At the 2008 Summit in Washington, D.C., last night, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life announced a $10.7 million grant from The Jim Joseph Foundation to expand the Experiential Educator Exemplar (E³) Program and to support the Campus Entrepreneurs Initiative.

This is the largest single grant in Hillel’s history.

“This generation of students, the Millennials, learn through their hands, their hearts and their minds,” says Hillel President Wayne L. Firestone. “By providing them with immersive experiences in which they are exposed to Jewish history and tradition, such as Taglit-Birthright Israel and social justice alternative breaks, they are beginning Jewish journeys that will continue back on campus with E³ educators and CEI students.”

“We are pleased to partner with Hillel in doubling the number of Jewish students who are involved in Jewish life and who have meaningful Jewish experiences,” explains Al Levitt, President of the Jim Joseph Foundation.

The grant allows Hillel to continue its Campus Entrepreneurs Initiative, college students who engage peers to involve them in Jewish life, and to expand its Experiential Educator Exemplar (E³) program to ten campuses. The E³ Program places highly-trained Jewish educators on campuses to offer in-depth Jewish educational content to students.

The Initiative, now in its second year, engages over 7,000 students with Hillel projecting that the Foundation grant will enable it to engage an additional 30,000 students in the next five years. The grant also enables Hillel to provide significant follow through with students who participate in the Taglit-Birthright Israel program.