The Jewish Fund approves $1,085,000 in grant payments for 15 primarily health and social welfare programs

August 2008

For more information, contact Margo Pernick, (248) 203-1487

At its August 21 board meeting, The Jewish Fund approved $1,085,000 in grant payments for 15 primarily health and social welfare programs.

In response to the increase in economic hardship faced by many in the community, five grants will provide needed support in both the general metropolitan Detroit community, and the Jewish community, in particular. A grant of $120,000 over 2 years to JVS will assist in the development of a financial literacy and consumer advocacy program; a grant of $105,000 over 3 years to Forgotten Harvest, will expand its food rescue program’s distribution by adding a mobile food pantry; a one year-renewal grant of $290,0000 to Jewish Family Service will support the continuation of Project Chessed, a network of free and reduced price medical care for uninsured Jews in the community; and an additional grant of $156,000 over 3 years to Jewish Family Service will support the hiring of a case manager to assist clients of Hebrew Free Loan Association.

Grants to support the overall social welfare of older adults and families include a grant of up to $50,000 toward support of the Hechtman Fire Relief Fund, established following the recent fire at Hechtman Apartments serving older adults; a 1 year grant of $75,000 to provide patrol cars during Sabbath hours in Oak Park and Southfield in response to an increase in criminal incidents in the area; continued support of $150,000 to Jewish Apartments and Services to subsidize low-income senior housing in Oak Park and West Bloomfield; and a grant of $15,000 to support Council on Jewish Orthodox Active Retirees, a social, educational and cultural program.

Grants will also support a diverse array of health care and prevention programs. A 3 year grant of $240,000 to Adult Well-Being Services will support efforts to prevent diabetes among low-income and older African Americans; a $100,000 grant to the Detroit Science Center will support the development of a new healthy nutrition-focused exhibit in its new Medical Marvels Gallery; a $20,000 grant to Hospice of Michigan supports its innovative @HOMe Support program serving non-hospice patients with advanced chronic illness; a $50,000 grant to Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network to continue its palliative care program for the Detroit Jewish community; a $20,000 grant to Kadima to continue its support programs for families of children who struggle with mental illness and emotional disorders; a grant of $25,000 to Matrix Theater Company to include people with special needs in community-based theatre productions; and a $15,000 grant to Yeshivas Darchei Torah, Beth Yehudah and Akiva to develop and expand physical educational programs in their Jewish day schools.

A tradition of caring, The Jewish Fund was established in December 1996 from the sale proceeds of Sinai Hospital to the Detroit Medical Center. Sinai Hospital was a Jewish community funded facility that grew into one of metropolitan Detroit’s top health care institutions. The Jewish Fund Board of Directors remains committed to continuing Sinai Hospital’s tradition of sustaining, enriching and addressing the overall health care needs of both the Jewish community and broader community in the greater Detroit area. Since its creation, The Fund has awarded $36 million in grants to expand health and human services to residents of metropolitan Detroit. Among the recipients of grants from The Jewish Fund are programs that improve the quality of life for older citizens and those with special needs, and that provide health supports for people of all ages and religions.

Following is a complete listing of the dollars allocated and purposes of the latest awards:

  • Adult Well-Being Services (Detroit, MI): $240,000 over three years to support efforts to prevent diabetes among low-income and older African Americans.
  • Detroit Science Center (Detroit, MI): $100,000 for one year to develop a new healthy nutrition-focused exhibit in its new Medical Marvels Gallery.
  • Forgotten Harvest (Oak Park, MI): $105,000 over three years to expand its food rescue program’s distribution by adding a mobile food pantry
  • Hospice of Michigan (Detroit, MI): $20,000 for the final year of a two-year grant to support its innovative @HOMe Support program serving non-hospice patients with advanced chronic illness.
  • Jewish Apartments & Services (Oak Park, MI): $150,000 for the eighth year of a ten-year grant to subsidize rent for 30 low-income seniors at the Norma Jean and Edward Meer Apartments.
  • Jewish Community Center (West Bloomfield, MI): $15,000 to support the Council on Jewish Orthodox Active Retirees (COJAR) program, which provides active retirees with social, educational and cultural programs.
  • Jewish Family Service (West Bloomfield, MI): $290,000 for a one-year renewal grant to support Project Chessed, a network of free and reduced price medical care for uninsured Jews in the community.
  • Jewish Family Service (West Bloomfield, MI): $156,000 over 3 years to support the hiring of a case manager to assist clients of Hebrew Free Loan Association.
  • Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit (Bloomfield Hills, MI): up to $50,000 toward support of the Hechtman Fire Relief Fund which was established following the recent fire at Hechtman Apartments serving older adults.
  • Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit (Bloomfield Hills, MI): $75,00 for one year to provide patrol cars during Shabbat hours in Oak Park and Southfield in response to an increase in criminal incidents in the area.
  • Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network (West Bloomfield, MI): $50,000 for the final year of a three-year grant to develop a palliative care program for the Detroit Jewish community.
  • JVS (Southfield, MI): $120,000 over two years to assist in the development of a financial literacy and consumer advocacy program.
  • Kadima/JFS (Southfield and West Bloomfield, MI): $20,000 for the final year of a three-year grant to create a support program for families of children who struggle with emotional disorders:
  • Matrix Theater Company (Detroit, MI): $25,000 for the final year of a three-year grant to include people with special needs in community-based theatre productions:
  • Yeshivas Darchei Torah/Beth Yehudah/Akiva (Oak Park and Southfield, MI): $15,000 for the final year of a three-year grant to develop and expand physical education programs in the Orthodox Jewish day schools.

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08/2008