New York, March 4, 2013 – The Jewish Teen Funders Network (JTFN), a youth philanthropy project of the Jewish Funders Network, has awarded grants to 38 Jewish summer camps around North America.

As participants in the Camp Philanthropy Program, these camps, which cross all denominational lines, will receive $1,000 of funding and leadership training to develop high-quality teen philanthropy programs. Each of the 38 participating summer camps will create a Jewish teen foundation, in which campers work together as a “foundation board,” giving away real money to nonprofit organizations of their choosing. These programs empower and educate teens about effective philanthropy and Jewish values, and JTFN will work closely with grantees on program development and staff training.

Throughout the summer, participants will review grant proposals from nonprofit organizations, make site visits to potential grantees, and determine which organizations to support. As part of the process, these philanthropists-in-training will examine Jewish texts, traditions, and values related to giving. The program encourages campers to “learn by giving” and will generate at least $36,000 in grants, with each teen foundation awarding a minimum of $1,000 in grants.

In 2012, JTFN conducted a pilot camp program, partnering with 19 camps and engaging 626 campers. Generously supported by the Maimonides Fund, the Camp Philanthropy Program is part of JTFN’s broader work to build the field of Jewish teen philanthropy. Since 2003, more than 125 Jewish teen philanthropy programs have been created across North America in day schools, religious schools, synagogues, social service agencies, local Jewish Federations and Jewish community foundations.

Camp Philanthropy Program 2013 Participants:

Berkshire Hills Emanuel Camps, Copake, NY
B’nai B’rith Camp. Otis, OR
B’nai Brith Jewish Community Camp, Kenora, Ontario
Camp B’Yachad, Brooklyn, NY
Camp Gesher, Cloyne, Ontario
Camp JCA Shalom, Malibu, CA
Camp Kadimah, Barss Corner, Nova Scotia
Camp Kinneret-Biluim, Mont Tremblant, Quebec
Camp Laurelwood, Madison, CT
Camp Livingston, Bennington, IN
Camp Maas, Tamarack Camps, Ortonville, MI
Camp Massad of Canada, Agathe des Monts, Quebec
Camp Nageela, Fallsburg, NY
Camp Poyntelle Lewis Village, Poyntelle, PA
Camp Ramah In Wisconsin, Conover, WI
Camp Solomon Schechter, Olympia, WA
Camp Yavneh, Northwood, NH
Camp Young Judaea Midwest, Waupaca, WI
Capital Camps, Waynesboro, PA
Crane Lake Camp, West Stockbridge, MA
Eden Village Camp, Putnam Valley, NY
Eisner Camp, Great Barrington, MA
Genesis at Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Habonim Dror Camp Tavor, Three Rivers, MI
Herzl Camp, Webster, WI
JCC Camp Chi, Lake Delton, WI
JCC Lillian Schwartz Day Camp, Staten Island, NY
JCCGV Camp Shalom, Vancouver, British Columbia
Louisville JCC -Camp Tikkun Olam Repairing the World Louisville, KY
NJY Teen Camp, Milford, PA
Passport NYC at 92Y, New York, NY
Shwayder Camp (of Temple Emanuel), Idaho Springs, CO
URJ Camp Coleman, Cleveland, GA
URJ Camp Harlam, Kunkletown, PA
URJ Camp Kalsman, Arlington, WA
URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp, Utica, MS
URJ Kutz Camp, Warwick, NY
Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps, Gindling Hilltop Camp, Malibu, CA

JTFN also welcomes the following camps into the program, as they build on their years of pilot program experience:

Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, Wingdale, NY
Habonim Dror Camp Galil, Ottsville, PA
JCC Maccabi Camp Kingswood, Bridgton, ME
URJ Camp George, Parry Sound, Ontario
URJ Greene Family Camp, Bruceville, TX

You can learn more about at campphilanthropy.org.