High school students who are eager to change the world have the opportunity to do so by applying for No Small Change, a collaborative project between the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County and Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches.
This annual coed philanthropic leadership program, founded by JWF, is intended to enable local Jewish teens to identify a cause they are passionate about in their community and build a fundraising coalition among their peers to address it. It aims to provide teens with strategic grant making experience through a gender lens, while exploring social justice issues and Jewish values. Teens will ultimately decide how to award more than $20,000 to worthy nonprofits to address the cause of their choice.
In addition to peer-to-peer fundraising, a skilled Jewish community professional will facilitate group meetings and students will hear from experts during the No Small Change monthly workshops in the areas of strategic grant making, leadership and Jewish values.
“Each year we see these dedicated students really committing themselves to the research and review that’s vital to grant making,” said Jennifer Kryshka, JWF’s interim executive director, in a press release. “That’s why the final results are so gratifying. We can all see how these grants are changing our community.”
Michael Hoffman, president and chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, said in the press release, “Giving motivated and civic-minded young people the tools to create change in their community and see the impact of their action is one of the greatest gifts we can provide.”
“We are incredibly proud to be part of a program that teaches teens the importance of Jewish values, philanthropy and social justice. Through this inspiring initiative created by Jewish Women’s Foundation, we are empowering teens to create transformative change in our community while learning what it means to live the value of tikkun olam.”
Additional program partners include the Federation’s Jewish Teen Initiative and Jewish Volunteer Center.
All program hours are eligible for up to 50 high school community service credit hours. Students must apply at jewishpalmbeach.org/nosmallchange or jwfpalmbeach.org/no-small-change/ by Aug. 24. Space is limited.
Contact Erin Leibowitz, development associate for Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches, at 561-275-2234 or erin@jwfpalmbeach.org.