Melbourne, Austrailia – August 27, 2012 – More than 50 young Jewish social entrepreneurs, thought leaders and community activists from Melbourne and Sydney gathered Sunday at the first Australian Gathering for Young Jewish Leaders, for a day of intense networking and to begin important conversations leading to the interactive and engaging exploration of existing and potential pathways into Jewish life. The Gathering was a joint initiative of the Australian Jewish Funders (AJF) and the ROI Community.

The gathering also saw the launch of “Dave Grants” – a fund which will support collaborative projects that have a fresh and dynamic approach to Jewish community-building. It honors the memory of Dave Burnett, an outstanding young Australian Jewish leader and ROI Community member, who died in a tragic accident in 2008. Burnett, whose parents and sister were on hand for the announcement, demonstrated an enduring commitment to the Jewish community and to inspiring those around him to make a difference in the world. He led the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) and was an elected leader in student politics at Sydney University.

“Dave personified all that a community might look for in a young leader and everything a person might look for in a friend,” said Sandy Cardin, President of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Philanthropic Network. “Dave’s passion for Jewish life inspired this fund, which will support collaborations between young Jewish social entrepreneurs in Australia. In order to engage more young Jews in the community, we need to embrace new and innovative approaches, and we believe that the grants will empower these young activists to create change for themselves and for the broader Jewish community.”

“Dave Grants” is supported by AJF Chair Debbie Dadon and her husband Albert and the ROI Community.