|
|
December 25, 1998/ 6 Tevet 5759, Vol. 51, No. 14
Town hall meeting set for new year
Continuity panel to hear input on program grants
DANE D'ANTUONO
Staff Writer
The Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix's Commission on Continuity and Community is inviting the public to a town hall meeting on Thursday, Jan. 7, to share ideas for program and project grants and help set funding priorities for the coming year.
The meeting is slated for 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the federation's offices, 32 W. Coolidge St. in Phoenix.
The commission is about to begin its third year of awarding grants for innovative programs serving the greater Phoenix Jewish community.
"What we would like to do is review with members of the community in attendance, the kinds of things that were funded last year, and give them the opportunity to share with us the things they think are important, so the cabinet committee can use that information to further refine the grant priority areas," said Fred Zeidman, the federation's assistant executive director.
"Last year we gave out $271,000 in grants, funding 22 projects," Zeidman added. Most grants awarded last year were in the range of $3,000 to $8,000 each.
Current program priority areas include community building, outreach, Jewish education, programs and services for the elderly, and improving the quality of life. In October, the commission got together with Jewish agency leadership, religious school educators and area rabbis in a series of meetings to help sharpen the focus of program priorities.
"These priorities came out of last year's process, and we are saying right now that we wouldn't be changing those priorities unless we hear differently from the Jewish community," Zeidman said.
Programs that have won grants in the past include a young leadership program that the B'nai Brith Youth Organization sponsored.
"We helped them provide opportunities for teens to learn about what it's like to be Jewish today and an opportunity to meet with Jewish leaders in the community," Zeidman said.
Additionally, the commission in the past has helped to fund an outreach program for Jewish seniors from the Soviet Union, and also funded a program at Temple Chai to create a master teacher position to instruct other teachers in developing religious school programs.
"We try to recognize need and innovation in the Jewish community. And that's why we give away the money," Zeidman said. "This is a community initiative. The dollars in large measure come from the annual campaign, and we want to hear from the community that supports the campaign."
To be reviewed for a grant, interested parties must fill out an application. The committee will look at such things as how closely a need is met, whether it is clear what the applicant wants to do, whether the applicant has had success with similar projects, if it is feasible to complete the project with the budget proposed and within the amount of time indicated, whether the applicant represents one group or a partnership of several different agencies, and whether the applicant has a way to continue funding after a grant has expired.
"The federation would really like to see more and more teaming on projects," Zeidman said.
In addition to the town hall meeting, organizations, congregations and agencies that serve the Valley's Jewish community are invited to attend a workshop at 7 p.m. on Feb. 18 at the federation. Program grant applications will be made available at the workshop, and the grant application process and priority areas will be explained. Groups considering applying for a grant are strongly encouraged to attend the workshop.
Call the federation for more information at 274-1800.
|
