Announcing Two Impact Grants to Outstanding Jewish Young Adult Engagement Programs in the South Peninsula

Today, the Federation announced two new South Peninsula-based grants to outstanding organizations through its South Peninsula Regional Impact Grants Committee.  These two grants are designed to connect young adults in the area to Jewish life.  The Federation’s trailblazing Impact Grants Initiative (IGI) program employs a high engagement and empowerment approach to grant-making modeled on social venture philanthropy.  The IGI program provides donor-participants with a hands-on way to make a real difference in their community by making high impact grants that focus on pressing community needs. “These impact grants are important steps toward creating and reinforcing the connections that young adults have with the Jewish community and their Jewish peers in the South Peninsula,” said Jim Offel, interim CEO of the Federation.  “Our hope is that young adults always have a home in the Jewish community and have the opportunity to build deep and meaningful connections to their heritage.”

“It has been exciting to see the Federation make these significant, multi-year impact grants around an area of top priority in our local community – and to empower our local community members in guiding these investments from start to finish,” said Nanette Freedland, volunteer chair of the South Peninsula Regional Impact Committee.

The two grantees are:

Oshman Family JCC & Hillel at Stanford in Palo Alto: ENGAJ ($344,234 over three years) 

ENGAJ: Engaging the Next Generation of Adult Jews is a new program that will provide meaningful Jewish experiences for young adults and help foster more robust Jewish social networks outside of established institutions.

Moishe House Palo Alto ($96,250 over three years) 

This grant will support the growth and success of this new center, founded in 2010, which is actively engaging local young adults.

The grantees will be celebrated at a special event in Palo Alto on May 15.