Notable new grants compiled by The Chronicle:

Grainger Foundation

The foundation awarded $20 million to Chicago’s Field Museum to create new science learning programs and support for research technologies. The grant supports the museum’s $250-million campaign, which has also received several major gifts.

Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

The foundation awarded a $17.5 million grant over three years to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America to develop an online database of research and resources for academic and industry researchers, patients, clinicians, and health-care providers. The project aims to foster collaboration and information sharing that leads to better care, treatments, and cures for the digestive diseases.

Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation

The foundation awarded $2 million over three years to New York University to expand its scholarship and advising program for students transferring from local partner community colleges.

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

The foundation awarded $500,000 to the Detroit Journalism Cooperative, a project for radio, TV, print, and online reporting on Detroit’s municipal bankruptcy and involving citizens in finding ways to revitalize the city and deal with its challenges.

William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

The foundation awarded $200,000 to a pilot program at 15 of Virginia’s Community Colleges to cut textbook costs by supporting open-educational resources online

Herb Alpert Foundation

The grant maker awarded $150,000 to the Good People Fund to provide financial support and professional guidance to innovative grass-roots nonprofits. The foundation has given a total of $800,000 to the fund over the last six years.

Carnegie Corporation of New York

The foundation awarded $50,000 to CRDF Global, a science-focused nonprofit, for its yearlong Robin Copeland Memorial Fellowship, which supports women scientists studying the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. The remainder of the fellowship is being crowdfunded.

Grants Roundup_ The Chronicle of Philanthropy

The Good People Fund, a nonprofit, tzedakah initiative deeply rooted in the work oftikkun olam in the US and Israel, has announced a new fellowship program in partnership with the national education consortium NewCAJE, in which participants spend a year focused on merging Jewish education strategies with service-learning and social action tactics. The Good People Fund NewCAJE 2015 Fellowship Program includes three $700 scholarships. Jewish educators, full or part-time, in the field of Jewish education for 5-8 years are eligible to apply through May 26, 2015 atgoodpeoplefund.wufoo.com/forms/good-people-fund-fellowship-at-newcaje

“Through a targeted year-long program, this new fellowship opportunity was created to enhance and support the work of Jewish educators who are focused on service-learning,tzedakah or social action content in their settings,” explains Robyn Faintich, The Good People Fund’s Education Consultant. “We are looking forward to combining the launch of the fellowship with the annual NewCAJE conference which emphasizes the sharing of information, learning new Jewish education techniques, and sharing problem solutions.”

The fellowship begins with a series of sessions led by Faintich and Rabbi Steven Bayar. The sessions will focus on the building blocks of service-learning and goals and strategies of volunteerism and social action. Additional sessions focus on the Good People Fund Grab ‘n’ Go Lessons – modular curriculum guides, which provide educators with an all-encompassing lesson which includes everything from set induction activities to text study to hands-on application. The Grab ‘n’ Go Lessons are each centered around a Good People Fund grantee and the passionate work they do to improve the world. The lessons are designed so educators can easily adapt them for a variety of learning settings. Fellows will utilize these and other Good People Fund education tools through the year. Following the conference, the fellowship will continue through a series of web-based meetings.

Full details of the fellowship program can be found atgoodpeoplefund.wufoo.com/forms/good-people-fund-fellowship-at-newcaje

New Fellowship Program For Jewish Educators Launched

That year is approaching — the one where your soon-to-be 13 year old (or 12 year old in some communities) will become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Along with the never-ending to-do list— lessons with the Cantor or Rabbi, the speech, a party, decisions about the guest list, there is that one other obstacle — THE MITZVAH PROJECT. In too many families, it is actually the dreaded Mitzvah Project!

After more than twenty years of work in the tzedakah world, often guiding parents and kids on their Mitzvah Project journey, I can say for certainty that this seemingly simple task has evolved into something rather different from the idea that first took hold a few decades ago. For too many kids THE PROJECT has become a rote exercise, something on the check list, much like ordering party giveaways or addressing invitations. Too often, projects become a hasty one-time event collecting specific items to donate or soliciting funds for a specific cause.

As Marnee Spierer, a Scottsdale mom of 12 year-old Ellie, recently shared, I always thought the concept of a ‘mitzvah project’ was an interesting one – doing a project just before a Bat/Bar Mitzvah felt weird to me. I always thought that becoming a bat/bar mitzvah should be an introduction to life-long “mitzvahdom”. We agree with Marnee’s perspective — doing the project for only the sake of the Bar or Bat Mitzvah event just doesn’t seem right. Don’t we want our kids to see this as the beginning of a lifelong commitment to mitzvot and tzedakah?

