Teen Helps Award Grants to Jewish Organizations, Plans Continued Community Service

Temple Micah teen Jillian Moreno has earned the thanks and praises of the Jewish Youth Philanthropy Institute (JYPI), following her three years of participation in the institute's philanthropic programs.

"I wanted to get involved in doing something for the Jewish community that I could be passionate about," said Moreno, who graduated from the Maret School in June and is a freshman at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. "There are not many chances for teenagers to do that."

The Jewish Youth Philanthropy Institute offers Jewish teenagers from the Washington area a chance to help raise and award grant money to community, national and international groups, said Leah Siskin, JYPI's program director. More than 150 teens participated in JYPI programs in the 2007-08 school year. They conducted site visits, interviewed program staff and service recipients, evaluated written proposals and awarded grants ranging from $500 to $8,000.

Since most teenagers are new to the world of grant giving, JYPI staff and community members act as adult facilitators who help teach what grants are and how they are evaluated and awarded, Siskin said. They also suggest questions the teens might ask grant applicants, lead group discussions and explain how particular grants exemplify Jewish or other community priorities. JYPI facilitators usually solicit proposals during the summer and fall, and the teens decide in April what to fund and for how much. The grants are awarded at a ceremony in May.

This year, JYPI awarded grants to more than 30 groups. Awardees included the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington; Save-A Torah, Inc., which locates, rescues, repairs and restores Torahs that survived the Holocaust; The Conservation Fund; the Washington Animal Rescue League; Manna Food Center, and the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington.

Created in 2000, the Jewish Youth Philanthropy Institute is now a program of the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning (JPLL). JPLL was formed by Hillel, the Jewish Federation and the Board of Jewish Education. JPLL offers religious classes to Jewish youth in the area and serves as a resource center for Jewish educators and education directors.

"The philanthropy program is an excellent example of how a high-quality Jewish program can engage teens in the world in a meaningful way," says JoHanna Potts, the chief operating officer for the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning.

For her part, Moreno used her JYPI experience to become involved with Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN), a program that connects children who have developmental disabilities like autism with teenagers who help them get exercise, play games with them and take them to parks and preserves. She plans to remain involved with autistic children during college.

"I want to continue doing community service," Moreno said.