Youth foundation grants $30,000

By JEWISH REVIEW

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The Oregon Jewish Community Foundation announces that its Oregon Jewish Community Youth Foundation awarded a total of $30,000 at their spring allocation.

This year, 27 students comprising two groups participated in the program that gives teens hands-on experience in researching  non-profit organizations, assessing  their needs, and making tough choices as to which should receive funding and how much. As a result, students learn goal-setting and how to empathize with different aspects of society.  

Fifteen students in Group A followed the traditional curriculum of conducting site visits and allocating funds while the 12 veteran Group B students who have been in the program for several years performed internships at various non-profit organizations. Group B participants also mentored the Group A teens in the allocations process. The program’s adult advisors are OJCF Executive Director John Moss and Portland Jewish Academy Head of School Mike Tannenbaum.

Twenty Jewish and secular organizations through the Portland Metro Area answered OJCYF’s spring request for proposals, applying for over $57,000 in funding.  At their May 31 meeting, $30,000 was spread among 13 Jewish organizations and six secular organizations. The list of award recipients is as follows:

Jewish organizatons: Greater Portland Hillel, $1,000; Hillel at the University of Oregon, $1,500; Jewish Family and Child Service, $6,000; Jewish Review, $1,500; Jewish Student Union, $750; Jewish Theater Collaborative, $1,500; Machar, $1,000; Maimonides Day School, $1,000; Mittleman Jewish Community Center, $2,000; Mothers’ Circle, $2,000; Oregon Board of Rabbis, $500; PJ Library, $2,000; and Portland Jewish Academy, $500.

Secular organizations: Assistance League, $1,250; CASA for children, $2,000; Community Warehouse, $1,200; Ride On Portland, $1,500; Ronald McDonald House, $500; an Youth Progress, $2,300.

Earlier in the year, the students in Group A allocated an additional $5,000 to 16 Jewish and eight secular organizations based on their site visit experiences. Since its inception in 2003, the OJCYF has had a profound impact in the community, allocating nearly $144,000 to more than 70 Jewish and secular organizations in Oregon and SW Washington.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2009-2010 year. The deadline for applications is Sept. 18. OJCYF is open to all high school age students. For more information about the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation or to obtain an application, contact John Moss at 503-248-9323 or visit www.ojcf.org.