Ellie launched her Bat Mitzvah project on her 12th birthday when friends gathered to assemble “birthday boxes” for kids from rural communities who might not otherwise celebrate their birthdays with all of the traditional trappings. (Ellie and her mom learned of this project through one of our grantees, Family to Family, which encourages people to ease hunger and poverty by sharing their bounty with people in our country’s poorest regions.) The Spierer family’s goal is that each month Ellie will engage in similar activities geared to help people who are less fortunate. Far from a “one-shot” deal, the values this year’s activities engender will no doubt be lifelong.

Ellie launched her Bat Mitzvah project on her 12^th birthday when friends gathered to assemble “birthday boxes” for kids from rural communities who might not otherwise celebrate their birthdays with all of the traditional trappings. (Ellie and her mom learned of this project through one of our grantees, Family to Family, which encourages people to ease hunger and poverty by sharing their bounty with people in our country’s poorest regions.) The Spierer family’s goal is that each month Ellie will engage in similar activities geared to help people who are less fortunate.  Far from a “one-shot” deal, the values this year’s activities engender will no doubt be lifelong.

Max Wallack also turned his Bar Mitzvah project into a transformative effort that continues even today as he approaches college graduation and Harvard Medical School. Max grew up with his great-grandmother living with his family. As Alzheimer’s disease ravaged her memory, Max did some research and learned that puzzles are an effective therapy for people living with dementia. For his Bar Mitzvah project he set up collection boxes around town and invited people to donate boxed puzzles which he then delivered to local nursing homes for elders to use.  From that first collection, Max’s idea grew and soon he incorporated Puzzles to Remember, now a US non-profit organization that provides puzzles to facilities caring for patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. In addition to collecting puzzles, Max approached the country’s largest puzzle manufacturer who agreed to produce more age appropriate large-piece puzzles specifically for such patients.

At the age of 12, Amy Sacks (now Amy Sacks Zeide) of Atlanta was stunned to learn of the theft of holiday toys at a local shelter. She immediately donated some of her own money to help replace those toys and the next year, as a Bat Mitzvah project, organized Amy’s Holiday Party which gathered kids from local social service agencies and offered them a fun day ending with the gifting of toys and games. Now more than 20 years later,Amy’s Holiday Party continues under the aegis of Creating Connected Communities, the non-profit organization that Amy started over five years ago to provide local teens with leadership training skills and social action skills. Thousands of kids have benefited from the ideas Amy began to cultivate as she approached her Bat Mitzvah in 1994.

Max, Amy and Ellie had no special skills that allowed them to go beyond what might be the typical mitzvah project. What they did have was a passion for helping others and an attitude that clearly included “I can do that.” Kids can change our world. In fact, I often say that sometimes they are the best ones to do it because they don’t dwell on the reasons why something cannot be done…they just do it.

Challenge your kids long before their 13^th birthday pops up on the calendar. Ask them what they like to do; what they are good at; what in this world makes them angry and want to shout about. When you get the answers to those questions you are on the road to a meaningful, life-changing mitzvah project!

Naomi Eisenberger co-founded the Good People Fund in 2008. Inspired by the concept of tikkun olam or repairing the world, the fund provides financial support and mentoring to small grass-roots efforts that alleviate significant problems such as poverty, disability, trauma and social isolation, primarily in the United States and Israel. https://www.goodpeoplefund.org.

The Mitzvah Project- Curse or Blessing_ _ The Mitzvah Bowl

As the result of a national online search to identify visionaries changing the world around them, the Good People Fund  (GPF) has welcomed Helene Bortz and the San Diego based non-profit, The Jewish Gift Closet-San Diego Community G’mach as the latest grantee of the national Tzedakah micro-philanthropic fund (www.goodpeoplefund.org). GPF seeks unique and highly effective programs led by good people, and invests in their exciting tikkun olam(repairing the world) work.

The G’mach was one of over 170 entities to apply to receive funding, professional development and guidance from The Good People Fund. The 12-week process included an intense crowdfunding campaign run on the Jewish crowdfunding platform Jewcer.  The G’mach and five other non-profits were among the finalists that collectively raised through crowdfunding over $19,000 and then received matching grants totaling $21,000 from The Good People Fund.  Together, the crowdfunding and matching grants generated over $40,000.  Since the completion of the campaign, the G’mach has joined the 69 other on-going GPF grantees in the US and Israel.

