet Chayil

Over the past 20 years, Ethiopian-Israeli immigrants have faced extremely difficult absorption and integration challenges as they move from rural village life to modern urban society.  Unemployment of Ethiopian-Israeli women is unusually high – as high as 94%.  JDC’s Eshet Chayil (“Woman of Valor”) program seeks to improve the status of Ethiopian-Israeli women who are marginalized in Israeli society and their own communities.  Through a comprehensive training course, participants are properly prepared to enter the workforce.  The course encourages, empowers and strengthens these women's participation in decision making and leadership in all spheres of their personal and public lives.

Program participants are recruited by a mentor, who is also responsible for running the group and for helping each individual find appropriate employment and organize child care.  Mentors are in constant contact with the participants to ensure their smooth absorption into the workplace.  Currently operating in 12 cities throughout Israel, JDC aims to expand the program to 20 cities, serving 2,600 Ethiopian-Israeli women by 2008. 

Jewish Community Relations Council – Building Security Needs

Triggered by a security breach at the Jewish Federation of Seattle, Washington, JCRC requested that all Jewish communal institutions submit a list of security gaps as well as necessary upgrades required to protect against potential threats.  In an effort to serve as a catalyst to enable these upgrades, a specially appointed ad hoc committee established criteria, evaluated priorities and determined a fair process to distribute matching funds which would assist agencies in purchasing the necessary equipment and technology. 

A matching grant for this program was provided by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford – LinkAges Care Management

In today’s world, the needs of older adults have also grown even more complex.  In addition to the expected losses of late life, older adults and their families are often faced with serious choices: “Should I move to assisted living or get help at home?”  “Can I care for my ailing spouse alone?”  “What if I use up all my resources?”

Older adults with these issues face legal, financial, emotional and social challenges.  To properly address this multiplicity of needs, JFS instituted the LinkAges Care Management program.  The goal is to become the premier resource for older adults and their grown children to find supportive assistance when dealing with the changes brought on by normal aging, illness and loss.  Whether providing assistance to secure day-to-day needs or in times of crisis, LinkAges will serve as a central coordinator to ensure that senior adults’ and their families’ needs are met.

Mandell Jewish Community Center – Family Room Parenting Center

Responding to requests from JCC members, the Family Room Parenting Center was developed to provide a dedicated space for young children and their parents to enjoy activities together as well as to enhance child development along with parenting skills.  The Family Room inspires a shared early learning experience to support the growth and development of our children.  In addition, it also serves as a gateway for many families into the JCC and our entire Jewish community. 

A wide variety of classes are offered, such as:

• Infant massage
• Jump, Wiggle, Paint & Giggle
• Mini Music Makers
• Petite Picasso
• PJ Library
• Shabbat Club and holiday celebrations

These classes provide multiple opportunities for parents to spend quality time with their children in a safe and welcoming environment.  Additionally, the Family Room is utilized daily as a place for parents and the children to congregate before or after school to visit, play and meet new friends.

Charter Oak Cultural Center – Learning to Repair the World  

Learning to Repair the World is a program at the Charter Oak Cultural Center which offers Jewish, Christian and Muslim high school students the unique opportunity to explore social justice issues together and, from their discussions, to create an original theatre piece, under the direction of HartBeat Ensemble, about what they have learned. 
 
Learning to Repair the World continues to receive rave reviews from the students enrolled in it.  They are engaged and very enthusiastic about their work.  At the Kristallnacht commemoration, they perform a short theatre piece that they have created as a result of their discussions.  As part of the program, students discuss such topics as social justice in each of the Abrahamic faiths, torture, racism, the Israel/Palestine conflict and Darfur.  Building these bridges teaches participants that we are all one community and that together, they can make a difference in the world.

For a more comprehensive listing of projects funded through the Foundation, click here.