Jewish Community Foundation Announces New Cutting Edge Grants Totaling $1.1 Million.

Twelve Organizations Receive Grants Ranging from $10,000 to $210,000

LOS ANGELES -- The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles (The Foundation) today announced it has awarded $1.1 million to 12 nonprofit organizations, the inaugural recipients of its recently unveiled Cutting Edge Grants Initiative. Grants range from $210,000 to Israel Emergency Alliance (StandWithUs) for a public high school education program about Israel, to $10,000 each for conferences conducted by Israel 21C and the Jewish Community Day School Network.

Under the new initiative, which was created last spring, grant-seekers can receive a maximum of $250,000 over three years. Previously, funding had typically been limited to one-year grants of no more than $50,000.

"The Cutting Edge Grants reflect our desire to inspire social entrepreneurs and creative thinkers to establish major projects that will enrich the quality of life in our community," said Marvin I. Schotland, The Foundation's president and chief executive officer. "In addition, this new process results in grants that provide greater opportunities to leverage Foundation giving with other community funders."

Israel Emergency Alliance (StandWithUs) received the largest grant, $210,000, to develop pilot lesson plans regarding Israel for public high school teachers that go beyond politics and emphasize the country's positive contributions to the world.

"An existing DVD from the program about Israel's technological innovations really captured the students' attention," said Culver City High School teacher Janice Goodman. "They're still talking about the flying cars, and the camera-in-a-pill that is used to diagnose cancer. And they were fascinated to learn about the agricultural innovations that Israel is implementing in Darfur and other developing countries."

The Foundation gave an award of $200,000, the second highest, to Jewish World Watch (JWW), for its mobilization of the Jewish community to eradicate human rights abuses in Darfur. "The Foundation grant has enabled us to extend our programming and to hire an executive director," said Harold Shulweiss, rabbi of Congregation Valley Beth Shalom and JWW founder. "The Foundation has shown great vision in understanding the potential of JWW and its concern with preventing further genocide in Darfur."

Rev. C.L. "Chip" Murray, retired pastor of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, agreed. "Jewish World Watch has created a model for global action in preventing genocide O and The Foundation's support is a tribute to humanity in general."

Another major grant, $152,000, was made to the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles for its HaMercaz collaborative of seven social service agencies serving Jewish special-needs families. "We are enormously grateful to The Foundation for this funding, which allows us to expand our core program into a family support initiative," said Michelle K. Wolfe, director of HaMercaz. "We plan to provide services for the siblings and grandparents of special-needs children, and to offer programs in Farsi for the Iranian Jewish community."

In addition to grants made to the Israel Emergency Alliance, Jewish World Watch and the Jewish Federation, organizations receiving awards include:

Large-scale programs ($100,000-$250,000):

* Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Los Angeles, for its Jewish education customer relations management program -- $130,000.

* Jewish Television Network Inc., for its Web-based broadcasting of Jewish television programs -- $130,000.

* Reboot, Inc., for creation of an L.A. network of 3,000 Rebooters -- creative and culturally-minded young Jewish adults -- to help strengthen their Jewish identity -- $128,000.

Small-scale programs ($10,000-$50,000):

* Aish Hatorah Western Region Inc., for "Pop-Up Aish," temporary storefronts in commercial locations designed to reach out to unaffiliated young Jews to help strengthen their Jewish identity -- $50,000.

* Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, for its Artist-In-Residence program to enhance the capacity of graduate students to use art to transmit Jewish culture and knowledge -- $30,000.

* Jewish Home for the Aging of Greater Los Angeles, for its fall-prevention program -- $30,000.

* Ozreinu, for support groups for Jewish parents of special-needs children, peer group curriculum and a leaders' guide -- $20,000.

* Israel 21C (21st Century), for a half-day summit for pro-Israel activists from the Western U.S. to inform them about Israel's technological and medical achievements and other contributions to society -- $10,000.

* Jewish Community Day School Network (RAVSAK), for an annual nationwide conference for day school professionals and lay leaders to address the challenges and opportunities for Jewish day schools (to be held in Los Angeles in mid-January) -- $10,000.

About The Foundation

Established in 1954, the Jewish Community Foundation is the largest manager of charitable assets and the leader in planned giving solutions for Greater Los Angeles Jewish philanthropists. The Foundation currently manages assets of $603 million and according to the National Foundation Center, ranks among the ten largest Los Angeles foundations (based on assets). In 2005, The Foundation and its 1,200-plus donors distributed $57 million in grants to more than 1,500 organizations with programs that span the range of philanthropic giving.