The G’mach, an acronym for Gemilut Chasadim or deeds of loving kindness, is San Diego’s only gift closet. The G’mach is a place where people donate items they have no use for. Items donated to the G’mach are given for free to recipients in need from a warehouse located off of Miramar Road. The G’mach is unique since it also attempts to find solutions for those in need, including; professional adult mentoring & advocacy; rent subsidies; emergency cash needs; Shabbat and holiday meals, internships, youth group workshops and family life cycle needs.

The G’mach was founded by Bortz during the economic downturn in June 2009 when she became increasingly aware that many Jewish families were experiencing financial difficulties.  Along with Myrice Goldberg, the two opened their first location in a building lent by a friend. Shortly after, donations of clothing, household appliances and baby equipment began to arrive which necessitated the rental of a local warehouse where they ultimately set up a no-cost shopping experience for those needing goods.  As they spoke with clients, they soon became aware of the need for emergency services such as rent and job mentorship. Those services have also been added to what the G’mach provides.

They learned that many of those they were helping were isolated and disenfranchised and would benefit from connections with caring individuals and communities.  “We decrease their social isolation and elevate their human dignity by connecting each family/individual client to a caring person in the community or opportunity to be part of a synagogue community especially over the Jewish holidays,” explains Bortz.  “Needs are assessed on an individual basis and many clients are not only impoverished but have special needs or may have mental illness. We treat each client with dignity and caring as we would want a family member to be treated.”

Naomi Eisenberger, founding Executive Director of The Good People Fund explains “Helene and Myrice recognized that there was a significant vacuum for these families and individuals and their needs were going unmet.”

So how did the G’mach go from crowdfunding finalist to GPF grantee?  Naomi offers the following: “In addition to raising funds during the crowdfunding campaign, they became a grantee because the G’mach actually lives the mission of the Good People Fund. They are passionate individuals who spend their time improving the lives of those who need help; visionaries who see creative solutions where others see problems or turn a blind eye. Like so many of our grantees, they want to make an even greater impact but just don’t have the resources of a development staff or significant budget and that is where we step in.”

In addition to supporting their current programs, the G’mach plans to apply the new funds to reach more single women with small children, and others who have recently become unemployed. They plan to distribute supplemental rent in emergency situations, while they help create a more stable long-term plan with vocational mentoring and networking for jobs.

Now housed in a permanent warehouse, the G’mach serves hundreds of needy families and individuals throughout the San Diego community with additional programs and services. Further information or ways to support the G’mach can be found at www.goodpeoplefund.org.

sdjewishworld.com-Jewish_Gift_Closet

In December of 2014, Naomi Eisenberger, founding executive director of the national tzedakah initiative The Good People Fund (www. goodpeoplefund. org) traveled to Atlanta to experience how two new grantees demonstrate their tikkun olam spirit every day and not just during the holidays.

During the 72-hour trip, Eisenberger helped volunteers from Second Helpings Atlanta (SHA) unload and deliver 1,000 pounds of fresh produce, prepared foods, and meats for the food pantry at Malachi’s Storeroom, housed at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. She then joined 450 volunteers to distribute toys and holiday cheer to a room of 750 eager kids at Amy’s Holiday Party. Lastly, she ft in some professional development with Robyn Faintich, the Good People Fund’s new education outreach consultant.

Founded 10 years ago by octogenarian Guenther Hecht, as a social action project for Temple Sinai in suburban Atlanta, SHA is today an independent, nonproft organization that utilizes more than 300 volunteers to pick up food, mostly from local supermarkets and some restaurants, 364 days a year.

“To know that Second Helpings Atlanta repeats this entire scenario several times each and every day is astounding,” says Eisenberger. “Even more amazing is the fact that they operate with one part-time employee and a minimal budget. We couldn’t help but wonder why this model couldn’t be developed in so many more places, eradicating or reducing the seemingly impossible problem of hunger once and for all.”

