The Jewish Community Youth Foundation is a Jewish youth philanthropy program for teens in grades 8-12. Each teen contributes $120 which is matched by both the United Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks and the Ricky and Andrew J. Shechtel Philanthropic Fund. This results in a total giving amount of $360 per teen and a total group fund of $7,200 to distribute to different Jewish organizations.
Under the teaching and guidance of Jewish Family & Children’s Service, each age group learns about the principles of tikkun olam (repairing the world), tzedakah, and philanthropy, as well as other Jewish values and how they relate to their groups' philanthropic focus: Eighth Grade-Local Need Based, Ninth Grade-National Social Service, Tenth Grade-Jewish Art & Culture, Eleventh Grade-Outreach, & Advocacy, and Twelfth Grade-Israel.
Following actual site visits, each teen presents his or her findings and opinions to the group. . .and the debate over how best to allocate the group’s money begins!
The result is the application of weeks of intelligent thought and planning, as well as emotional exploration of Jewish needs far beyond each teen’s own world. The teens learn about caring and selflessness, and the power of their donation to one or more carefully researched causes within the local, national and international Jewish communities.
The Jewish Community Youth Foundation meets once a month from October-March on Sunday nights in the Princeton/Mercer area
To learn more about the Jewish Community Youth Foundation, contact Celeste Albert at 609-987-8100 or
celestea@jfcsonline.org
JCYF Finishes its Eighth Year
On February 27, the Jewish Community Youth Foundation, a Jewish teen philanthropy program administered by Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County, the Ricky and Andrew J. Shechtel Philanthropic Fund and the Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks successfully finished its eighth year of giving at its annual Philanthropy Fair and Check Presentation Ceremony. A total of $72,000 was distributed to 27 Jewish programs by 164 teens from the Princeton Mercer Bucks and 18 teens from the Lawrence area.
Each student contributes $120 of their own money each year. Their donations are matched by the funder and the Federation such that each student in a group of 20 represents $360 in a pool of $7,200. Students learn how to make decisions about donating their group’s $7,200 building critical thinking and leadership skills. An example of the 8th grade local grant decision making was to give $5,900 to the only Kosher Food Pantry in Mercer County to increase food security in the community.
It was also the First Annual JCYF Distinguished Alumni Award. Lily Pepper, a junior at Trinity College and a 2008 JCYF alumnus won the award for her ongoing commitment to the community through her participation in many philanthropic and community service activities. Pepper is a Princeton Junction resident currently studying in Israel at Tel Aviv University.
The Check Presentation Ceremony was attended by approximately 500 people this year.