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News from Rose Community Foundation
February 25, 2008
News Media Contact: Phil Nash 303.398.7444
Roots & Branches Foundation Awards $94,570 in Grants
Denver, CO - Roots & Branches Foundation, a grantmaking initiative of Rose Community Foundation, has awarded $94,570 in grants to nine projects that directly benefit Jewish individuals ages 25 to 40 by involving them in new and innovative Jewish activities. The grants will be awarded at a March 10 celebration for members of Roots & Branches Foundation and grant recipients.
Roots & Branches Foundation was established in July 2007 as a group of 18 diverse Jewish individuals in their 20s and 30s from throughout the Metro Denver area. The members come from Jewish backgrounds ranging from Orthodox to secular. The group first studied the Jewish philanthropic tradition, strategic philanthropy and community needs, then issued a Request for Proposals. Roots & Branches Foundation’s members reviewed the proposals, made site visits and reached funding decisions in January 2008.
“Roots & Branches Foundation had an overwhelming response to its Request for Proposals - 44 requests totaling more than $890,000,” says Lisa Farber Miller, senior program officer for Jewish Life at Rose Community Foundation. “The group’s innovative vision and ideas are reshaping programming for a part of our community that has been previously ignored.” Ms. Farber Miller staffs Roots & Branches Foundation with Shawna Friedman and Sarah Indyk.
"I am really excited to be a part of this shift and the momentum that can come out of these grants for our age demographic,” says Roots & Branches Foundation member Jo Schaalman. “These grants could be the springboard that takes us into a more empowered young Jewish community – an opportunity for real engagement for an age group that has oftentimes been missing from the conversation."
Following is a list of the grants awarded by Roots & Branches Foundation and descriptions of the projects for which the grant funds will be used. Locations indicate the organization’s headquarters, not necessarily the geographic area served.
Center for Judaic Studies, University of Denver (Denver): $15,000 for Seriously Funny, a year-long series of lectures and events about Jewish humor.
du.edu/cjs
Chai Life Series – Eric Elkins, Ean Seeb and Ezra Shanken (Denver): $4,700 to support the Burning Brush art project for Jewish individuals ages 25 through 40.
Grassroots and Branches: GRAB (Denver): $4,670 to support a new activist organization to connect and support programs for Jewish individuals in their 20s and 30s. Rose Community Foundation serves as fiscal sponsor.
JDub Records (New York, NY): $20,000 for two Jewish musical events.
jdubrecords.org
Kehillath Aish Kodesh (Boulder): $12,000 to support SoulFood, a monthly series of Jewish cultural programs cohosted by an Orthodox rabbi and a Reform rabbi. Kehillath Aish Kodesh, the fiscal sponsor, is partnering with Congregation Har HaShem for these programs.
boulderaishkodesh.org
harhashem.org
Limmud Colorado (Denver):$20,000 for childcare and scholarships for Jews in their 20s and 30s who attend this festival of Jewish learning in May 2008.
limmudcolorado.org
Minyan Na’aleh (Denver): $4,200 to support Shabbat services at a new location, kosher meals and subsidies for a Shavuot retreat.
naalehdenver.org
Danya Uriel Rivlin and Eyal Rivlin (Boulder and Denver): $4,000 for two musical Shabbat celebrations in Boulder and Denver.
hebrewchanting.com
Seeking Common Ground (Denver): $10,000 for the development of a new volunteer program for Jewish individuals ages 20 through 40.
s-c-g.org
To learn more about Roots & Branches Foundation, visit rcfdenver.org/initiatives_roots.htm, or contact Shawna Friedman at 303.398.7452 or sfriedman@rcfdenver.org.