Amy’s Holiday Party is a signature event of Creating Connected Communities (CCC). At the age of 12, Amy Sacks (now Amy Sacks Zeide) was stunned to learn of the theft of holiday toys at a local shelter. She immediately donated some funds to help replace those toys. The next year, as a bat mitzvah project, she organized Amy’s Holiday Party, which brings together kids from local social service agencies and offers them a fun day, ending with the gifting of toys and games. This year’s party was Amy’s 20th; The Good People Fund was present and experienced what can only be called an extravaganza. What makes this event even more meaningful is that the teens who volunteer are responsible for much of what takes place. Amy’s organization, Creating Connected Communities, provides leadership training to local teens, with a curriculum that focuses on homelessness and advocacy. The holiday party is part of the program.

We knew Amy’s story from many years go and were not surprised to finally meet a gracious young woman who hasn’t forgotten how small actions can have a significant impact,” says Eisenberger.

As grantees, both groups receive funding (a combined total of nearly $10,000 in 2014), as well as mentorship and professional guidance, to help them successfully grow and reach their full potential.

While Eisenberger’s trip was filled with events, she also met and strategized with Robyn Faintich, who now serves as the education and outreach consultant to the Good People Fund. Faintich brings over 17 years of Jewish communal professional experience in areas that include youth movements, day schools, community teen initiatives, early childhood education, congregational family education, and adult education.

In August 2010, Robyn launched JewishGPS LLC to help guide Jewish organizations in many aspects of Jewish education. Robyn is responsible for the Good People Fund’s new education initiative, Grab ‘n’ Go Lessons, created to complement the existing curriculum. “Grab ’n’ Go are tzedakah-based lesson plans that encapsulate a profile of a Good Person, an existing grantee, and include interactive discussion guides, a corresponding text study, specialized learning activities and suggestions for hands-on social action engagement,” explains Faintich. “What sets them apart from other modular or instant lessons is that they profile a person or organization doing this good work, today.”

The curriculum and Grab ‘n’ Go Lessons can be downloaded, free of charge, at goodpeoplefund.org/jewish-learning-about-tzedakah/gpf-grab-n-go-lessons.

Faintich has also been instrumental in the increase of GPF’s social media presence.

Founded in 2008 and inspired by the concept of repairing the world, The Good People Fund responds to significant problems such as poverty, disability, trauma, and social isolation, primarily in the United States and Israel. It provides financial support and management guidance for small-to-medium grassroots efforts. GPF grant recipients are leading their non-profits with annual budgets less than $500,000 and no professional development staff, but are driven to make a difference in their communities.

With its guiding philosophy that small actions can have huge impacts and its emphasis on the personal connection, the GPF has raised and granted more than $6 million dollars since its inception.

Further information GPF and its grantees can be found at www.goodpeoplefund.org.

JGA_Jan-Feb_2015_

Nearly 70 guests gathered at a Short Hills home on Dec. 4 to hear Dan Cohen speak passionately about Music and Memory, an organization that brings personalized music via iPods to elderly individuals, most suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, living both at home or in institutional settings.

The event was organized by a The Good People Fund, a Millburn-based organization that supports charitable causes.

Cohen’s nonprofit organization believes that music taps deep memories and enables the listener to reconnect to the world, often with dramatic results. Neuroscience research corroborates Dan’s thesis and the benefits are enormous.

M&M is 1 of 69 grantees supported financially and professionally by The Good People Fund, based in Millburn. Their funds were directed to both administrative support as M&M expands to keep up with the enormous demand for its work, and a pilot research project to help nursing homes resolve any problems they encounter while instituting the program.

About the Good People Fund

Founded in 2008, The Good People Fund, inspired by the concept of repairing the world, responds to significant problems such as poverty, disability, trauma and social isolation, primarily in the United States and Israel.

The Good People Fund provides financial support and management guidance for small to medium grassroots efforts. The Fund’s grant recipients are leading their nonprofits with annual budgets of under $500,000 and no professional development staff, but are driven and determined to make a difference in their communities.

With its guiding philosophy that small actions can have huge impacts and its emphasis on the personal connection, the GPF has raised and granted more than $6 million dollars since its inception in 2008. Further information on Music and Memory and other grantees can be found here.

Pictured: Naomi Eisenberger, Founding Executive Director of the Good People Fund, Dan Cohen, Founder of Music and Memory, host Laurie Goldberg and Deborah Klein, Assistant Director.

Pictured in the second photo: Dan Cohen explains all about the organization and how it works in nursing homes and other settings. A Q&A followed his presentation.

MusicandMemory.Millburn-Short Hills, NJ Patch