Good People Fund grantee Zumwalt Acres is an ecological farm in Illinois founded by sisters Gavi and Remy Welber, which provides sustenance, learning, and spiritual engagement for the Jewish community while modeling sustainable agriculture and climate stewardship. They recently hosted a joyful Sukkot gathering with more than 50 participants of all ages in a “mega sukkah,” featuring a weekend of farm-based programming and a Saturday night Sukkot Seder filled with ritual, a playful spiel, and fresh, homegrown food.
Good News Update
Collective Lavo B’tov Launches New Program
Collective Lavo B’tov, founded by Shoshi Margolin and Rachel Kolette Wheeler, launched a mentor training program. It was an engaging and learning-filled two days of in-person training in Tel Aviv that will be continued by Zoom. These newly-trained mentors join a growing community of mentors who are empowering and supporting people with disabilities to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.
GPF Visits Abrahamic House’s First Event of the Year
Last week Julie joined the first event of the year at Abrahamic House, founded by Mo (Mohammed) Al Samawi. The Abrahamic House, located in Washington, DC, is a residential fellowship program where young adults of different faith traditions live together and host programming that fosters interfaith dialogue, learning, and bridge-building. They have recently hired a new Executive Director and are hoping to expand their impact to additional cities!
Mo shared afterward:
“Thank you Julie. Having the support of The Good People Fund goes far beyond the financial, it is the way you and Naomi engage with us, show up in person, and share in the spirit of what we are building together. That kind of partnership is rare, and it’s exactly what I hope for Abrahamic House as we continue to grow.”
The Konnection Celebrates 4 Years and new Klosets!
We are proud of our grantee, The Konnection, founded by Sharnese Miller to help keep students in school by making sure they have the essential supplies they need. They are celebrating their 4th birthday and the opening of a brand new Konnection Kloset in a new school. In addition to our annual grant, GPF used funds from our Uplifting Lives Program to send an order of clothing to help replenish the Klosets as they kick off the school year!
Pictured above is the grand opening of the new Konnection Kloset. While this location will not house clothing daily, monthly clothing pop-ups (1–2 per month) will take place based on student need. Permanent items available here will include hygiene products, school supplies, underclothes, and more—resources students have said are most essential.
Sharnese shares more about the importance of Konnection Klosets:
“In Detroit, chronic absenteeism is one of the biggest barriers to student success. Often, the reason students miss school is tied to unmet basic needs—whether it’s hygiene items, clean underclothes, or school supplies. The Konnection Klosets were created to remove those barriers while also giving students a sense of dignity, love, and connection to their school community. Each Kloset is intentionally unique—its design, feel, and the resources it carries are shaped by the voices of the students themselves. By expanding, we are broadening the reach of this support and ensuring more youth have what they need to confidently show up, learn, and thrive.”
Thank You Video from 1in6 Support
Iris Mehler, co-founder (with Alma Schneider) of 1in6 Support shared a heartfelt thank you video with us acknowledging the many ways that GPF supported them during their very first year as an official nonprofit devoted to supporting the families of children with disabilities. Pictured above is a screenshot from Iris and Alma’s recent check-in with Naomi and Julie—Iris is holding up a mug she made at the (un)conference that she keeps on hand for inspiration!
Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bE3vUyxuiU
Ordinary Heroes with Bernie Furshpan and guest Naomi Eisenberger
For more than three decades, Naomi has championed small, often overlooked nonprofits — supporting visionaries who tackle hunger, homelessness, forced marriage, cancer treatment, and more with creativity and compassion. Naomi shares powerful stories, from Unchained At Last — helping women escape forced and child marriages — to The Lemonade Fund in Israel, providing financial lifelines to women battling cancer. With over $35 million raised and more than 250 programs supported in the U.S. and Israel, Naomi shows how ordinary people can create extraordinary impact. This is a conversation about resilience, humanity, and the power of good people working together to change the world.
