Engagement Grants will strengthen social connections and increase opportunities for Jewish experiences and learning across the United States and Canada
(DENVER) – Colorado families raising Jewish children will now have more opportunities to participate in Jewish life, thanks to an engagement grant recently awarded by PJ Library®, the flagship program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, which provides free books to families raising Jewish children all over the world.
JEWISHcolorado received $25,000 to continue its Family Connectors program, which takes PJ Library beyond the books by enabling families to access robust Jewish content and programming and providing diverse opportunities within partnering organizations.
Tracy Newman, national director of community engagement for PJ Library, says, “These dollars have a profound impact on Jewish communal life in our partner communities. The grants showcase PJ Library’s best practices for engaging a wide range of diverse families, enriching micro-communities and fostering a vibrant, dynamic Jewish community.”
“JEWISHcolorado is honored to receive this grant and thrilled to be part of the global PJ Library community which distributes books in seven languages to more than 650,000 children in over 40 countries every month,” said Bethany Friedlander, PJ Library JEWISHcolorado Manager. “Family connectors have been instrumental in connecting families to each other and to the larger Colorado Jewish community and partnering organizations.”
The 29 winning grant proposals were chosen through a competitive process open to organizations implementing PJ Library across the United States and Canada. A survey of participants in previous grant-funded projects showed the 87% of participating families connected socially during the programs building friendships that allowed them to be more comfortable participating in Jewish life. Last year projects saw that 71% of families sought out or attended other local Jewish programs following their participation in the PJ funded program.
“It is our pleasure to amplify the amazing work of Jewish communities across the US and Canada,” said Jessica Emerson McCormick, director of family experience for PJ Library. “We work hand-in-hand with our partners to make sure that we are going well beyond the books to support the rich engagement work that is right for each unique market.”
We are grateful to our PJ Library Alliance partners who have joined the Harold Grinspoon Foundation in funding these engagement grants: The Marcus Foundation, Inc.; The Azrieli Foundation; Carl & Joann Bianco; Winnie & Steven Grinspoon; Koum Family Foundation; Micah Philanthropies; Howard & Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation; Ann and Nate Levine Family Foundation; Arnold S. and Madaleine Penner Family Foundation; Crown Family Philanthropies; Joseph and Debra Weinberg Family Foundation; Marilyn Einstein & Steven Sim Charitable Fund; Mike & Sofia Segal Family Foundation; The Molly Blank Fund of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation; The Murray & Sydell Rosenberg Foundation; One8 Foundation; Sam Berman Charitable Foundation; Steve Saks; The Sherrie R. Savett Family Foundation; Diane Troderman; Wilf Family Foundations; Walter, Arnee, Sarah & Aaron Winshall; Zucker Family Foundation; and an anonymous partner.