George Floyd’s brutal murder in 2020 shocked our country and inspired a renewed determination to promote greater equality throughout our society. For Andrew Walker it was a wake-up call that reminded him that it was the time to “not only talk the talk, but also to walk the walk.” He created Elevate to Even Plus to break this cycle of inequality for underserved students, offering them paid internships and mentoring with both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and an opportunity for hands-on learning, making connections and setting a path for a future career. Andrew says, “These young adults are smart and motivated, only needing a chance to gain experience and confidence. Our role is to open the door to opportunities they would not get otherwise.” Participating nonprofits and businesses, meanwhile, get access to smart, motivated talent at little to no cost to them.
New Jersey
Shtetl
Most Americans take for granted their access to uncensored media. However, in Haredi (ultra-religious) communities in greater New York and beyond, news is curated and censored.
Naftuli Moster grew up in a Hassidic community in Brooklyn, NY and has created Shtetl, the first free press of its kind both for and about the Haredi community. Shtetl reports on news, politics, religion, culture and other topics that are relevant not only to the Haredi community, but also to those outside the community who can gain a greater understanding of the ultra-orthodox world.
My Child’s Cancer
A cancer diagnosis is devastating to anyone, but when it is your child, the grief and confusion can be overwhelming. For Oded Grinstein and his wife, then living in Israel, there was one overarching goal — to find the best possible medical care for their nine-month-old daughter. Their exhaustive research led them to a major cancer center in the U.S. where a doctor with many years of experience with this specific type of rare cancer successfully treated the child. The Grinstein’s journey inspired them to create My Child’s Cancer which provides access to research, advocacy and support to families who are embarking on this journey.
Our grant was directed to funding expert opinions on neuroblastoma cases.
ZA’AKAH
Asher Lovy grew up in the insular Haredi community of Borough Park, Brooklyn, and was sexually, physically and mentally abused by his mother.
The silence within that community – where discussion of such aggressions was neither welcome nor acknowledged – was unbearable. “I needed to go out and yell about it,” says Asher, who now heads ZA’AKAH (Hebrew for “outcry”) to advocate for survivors of child sexual abuse in the Orthodox Jewish community.
ZA’AKAH raises awareness of child sexual abuse, creates channels to address it and support survivors … and seeks to break the silence. A volunteer-based Shabbos and Yom Tov hotline provides peer-to-peer support, for example, and the organization helped pass the landmark Child Victims Acts in New York and New Jersey to give survivors a path to justice. Our funds cover administrative expenses.
NechamaComfort
Reva Judas lost her son, shortly after birth, 35 years ago. At the time there were very few resources for families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. Following this loss, Reva found herself counseling others. Hearing from people across the US and overseas, she quickly realized that there is a dearth of resources available to help those grieving this kind of loss. Her response was to obtain chaplaincy certification as well as certification as an Infant Loss Facilitator.
The organization supports people from all backgrounds and raises awareness of pregnancy and infant loss in the greater community and with professionals such as clergy, funeral directors, medical and mental health practitioners. Our matching funds are directed to administrative expenses.
Breaking the Chain Through Education
It could be the biggest social studies project ever, beginning in a Metuchen (NJ) High School classroom and reaching 5,000 miles west to Africa.
In 2006, teacher Evan Robbins read about child enslavement in Ghana and brought the story to his students. Together, they dived into the issue and committed to act. Breaking the Chain Through Education grew as successive classes of Evan’s built community and global partnerships to increase awareness, raise funds, rescue Ghanaian children, and put them on a path to long-term success and independence.
BTCTE helped build a school in the Lake Volta region and is currently helping to support 90 formerly trafficked children to end cycles of poverty that lead to child slavery.
Our funds help underwrite the organization’s minimal overhead.
