The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Teen Giving Project wrapped up a successful inaugural year this past week at the program’s first granting ceremony. This year the participating ninth- and 10th-graders raised more than $10,000 and have chosen to fund three programs: HIAS Pennsylvania Refugee Resettlement Program, JEVS Human Services Lasko College Prep Program and St. Christopher’s Foundation for Children Community Oral Health Initiative. The ceremony was an opportunity for the 10 participants to celebrate their accomplishments with their families and community members, while also sharing how the 10-month program made a lasting impact on their lives.
The Teen Giving Project was launched this past year to engage a diverse group of Greater Philadelphia ninth- and 10th-graders in raising and allocating funds to solve real communal issues through a Jewish lens. Throughout the year they learned the basics of philanthropy and fundraising, reviewed grant proposals, visited local programs who requested funding, reviewed budgets and worked together to decide which programs to fund. Along the way, the teens also significantly strengthened their leadership skills and built a new network of friends.
This initiative of the Foundation Board Incubator, a project of the Jewish Teen Funders Network, is generously funded by a partnership with philanthropist Laura Lauder, the Maimonides Fund and local Jewish Federation donors. The Jewish Federation is still accepting applications and nominations for the 2017-2018 cohort; to nominate rising ninth- and 10th-graders or to
have your teens apply, please visit jewishphilly.org/teengivingproject. For more information, please contact Trisha Swed, program manager, at tswed@jewishphilly.org or 215-832-0516.
