$1.2 Million Distributed to local Jewish Agencies

June 21, 2010

The Board of Directors of the Jewish Heritage Foundation of Greater Kansas City (JHF) is pleased to announce its 2010 Program and Core Agency Support grant awards to local Jewish agencies. The Board awarded grants totaling $1,199,302 to nonprofit organizations serving the Jewish Community. The money will help support 21 programs that provide direct services to clients, and provide Core Agency support for three Jewish agencies."In response to the economic downturn and its continued negative effects on individuals and families, the Foundation board voted to place priorities on emergency assistance, safety net services, programs serving the elderly and education,” stated Merilyn Berenbom, JHF Board President. “These areas of focus were collectively determined by our local Jewish Funders. Together we are striving to best help those who are struggling in these financial times. As always, we are proud of the dedicated professionals and volunteers who diligently work every day to ensure that we are a compassionate, creative and vital Jewish community."

 
2010 Program grants were given to the following Jewish organizations:

 

  • Community Kollel of Greater Kansas City: $11,250, Engagement for the Formative Years

  • Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy: $90,000, tuition financial assistance program;

  • Jewish Community Center: $70,000, Department of Adult Jewish Learning; and, $242,000 for funding of the Heritage Center;

  • Jewish Community Relations Bureau/ American Jewish Committee (JCRB/AJC): $50,000, Community Interfaith Initiative;

  • Jewish Family and Children Services: $25,600, Jewish Chaplaincy program; $15,000, Child and Family Counseling; $30,000, Life Crisis Assistance Program; $15,000, BLING, an educational program aimed at pre-adolescents who are at risk of developing eating disorders; $40,000, Help@Home, a program based on the Israeli JDC-Ehsel model; $208,000 Jewish Senior Network; and, $45,452 Simcha Box Program;

  • Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City: $75,000, Sasone Program for special needs children; $20,000, Teacher Education Initiative; and $15,000, Jewish Student Union;

  • Jewish Vocational Services: $41,500, Career Management Services Program;

  • Kansas University Hillel Foundation: $16,000, Friday Night Shabbat Experiences program; $17,000, Student Leadership Development Program;

  • Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City: $11,000, funding for Community Passover Seders and Community Conversation Class;

  • Village Shalom: $180,000, TAP program; and, $31,500, Indigent Care Program.

  • Core Agency Support grants, which provide operational dollars, were given to the following Jewish organizations:

  • B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO): $9,000, rent and utilities;

  • Midwest Center for Holocaust Education; $8,000, subsidies for employee health and dental insurance premiums;

  • Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City: $10,000 partial funding of a part-time administrator.

The Jewish Heritage Foundation of Greater Kansas City was created in 1994 with the sale of Menorah Hospital to Health Midwest, and throughout the past sixteen years has dedicated itself to improving the quality of life to the citizens of the greater Kansas City metropolitan area through its support of the area agencies who serve them.

 

Officers of the Foundation board are: Merilyn Berenbom, president; Susie Goldsmith, executive vice president; Frank Sterneck, vice president-investments; Sharon Greenwood, vice president-grants, Sue McCord-Belzer, secretary; and, Tom Isenberg, treasurer.

 

Foundation board members include: , Robin Carr, Sheryl Davidow, Steven Gershon, Howard T Jacobson, Pamela S. Kanter, Andrew Kaplan, Stanford P. Krigel, Frank Lipsman, Rob Mandel, Michael Milens, Mark C. Myron, M.D., Karen Pack, Howard Rosenthal, M.D., Carol Sader, Daniel L. Scharf, M.D., Scott Slabotsky, Jane Sosland, Ph.D., Ann Stern, and Patricia Uhlmann.

 

Foundation staff includes Ellen Kort, Executive Director; Cathy Boyer-Shesol, Senior Program Officer; and Rachael Gordon, Grants and Operations Manager.