Would you like to support Temple Isaiah’s youth? We have a tremendously active and successful youth program—one of the finest in the country. Recently, the temple’s men’s group, Anshei Isaiah, established a special fund to support the youth program, which will enable more teens to participate in both the major youth events as well as the monthly programs. Below is more information on the two components to this fund. If you would like to contribute, checks may be sent to: Anshei Isaiah, P.O. Box 371, Lafayette, CA 94549-0371. Please mark “AITYF” in the memo. Should you have any questions, please email us at , and put “AITYF” in the subject line. Thank you!
Anshei Isaiah Launches “Temple Youth Fund”
By Corey Jacobson
What a difference three years makes. In April 2004, Anshei Isaiah was just taking flight—a steering committee had been formed and the beginnings of an organizational foundation were being drawn. Fast forward to the present, where, on April 23, Anshei Isaiah formally announced the establishment of a beneficiary fund for the temple youth, the “Anshei Isaiah Temple Youth Fund” (AITYF).
“This is something the board is extremely proud of,” said Alan Jacobson, president of Anshei Isaiah. “We wanted to give back to the temple community in a way that made a difference.” The board spent months discussing ideas, and realized that investing in the temple youth was an investment in our community. “Most of the board had children who’d gone through Isaiah’s youth program, and we saw first-hand what a difference it made. It solidified their Jewish identity, and a lot of those kids went on to become leaders,” Jacobson said.
On April 23, Anshei Isaiah’s board presented a check to the youth committee for $2,000. “Each year, AI will be contributing a percentage of our membership dues to the fund,” said Pete Bluford, Administrative Vice President. There are two components to the AITYF, a Scholarship Fund (SF) and an Enrichment Fund (EF). Anshei Isaiah’s annual contribution funds the SF, while the EF will be funded by voluntary contributions from congregants, companies AI solicits, and grants AI applies for.
The Scholarship Fund provides money for families who can’t afford to send their teens on the major youth trips, such as the L.A. and Ski trips, the Spring Adventure and the NFTY leadership weekends. “These are tremendous bonding experiences,” Bluford said. “They come back from these trips with long-lasting friendships and strengthened Jewish identities.” The Rabbis will be the sole determiners of eligibility for those families wishing to utilize the scholarship money, and the process will be strictly confidential.
The Enrichment Fund will provide a conduit through which people and companies can donate directly to the youth program. These monies will reduce costs of the monthly programs, such as the buses hired to transport the kids to their events. Lower event fees mean more teens can participate. AI Special Projects Chair Robert Friedberg drafted a letter to solicit companies and corporations that donate to charitable interests—and the endeavor has already paid dividends. “CMG Mortgage responded to our letter with a $200 donation,” Friedberg said. But more work is needed. AI has formed a committee to solicit companies and foundations. “We’re currently looking for a congregant who has grant-writing experience, male or female,” said Friedberg. If you have such expertise, please contact AI at .
“The Anshei Isaiah Temple Youth Fund is a tremendous accomplishment for us,” Jacobson said. “To think, three years ago we were just starting this group, and here we are establishing a beneficiary fund to invest in our temple youth. It’s a great feeling to be able to give back in such a meaningful way.”
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