21 grants have been awarded in North and South Carolina; Three in Asheville
Press release from BJH Foundation:
Asheville, N.C. (August, 2013) – There is a pressing need to fund programs that enable, enrich, and engage the aging Jewish population. According to the National Jewish Population Survey, the U.S. Jewish community is rapidly aging, doubling to more than a million from 1957 to 2012. In addition, recent economic and legislative changes have resulted in cuts for many federal and state programs that serve older adults. Helping fill the funding void, the Greensboro-based BJH Foundation recently awarded more than $203,230 in grants to 21 different programs focusing on improving the lives of Jewish older adults across North and South Carolina.
With an endowment in the millions, BJH Foundation has granted more than $1.4 million over the past seven years to qualifying non-profit organizations that serve Jewish older adults in the Carolinas. Grant awards of up to $25,000 each help area non-profits cover program expenses for food, mailings, supplies, educational materials, salaries for social workers, Congregational Nurse staff, and other necessary expenses.
In 2013, the BJH Foundation for Senior Services has awarded grants to these three Asheville-area programs:
- Senior Information and Case Management Services, which is a Jewish Family Services of WNC program received a grant of $25,000. This program provides older adults and caregivers the opportunity to receive coordinated assistance of community resources, including mental health, long-term placement, respite services, medical need, and in-home assistance with sensitivity for Jewish culture and practices.
- Jewish Family Services of WNC’s Elder Day Club Group Respite, the only Jewish adult day care program in Western North Carolina received a grant of $10,000. The Elder Day Club provides a structured group program for older adults, who may be isolated from socialization experiences or may have memory or physical impairments. Family caregivers receive important respite time and support. Day Club programming provides a full range of activities, including arts and crafts, cognitive stimulation, exercise, music, yoga, gardening, discussions, and intergenerational programming.
- Asheville Jewish Community Center’s Volunteer Corps volunteer program for active seniors received a grant of $10,000. This program engages retired and semi-retired Jewish adults as volunteers with the JCC, as well as other Jewish and non-Jewish agencies in the Asheville area. Active older adults who participate gain satisfaction from contributing their time, provide support for and become more fully involved in the life of Asheville’s Jewish community, and develop relationships with an array of people of different ages, cultural backgrounds, and socio-economic groups.
“Our board, composed of members from both North and South Carolina, is dedicated to enriching the well-being of the many seniors in our communities,” said Cheryl David, president of the BJH Foundation for Senior Services. “We continue to receive positive feedback about the many projects we’ve supported over the years and are thankful to those who have financially supported the BJH Foundation when it was originally created, as well as those working tirelessly for us today. We know the wonderful people we serve in the Carolinas will continue to benefit from the ongoing enrichment of our efforts.”
To learn more about the 2013 programs that received grants, learn how to apply for grants, or find out how you can help, please visit www.bjhfoundation.org.
2013 grant recipients from BJH Foundation for Senior Services include:
- Asheville, NC – Jewish Family Services of WNC, Asheville Jewish Community Center
- Charlotte, NC – Jewish Family Services of Greater Charlotte, Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish Community Center, Temple Beth El, Temple Israel
- Davidson, NC – Temple Kol Tikvah of Lake Norman
- Greensboro, NC – Jewish Family Services of Greensboro Jewish Federation, Temple Emanuel, Beth David Synagogue
- Hendersonville, NC – Agudas Israel Congregation
- New Bern, NC – Temple B’nai Sholem
- Raleigh, NC – Temple Beth Or
- Charleston, SC – Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
- Columbia, SC – Beth Shalom Synagogue, Jewish Family Services
- Hilton Head, SC – Congregation Beth Yam
About the BJH Foundation for Senior Services:
BJH Foundation for Senior Services, founded in 2006, provides grants to organizations that enhance the lives of Jewish older adults in North and South Carolina. Grants are awarded for activities, services, and programs for older adults in accordance with Jewish values and beliefs. For information on donating to BJH Foundation for Senior Services, call 336-854-8400 or visit www.bjhfoundation.org. The next grant application deadline will be April 2014.
Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the state.
