|
|  |
 |
 Email This  Printable Version
|
| |
Columbus Jewish Youth Foundation Prepares to Blow Your Mind
Lshuman
 
The Columbus Jewish Youth Foundation (CJYF) has been hard at work all year learning about what it takes to maintain a thriving Jewish community. Now in its second year, the CJYF is putting the final touches on its grant process in preparation for its Annual Meeting to be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at the JCC of Greater Columbus. Through monthly meetings, exercises, activities and presentations by community leaders, the teens have been exposed to the many different efforts required to maintain a productive Jewish community here in Columbus.
Voting this year to forgo a general call for applications, the CJYF felt that in light of the economic downturn, our community’s day schools were in need of support. With Jewish day school education as its focus in 2009, CJYF grant applications have been received from Columbus Torah Academy and the Columbus Jewish Day School—and are currently under review by the teen board.
This year’s annual meeting will also be a bitter sweet celebration of sorts as the Foundation will honor Shelly Igdaloff for almost a decade of stewardship of the Foundation’s youth philanthropy program. Shelly has served as chair of the Foundation’s youth philanthropy program since its inception in 2001. A former Foundation trustee, Shelly helped guide the activities of the Mitzi & Henry Saeman B’nai Tzedek Youth Philanthropy Program and was instrumental in the formation of the Columbus Jewish Youth Foundation in 2007.
In addition to her valuable work with the Foundation, Shelly has served the Columbus Jewish community in many other capacities, including as a co-chair for Columbus’ first-ever community-wide mitzvah day—Lend a Hand, Touch a Heart. She has also been a trustee on the boards of the Columbus Jewish Federation, JCC of Greater Columbus and Congregation Beth Tikvah. In addition, Shelly is an active member of her local school district, serving as a Trustee of the Gahanna Lincoln Education Foundation. She was awarded the 2008 Friend of Education Award by the GL Education Association.
Commenting on her involvement with teens and education, Shelly was once quoted as saying: “Everyone can play a role in helping to make the world a better place. As members of the Jewish community and the global community, it is our responsibility to make our own mark. As a community, there is nothing we can’t accomplish.”
“Operating mostly under the radar, Shelly guided the growth and development of the Mitzi & Henry Saeman B’nai Tzedek Youth Philanthropy into one of the finest and largest programs of its kind, anywhere in North America.” noted Columbus Jewish Foundation Director of Marketing and Youth Philanthropy Coordinator Larry Shuman. As the impetus behind the program’s biannual Mega Mitzvah event, Shelly has helped open up the world of philanthropy to hundreds of teens in Columbus. To date, the Foundation’s B’nai Tzedek Program—of which there are over 330 fund holders—and CJYF allocations have combined to donate over $75,000 to more than 100 charities around the world.
The agenda for the annual meeting will include the introduction the 2008-2009 CJYF Board, the presentation of CJYF grants to participants, a presentation to Shelly, and a keynote address and performance by world renowned mentalist Marc Salem.
Salem has been a student of the human mind for over 30 years. As an academic he holds advanced degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and New York University, and has been on the faculty of several major universities for nearly two decades. He is considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on non-verbal communication. How the mind creates reality and meaning has been his major focus. As a researcher Professor Salem has traveled the globe exploring the mind and its potential. He was a director of research at Sesame Street studying the development and nature of the mental process.
As an entertainer Marc has performed around the world, astounding and entertaining millions. His show MIND GAMES concluded two extended runs on BROADWAY to both critical and popular acclaim. He has been featured on the The O’Reilly Factor, Montel, Maury, CNN, and has been a frequent guest on Regis. He is a regular guest on Court TV, and was also recently profiled on an astounding 60 Minutes by Mike Wallace. Salem (born Moshe Botwinick) has been tuning in since he was a yeshiva bocher, the son of an Orthodox rabbi who led a Conservative synagogue in Philadelphia. He says he always knew where the afikomen was hidden on Passover and the contents of Chanukah gifts before he unwrapped them.
The annual meeting is free and open to the public. While there is no cost to attend, reservations are requested by call 614-338-2365 or via e-mail at phil@tcjf.org. The mission of the COLUMBUS JEWISH YOUTH FOUNDATION is to positively affect the lives of those in need throughout the Columbus Jewish community and beyond through an experiential approach to philanthropy. It is supported in part by the Columbus Jewish Foundation and the Jewish Teen Funders Network (NY).
Marc Salem’s visit to Columbus is co-sponsored by the Columbus Jewish Youth Foundation and JET: Jewish Experience for Teens.
|
| |
|
Email This Printable Version |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
