The Jewish Federation Of Sarasota-Manatee Inc

Jewish education and programming:the federation, in cooperation with area synagogues and organizations, offers a wide range of inspiring opportunities that enable teenagers, adults and families to become confident and comfortable lifelong jewish learners. The federation provides a wide range of jewish programs throughout the two-county area. This category includes programs celebrating jewish holidays, outreach efforts to the unaffiliated and adult programs for all ages and interests. Locally, the federation conducts outreach within the jewish and general communities, fostering israel education and awareness and provides a forum for dealing with antisemitism.examples of specific programs funded include: * camp yonnie: 2024 was the first year we operated a jewish values-based summer camp for k-5 students. Scholarships and incentive grants were provided for those in need. * youth grants ** jewish summer overnight camp grants: studies have proven, overwhelmingly, that jewish camping experiences serve as a critical tool in jewish continuity efforts. In an effort to encourage area families to send their children to jewish camps, the jewish federation of sarasota-manatee was thrilled to award $45,000 to 21 students in incentive grants and financial assistance grants in 2024. Children from sarasota-manatee attended jewish overnight camps such as camp ramah darom, camp barney medintz, camp judea, camp coleman, camp blue star and kutz camp. ** religious school scholarships - federation received 114 applications and provided 81 religious school scholarships totaling $30,000. ** college scholarships - federation provided 7 college scholarships totaling $52,500. * federation-sponsored community-wide educational and cultural programs that ensure a strong jewish identity and to help build a dynamic and engaged jewish community for generations to come. Programs feature speakers on a wide variety of topics. * since its inception the federation's pj library program has enabled over 500 families with children ages 6 months to 12 years to receive a monthly mailing of jewish children's books, cds, or the occasional parent book, for one year. Each book and cd came with guides to help families use the selection in their homes. Book and music lists were chosen by the foremost early-childhood experts. The list includes themes such as jewish holidays, folktales and jewish family life. * the jewish film festival, the jewish federation's largest single outreach program, provides screenings of films and events for the entire community on topics that appeal to a broad range of interests, ages and points of view. More than 1,500 people attended the 2024 jewish film festival. * the federation honors its commitment to holocaust education through: ** the speakers bureau, which addresses issues pertaining to holocaust education in local public and private schools for thousands of students; along with speaking at rotary clubs, temples and churches reaching hundreds of adults and students. ** the annual chanukah survivors luncheon, which treated over 100 local area holocaust survivors to a beautiful chanukah celebration luncheon as we paid tribute to their inner strength, courage, stamina, and remarkable dedication to our traditions. ** federation-sponsored holocaust education programs throughout the community, including a kristallnacht commemoration, a yom hashoah holocaust remembrance day program, and an international holocaust remembrance day program.

Sarasota-manatee jewish safety net programs:the federation works to ensure that basic needs such as food, security, and shelter are met, as we work for the social, emotional and financial well-being of jews in sarasota-manatee.examples of specific programs funded include: * safesrq: as a result of rising antisemitism and anti-israel rhetoric, the federation's safesrq program serves to train community members on situational awareness and other security related topics, works with local jewish organizations to enhance their security profiles and funding, fosters relationships with local law enforcement. In 2024, we also provided six (6) grants to jewish organizations to help with their security efforts. * jewish healing program: the federation provides a significant portion of the funding for the jewish healing program, which is implemented by jfcs. Each month volunteers provide direct community services to the jewish community, including bikkor cholim (visit the sick), bereavement services, community religious outreach (to seniors in nursing homes and assisted living facilities), prison ministry and doula (end-of-life) services. More than 1,000 contacts were made with the jewish community, helping the most at-risk and isolated to receive spiritual guidance and much-needed human contact. * direct support for 100 holocaust survivors: the federation underwrites the cost of one case manager at jfcs who is responsible for providing a variety of services to our area holocaust survivors. * community emergency assistance fund: the federation supports local jewish clients and holocaust survivors in need of rent, utilities, medical/dental expenses not covered by insurance, and food. The program is administered through jfcs. * caring for the jewish elderly: the federation provides basic human needs such as food, medicines and home care for thousands of elderly jews in the former soviet union receive through the jewish joint distribution committee.

Collaborative partnerships:the federation works with a wide range of community partners to support jewish-themed programming for the entire community.examples of specific programs funded include: * embracing our differences: the federation partners with coexistence, inc. And pays a portion of an eod education staff position, each year to present this international outdoor art exhibit. The exhibit promotes the value of diversity, the benefit of inclusion and the significance of the active rejection of hatred and prejudice. Public school children, grades k-12, are transported to the exhibit for free each year - since 2004, close to 2.5 million students have benefitted from this free educational program.