Jun 15, 2016

Federation Expands List of Funded Organizations

Five local organizations have joined Federation’s family of partner agencies receiving funding from the Annual Federation/UJA Campaign for 2016-2017.

The Friendship Circle Miami, the Friendship Circle of Miami Beach and North Dade, the Jewish Student Union of NCSY, Limmud Miami and The Tribe have all received Federation incubator grants for the past three years to support creative programs that respond to previously unmet or emerging needs or serve unique populations in Miami. Each has demonstrated great success with its programming, making a real and measurable impact on these diverse populations and our Jewish community.

Since 2014, the Friendship Circle Miami has received funding for its Kulanu Hebrew School for children with special needs, and the Friendship Circle of Miami Beach and North Dade has been assisted with its Sunday Circle program, which pairs special needs youth with teen volunteers to engage socially, learn social skills, and provide parents with respite.

Two community-based, Jewish engagement initiatives will also receive annual Federation funding. Limmud Miami is a grassroots organization that hosts a vibrant day of Jewish learning for nearly 1,000 participants each year in Miami. The Tribe offers outreach activities that engage 22- to 40-year-olds in a variety of interesting and meaningful Jewish experiences.

The 2014 Greater Miami Jewish Federation Population Study also identified certain issues in Miami that call for special attention; one was the need for programs that engage Jewish teens in programming beyond becoming Bar and Bat Mitzvah. NCSY is doing significant outreach through Jewish Student Union leadership programs in public and private middle and high schools, and Federation support will enable them to sustain and expand these efforts.

Elizabeth Schwartz, Chair of Federation’s Jewish Incubator Grants Committee, said, “Miami’s Jewish community is a broad, diverse place and we continually strive to ensure we are responding to the shifting demographics and supporting innovative programs.”

“We are proud to welcome these five outstanding organizations to our family of beneficiary agencies, and we look forward to working with them on programs that will enhance and build Miami’s Jewish community for years to come,” said Michelle Labgold, Federation’s Chief Planning Officer.

For more information about these and other Federation-funded agencies, please contact Michelle Labgold at [email protected] or 786.866.8492.