Priority Grants 2008
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago has granted $200,000 in seed money to seven creative initiatives that address emerging needs in Chicago’s Jewish community, and $400,000 more to continue projects that already have received similar start-up support.
The funds come from the Federation’s Priority Grants Program, which for more than a decade has been an incubator for demonstration projects supporting individuals at risk and projects enhancing the vibrancy of communal involvement. Since 1995, the program has allocated more than $18 million to 92 projects – nearly all of which have grown into integral parts of their sponsoring agencies’ services.
The program provides start-up funding for new programs and services that address unmet and emerging communal needs. If an agency demonstrates successful implementation of the program for two years, Priority Grant funds are integrated into the sponsoring agency’s regular budget.
Projects approved for first-time funding in 2008 include:
- Beyond Resettlement: Serving Northwest Suburban Former Soviet Union Older Adults: CJE SeniorLife will help older adults from the former Soviet Union who now live in the northwest suburbs maintain their independence, achieve financial stability, avoid isolation and prevent premature institutionalization. Translation services, assistance with benefits, crisis intervention, advocacy and other resettlement services will be available. Amount: $40,000
- Kesher Bayit: Connection to Housing: EZRA aims to help clients who are homeless, at risk of homelessness due to pending eviction, or seeking alternative housing because of safety concerns or issues of affordability, increase their housing stability and live independently. Amount: $20,000
- Planning for Chicago’s Jewish Future: Hillels Around Chicago will engage the growing Jewish student population at University of Illinois at Chicago by implementing new programs geared toward students’ professional interests and strengthening their Jewish identity. Amount: $28,100
- Jewish Community Building through Expanding and Deepening Service to the Northwest Suburbs: The Jewish Community Centers of Chicago will identify opportunities to expand JCC services in the northwest suburbs through collaboration with congregations, community members, the Jewish Federation, and other affiliate and beneficiary agencies. Amount: $20,000
- Teen Leadership Award: Each year, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago will honor several exceptional high school juniors who demonstrate outstanding service to the Jewish community. Winners will receive $1,800 toward any Jewish educational experience, meet top professionals and lay leaders in the community, and serve as ambassadors to other teens throughout their senior year. Amount: $11,900
- Pot of Gold: Jewish Vocational Services will implement a supported employment program that will enhance the independence and achievement of young adults older than 22 who have a developmental disability, while simultaneously encouraging community integration and socialization. Amount: $40,000
- Associated Talmud Torahs (ATT) School Nurse Consultant Program: A nurse consultant from Sinai Health System who travels to five ATT schools to address healthcare concerns will expand her duties to include institutionalizing healthcare policies at the schools, arranging trainings, coordinating use of new healthcare records software and continuing to ensure students’ optimal health and safety at school. Amount: $40,000
Major funding for these grants comes from the Jewish Federation, the Fel-Pro/Mecklenburger Supporting Fund, and the Herbert and Marjorie Fried Field of Interest Fund. The Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago funds and provides essential social welfare, education and relief programs for more than 300,000 Chicagoans of all faiths and 2 million Jews in Israel and around the world.
