JEWISHcolorado is thrilled to announce that it is the recipient of a $200,000 early childhood security grant from The Tepper Foundation through Jewish Federations of North America, helping to protect our most vulnerable population during a time when antisemitism is spreading across the nation.
The funds are given with the intention of hiring security personnel to protect pre-schools, day camps and after-school programs, as well as supporting other faith communities’ security needs.
“JEWISHcolorado is thrilled to be able to support 16 Colorado Early Childhood Centers with important security funding through our partnership with JFNA and the Tepper Foundation,” said JEWISHcolorado’s Chief Jewish Life & Engagement Officer Julie Lieber.
The Early Childhood Centers in Colorado receiving the funds include Alef Academy (Jewish Life Center – Chabad Denver North), BMH-BJ Preschool, Philips ECC at the Boulder JCC, Bright Lights Early Learning Center, Preschool of the Arts – Chabad of Aspen, Gan Chaya Esther Preschool (WCRJ), Ganeinu Chabad Preschool (Kohelet Synagogue), Garden Preschool & ELC at Chabad Metro South Denver, Har Shalom Preschool Fort Collins, Hebrew Educational Alliance Preschool, Hillel Academy, Rodef Shalom ECEC, Staenberg-Loup JCC ELS, Foster ELC at Temple Emanuel, Temple Shalom Preschool Colorado Springs, and Temple Sinai Preschool.
The Tepper Foundation has been a major partner with Jewish Federations of North America in response to the growing number of antisemitic incidents in the United States since the October 7th Hamas terror attacks on Israel. The organization launched the Security Fund in November 2023 and has now made grants of more than $12 million across the nation to support the security needs of the American Jewish community.
“Right now, nothing is more important than protecting our children and giving them a safe environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive as people,” said Jewish Federations of North America Chair Julie Platt. “We’re thrilled that the Tepper Foundation continues on this journey with us during such difficult times.”
The Tepper Foundation’s current round of grants totaled $9 million and was awarded to 76 local Federations across 30 states with a requirement that they be a recipient of Jewish Federations’ LiveSecure funding.
Building on the success of Jewish Federations’ LiveSecure initiative – the largest philanthropic effort to support Jewish security in North American history – Jewish Federations have become The Tepper Foundation’s partner in continuing to ensure the safety of Jewish communities nationwide.
LiveSecure participating Federations, all of which have established comprehensive security plans under the auspices of Jewish Federations of North America, have committed to building and strengthening relationships with other religious leaders and faith-based institutions in their communities by sharing their security expertise. This is a new aspect of The Tepper Foundation’s commitment to security, aimed at improving interfaith relations as well as enhancing safety for all populations confronting hatred.
“Without basic security for our children, the Jewish community cannot flourish,” said Shira Hutt, Executive Vice President of Jewish Federations of North America. “We are proud of the immense progress we have made on securing our community through LiveSecure, but the unprecedented spike in antisemitism that our community has experienced since October 7th has created the need for both additional security resources and renewed outreach to our interfaith partners.”
For more information, contact Julie Lieber at JLieber@JEWISHcolorado.org.
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