FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jewish Nevada Julia Franks
Julia@JewishNevada.org
702-732-0556
JEWISH NEVADA PARTNERS WITH FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMP
TO OFFER NEED-BLIND GRANTS
UP TO $1000 Available for First Time Campers through One Happy Camper Program
10/23/2017 Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jewish Nevada, Nevada’s Jewish Federation, is pleased to announce the launch of the One Happy Camper program in partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC). The initiative will provide need-blind grants of up to $1000 to families with children attending nonprofit Jewish overnight camp for the first time. In our launch year, Jewish Nevada anticipates sending up to 60 first time campers to overnight Jewish summer camp.
Jewish Nevada is the newest community to make Jewish camp a priority in their area. Since 2006, FJC has partnered with more than 100 North American federations, foundations, camp movements, and camps, as well as the Jim Joseph Foundation (JWest), and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (PJ Goes to Camp) to provide over 70,000 grants totaling almost $70,000,000. One Happy Camper grant recipients, just like all campers, are being infused with Jewish education, awareness, and identity while having fun; returning to Jewish camp summer after summer.
The challenge of passing along Jewish connection and commitment to the next generation has become one of the most important concerns of the American Jewish community. Based on CAMP WORKS, the 2010 study by FJC studying the long-term impact of Jewish overnight camp, there is compelling evidence that camp is a proven means of building Jewish identity, community, and leadership. It found that adults who attended Jewish overnight camp are 30% more likely to donate to a Jewish federation, 37% more likely to light candles regularly for Shabbat, 45% more likely to attend synagogue at least once a month, and 55% more likely to feel very emotionally attached to Israel.
“Jewish Nevada is dedicated to ensuring the future of our Jewish community. I can’t think of a greater investment to ensure that future than Jewish overnight camp” said Todd Polikoff, Jewish Nevada’s CEO. “In partnering with The Foundation for Jewish Camp, Jewish Nevada will be able to offer a record number of children in our community the opportunity to be fully embraced by the Jewish camping experience. This investment will have exponential returns for the future of Jewish life in Nevada.”
Families with children attending one of more than 190 nonprofit Jewish overnight camps including Camp Newman, Camp Ramah, Camp Nageela West, Camp Chi, Camp Alonim, Gan Israel and many more for their first summer may receive a grant regardless of need or religious background. Families can find camps and apply for grants by visiting www.OneHappyCamper.org.
“The Jewish summer camp experience affects children in countless ways and opens their hearts to the joy of being Jewish,” says FJC CEO, Jeremy J. Fingerman. “We are passionate about making that experience possible for every Jewish child and deeply grateful to all of our partners who share our commitment to that goal.”
Jewish Nevada is the community’s organization. We promote the well-being of our community members, and Jews throughout the world; enhance the continuity, security, and unity of the Jewish community; increase understanding of Jewish values and their application to improve people’s lives; encourage our members to fulfill the responsibility of tikkun olam, to make the world a better place; support Israel as a Jewish and democratic state; and promote collective action by individuals and organizations to advance these purposes.
As a unified, collaborative organization, Jewish Nevada is committed to securing philanthropic and human resources to create positive change while connecting our community through programs, services and events. We are the voice of the collective, navigating the present and future needs of our community. Our partnership with FJC builds a strong Jewish future through transformative Jewish summers.
FJC BUILDS LEADERS, helping camp professionals and other camp talent develop the skills to lead their camps to exceptional outcomes operationally and educationally. They AMPLIFY JEWISHNESS, developing and supporting programs that deepen campers’ and counselors’ connection to their Jewish roots and culture. And they EXPAND THE FIELD, continuously expanding the number and variety of summer experiences to attract more—and more diverse—participants. www.jewishcamp.org
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