Backed up by student participants in the Jewish Community Youth Foundation program, local recipients of the youths’ philanthropy proudly display their checks — from left, front row, Sue Weiner, camps director for the Jewish Community Center of Princeton Mercer Bucks; Florence Lipstein, a volunteer with Project Highgate; Jeri Schaefer, president of the JFCS board; Lois Miller, vice president of the JFCS board; Emily Josephson, a member of JFCS’s Special Needs Task Force; and Richard Goldstein, executive director of Greenwood House.
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March 17, 2009
Capping its sixth consecutive year of fostering philanthropic values among the young, the Jewish Community Youth Foundation has donated $58,054 to 26 Jewish programs and agencies in the local, national, and international communities.
The March 1 check presentation ceremony at Princeton Day School culminated a year of learning about tzedaka for the 145 students in grades eight through 12 who were involved in JCYF activities over the past year.
The program is a joint enterprise of the New York-based Ricky and Andrew J. Shechtel Philanthropic Fund, United Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks, and Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Greater Mercer County.
JFCS facilitates the program, with Celeste Albert, the agency’s coordinator of teen programs, working directly with the students and Debra Levenstein, director of prevention and support services for JFCS, overseeing the effort.
Each of the eight groups of participating teens spent the year making decisions about how to distribute $7,200 — including $120 from each teen’s personal funds, according to Albert. The students targeted their philanthropy to an array of Jewish bodies, including local and national NY-based social service agencies, arts and cultural organizations, political outreach and advocacy agencies in Washington, and organizations in Israel.
“The students really spent a lot of time and effort learning about the different agencies and reflecting on the Jewish values that are taught,” Albert said during a recent phone interview.
Locally, the teens donated $5,100 for medical and therapeutic equipment for Greenwood House in Ewing; $2,100 for the Ohel Avraham Kosher Food Pantry at JFCS; $3,000 for the Project Highgate life-enrichment program for seniors in Ewing; $3,200 for Kosher Meals-on-Wheels scholarships; $500 for Sibshop, a weekly support group for youngsters who have siblings with special needs; and $500 for the Carousel program of the Jewish Community Center of Princeton Mercer Bucks, a socialization program for disabled teens and young adults.
Other targets for the teens’ tzedaka were the Jewish National Fund, Hadassah, the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, the Jewish Museum, Jewish Women International, Panim: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values, The Israel Project, and Shalva: The Association for Mentally and Physically Challenged Children in Israel.
“I know how much this program means to many of the students,” Albert said. “It’s something they’re very proud to be a part of.”
That pride was evident in the remarks made during the ceremony by several of the 12th-grade participants.
“Learning about philanthropy through this program taught me its true meaning,” said Madeline Weiss of Princeton Junction. “I now realize philanthropy is not just giving donations to a charity, nor is it blindly donating funds to a good cause. Philanthropy is the genuine desire to impact and improve a situation.”
Participating in the JCYF program was just the beginning of his commitment to Jewish philanthropy, said Justin Shechtel of Princeton, whose mother, Ricky, was instrumental in inaugurating the program.
“This program is so much more than words,” he said. “It is a tremendous mix of Jewish education, compassion, and tikun olam [repair of the world] in action. JCYF has provided me with a great opportunity to further my commitment to the Jewish community.”
For Megan Rosenberg of Plainsboro, participating in JCYF was “an amazing experience.”
“I have had the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many people and to help organizations make a greater difference both in my community and in the world as a whole,” she said. “But I have also had the opportunity to learn so much more about philanthropy than I ever thought I would.”
Max Merkovitz of Princeton Junction said that the JCYF experience completely changed his view of tzedaka.
“Not only does it feel good, I have learned that there is an intelligent way to give away money to charitable causes,” he said. “It includes good research, pushing for what you think is right, but at the same time hearing and understanding what other people’s thoughts are, to come to the best possible conclusions.
“JCYF has made me realize that giving back to the community is important, and something that I would like to continue throughout my life….”
For information about JCYF, contact Albert at 609-243-0390.
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