FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Grants Aid Unmet, Underserved Seniors

GREENSBORO, NC (June 30, 2009) ¾ While the economy treads through a recession, nonprofits nationwide continue to struggle with donations and investments. Even though grant funding is significantly down this year, BJH Foundation for Senior Services has awarded more than $97,000. Grants will be used for enrichment and training programs aimed at enhancing the lives of Jewish seniors in North and South Carolina according to BJH Foundation President, David Moff. Two of this year’s 19 grant recipients are from Charlotte, NC.

This year, BJH Foundation for Senior Services streamlined its grant application process in an effort to better evaluate the needs of Jewish senior programs in the community. The foundation hosted a grant writing seminar for potential applicants, which outlined the foundation’s mission to fund programs that focus on the underserved and unmet needs of Jewish seniors. The BJH Foundation defined four major areas of focus for this year’s applicants:

·         Healthy aging

·         Preservation of Jewish culture, traditions, values and beliefs

·         Meal/fellowship/social programs

·         Access/choice programs that improve health and well-being.

Temple Israel plans to use the grant to fund its 15-year old monthly “Simchot for Seniors” program. These programs focus on providing seniors an opportunity to attend special presentations on a variety of topics including health, education, wellness, music, art and politics.  In addition to providing transportation, the temple provides nutritional lunches each time they meet.  

Temple Beth El will use the BJH Foundation for Senior Services grant to fund its SPICE program.  SPICE will conduct 32 educational, social programs, trips and activities for seniors along with transportation to underserved Jewish seniors who live in a 100 mile radius of Charlotte.  In addition, an innovative volunteer program matches seniors to a low performing minority elementary school helping underprivileged and underserved students.  This volunteer program will be expanding this year due to seniors gaining a tremendous amount of personal satisfaction and forming new friendships with the younger population.

Additional 2009 grant recipients from BJH Foundation for Senior Services include:

 

Ø  Asheville, NC – Jewish Family Services of WNC, a program of Asheville Jewish Community Center

Ø  Chapel Hill  – OdysseyStage, Inc.

Ø  Greensboro, NC – Adult Center for Enrichment, Beth David Synagogue, Jewish Family Services of Greensboro Jewish Federation, Temple Emanuel

Ø  New Bern, NC – Temple B’nai Sholem

Ø  Raleigh, NC – Jewish Family Services of the Raleigh/Cary Jewish Federation, Raleigh-Cary Jewish Community Center, Temple Beth Or

Ø  Charleston, SC – Charleston Jewish Community Center, Kahal Kodosh Beth Elohim, Trident Area Agency on Aging

Ø  Columbia, SC – Congregation Beth Shalom

Ø  Greenville, SC – Congregation Beth Israel

For more information about receiving grants, or how you can help, please visit www.bjhfoundation.org

About BJH Foundation for Senior Services:

BJH Foundation for Senior Services, founded in 2006, provides grants to organizations that enhance the lives of Jewish seniors in North and South Carolina.  Grants are awarded for activities, services and programs for the elderly in accordance with Jewish values and beliefs.

For Information on donating to BJH Foundation for Senior Services call 336-854-8400 or please visit www.bjhfoundation.org.