Jewish Family Service Receives Grant for Girls Give Back To Promote Leadership Development in Young Jewish Women

August 17, 2015

The Hadassah Foundation, which invests in social change for girls and women in Israel and the U.S., has awarded a $35,200 grant to Girls Give Back, a Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) program, to help cover operating expenses for the next year.

Girls Give Back addresses challenges faced by young Jewish women in San Diego by engaging them in meaningful, self-directed, and ongoing service learning and leadership development activities. Through the use of a high quality, year-long curriculum – especially crafted for Jewish teen girls – the program educates girls on gender inequality, develops concrete leadership skills, and empowers young women to actively engage in the San Diego community through volunteer work and service learning projects.

These skills and experiences empower participants to improve their self-image, build their confidence to take on future leadership positions, and develop meaningful relationships with Jewish peers. The young women in the program represent diverse denominations of Judaism, including Orthodox, Modern Orthodox, Reform, and Secular (Jewish, but not religious). About 25 percent of program participants receive financial assistance to participate in the program.

“It is a tremendous honor for Jewish Family Service’s impactful Girls Give Back program to be recognized as a national leader in the development of young Jewish women. We are grateful for the Hadassah Foundation’s significant investment in Girls Give Back for the second year in a row, as it is vital to the program’s long-term sustainability,” explained Shana Hazan, Senior Director of Strategic Resource Development at JFS.

The Hadassah Foundation’s mission is to improve the status, health, and well-being of women and girls, while bringing their contributions, issues, and needs from the margins to the center of Jewish concern, and encouraging and facilitating their active participation in decision-making and leadership in all spheres of life.

“The Hadassah Foundation is honored and proud to be Jewish Family Service’s partner in making a difference in the lives of women and girls, and we wish JFS every success with this project,” Rabbi Ellen Flax said in a letter to Girls Give Back, announcing the grant.

For more information on Girls Give Back, or to get involved, visit www.jfssd.org/ggb.

About The Hadassah Foundation
Founded in 1912, Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, is the largest women’s Zionist Jewish membership organization in the United States. 330,000 members strong, Hadassah is entering its second century, growing our commitment to innovative and life-changing medical care and research, women’s empowerment, education, advocacy, philanthropy and building Jewish identity – in Israel, America and around the world. For more information, visit www.hadassah.org.

Contact:
Sandy Young / Ashley Weaver
J. Walcher Communications, (619) 295-7140