We celebrate with Good People Fund grantee Civic Spirit, founded by Rabbi Robert Hirt, Virginia Bayer, and Dr. Tamara Mann Tweel and led by Rabbi Charlie Savenor, on being awarded a prestigious three-year Signature Grant from The Covenant Foundation t
Good News Update
Emergency Support at a Critical Moment
Through our Uplifting Lives Program, we were able to provide a timely holiday season intervention for a newly arrived American family in Baltimore at a critical moment. Ali, his wife, and their two young children (ages 1 and 3) arrived in the U.S. in late July. Despite a strong tech background, a difficult job market delayed stable employment, and while Ali secured hourly work and qualified for some public benefits, gaps in temporary cash assistance left the family short on January rent. A one-time emergency grant from Good People Fund covered the remaining half of their rent, keeping them safely housed while longer-term support took hold. This quiet act of compassion ensured stability and dignity for this family.
Sharing the Story behind Tamar’s Way
Good People Fund new grantees, David and Iris Herman (David pictured here, with a young patient), are the Founders of Be’Darchei Tamar- Tamar’s Way. They were recently featured in a beautiful article by the Jewish Press:
“Many parents who lose a child to serious illness count themselves fortunate to be able to simply go on and live functional lives while carrying a hole in their hearts. Rav David and Iris Herman have chosen a different – truly remarkable – path.
Inspired by the legacy of their daughter Tamar – who passed away at age 16 after a grueling battle with cancer – the Hermans, who live in Afula in northern Israel and have nine other children ranging in age from 2 to 21, established an organization dedicated to helping families facing cancer or other medical crises as well as those who have lost a child to illness.”
Read the full article here: https://jewishpress.com/
Alum Update: Songs of Love Foundation
Songs of Love Foundation, founded by John Beltzer, brings comfort and joy through personalized music for children, teens, and adults facing illness.
Based in Forest Hills, NY, Songs of Love has partnered with Suno, an innovative music technology company, to expand the reach of their deeply moving work. Together, they are scaling the creation of custom “Songs of Love” providing original songs tailored to each recipient’s name, favorite activities, musical tastes, and even beloved pets.
Through this partnership, Songs of Love is now able to empower volunteers with music tools, expand its global community of creators, and dramatically increase the number of personalized songs delivered each year.
Suno has also launched the Songs of Love Creator Program, inviting musicians and creators around the world to contribute their talents to this meaningful mission.
With nearly 30 years of impact behind them, Songs of Love is now poised to reach even more people, proving once again that music has the power to heal, connect, and uplift.
Our Good People Recognized for Leadership and Impact
We are proud to celebrate several of our extraordinary Good People who are being recognized for their leadership, impact, and dedication to building a more compassionate world:
Sarit Wishnevski (USA), Executive Director of Kavod v’Nichum, has been accepted into Class 10 of the Wexner Fellowship, a prestigious leadership program that supports visionary Jewish leaders making meaningful change.
Reva Judas (USA), Founder of NechamaComfort, has been selected to participate in an UpStart Cohort, recognizing the powerful impact of her work supporting individuals and families in moments of grief and transition.
Racheli Tadessa Malkai (Israel), Founder of Ma’atzimot- Empowering Ethiopian Women, has been awarded the 2025 Minister’s Award for Social Equality and the Advancement of Women. This honor recognizes her extraordinary social impact, her leadership in uplifting women, and her dedication to building a strong, inspiring, and empowered community.
Esty Bitton Shushan (Israel), Founder of Nivcharot, Haredi and Mizrahi activist, and celebrated Israeli filmmaker, returns to the Miami Jewish Film Festival with her first narrative feature, The Book of Ruth, which follows her acclaimed film Women of Valor. This powerful and deeply emotional drama will make its international premiere, continuing Esty’s important work amplifying voices and stories too often left unheard.
Shari Mendes (Israel), Founder of the Lemonade Fund, has been honored with an Iron Woman Award in recognition of her extraordinary courage and service following October 7. Shari was recognized for her sacred and selfless work preparing bodies for burial during an unimaginably painful time, ensuring dignity and respect for those who had lost their lives. This honor also recognizes her ongoing leadership through the Lemonade Fund, where she supports individuals and families in moments of profound need.
We are continually inspired by the courage, creativity, and compassion of our grantees. Their work embodies the very best of what it means to repair the world, one person, one community, and one idea at a time.
Safety, Belonging, and Joy at Camp Indigo Point
A note arrived from Camp Indigo Point, sharing an update from their incredible summer:
“We had a full camp of kids and staff, and launched a new high school adventure program in Colorado. Parents tell us every day how transformative camp was for their kids, and many of them are still in touch with the friends they made. Thank you for helping make us feel safe by supporting our security team.”
The Good People’s Fund’s Uplifting Lives Program helped fund camp security this summer at a camp for gender-diverse children, creating a safe, joyful space where young people could grow, connect, and just be kids.
