Jewish Hospital HealthCare Services (JHHS), parent company and majority owner of Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare, has been committed to supporting the organization’s health care mission and to providing financial support to the Louisville Jewish community, which founded Jewish Hospital over a century ago and contributed to its development as a premier center dedicated to medical excellence.
To that end, the organization created the JHHS Louisville Jewish Community Excellence Grants program in February 2010 to function as a permanent funding source for local charitable organizations that develop programs focused on Jewish culture/identity, health, human services and education. The grants committee, which meets quarterly, has the primary goal of providing funds for capital projects. Grant requests for any amount may be submitted by qualified not-for-profit organizations, but the amount of funding awarded might differ from what is requested.
In 2011 alone, more than $268,000 has been awarded to honor long-term commitments, such as to the Jewish Community of Louisville’s (JCL) Federation Annual Campaign, Jewish Family & Career Services’ MOSAIC Awards, the Republic Bank Golf Tournament to benefit JFCS and the Jewish Community Center, public relations support to local Jewish community agencies, and funding for new and existing Jewish programs. .
Financial support has been awarded to a variety of programs. They include: the Alliance for Girls, Inc. for a community education program held in May; Chavurat Shalom, a program for seniors held at The Temple; and Congregation Adath Jeshurun, for “A Country Selichot,” Sushi in the Sukkah (co-sponsored with the JCL) and an in-kind contribution for a tribute video to honor Rabbi Robert Slosberg and Cantor David Lipp for their years of service to the congregation.
The High School of Jewish Studies received educational support, a much needed copier and partial funding to hire a Judaic Curriculum Coordinator; Hillel at the University of Louisville was able to update its office space to make its space more inviting for students; and the JCL’s Jewish Community Relations Committee was able to bring a traveling exhibit about Nazi persecution of homosexuals and others during the Holocaust from the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC to the University of Louisville; and the Jewish Community Center’s CenterStage productions received funding for their Acting Out traveling educational program for public school students.
The Jewish Community of Louisville benefited from excellence grants to support the purchase of computer materials for the Jewish Community newspaper; sponsorship of the Jewish Film Festival; and a Women’s Event with Mayim Bialik that was held in May. Keneseth Israel Congregation was able to bring Cities of Light, their first venture into Jewish theatrical performances in Louisville, and Jewish Family & Career Services received funding to allow staff members to attend an international professional conference; to offer a Parenting Workshop Series, for their REACH (Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregivers Health) program and to expand the Hanukkah Helpers Program.
The National Council of Jewish Women received one-year funding for its Jewish Resource Center at the JCC and for construction of a website for its Nearly New Shop. Temple Shalom received a 2010 grant to support its Klezmer Fest program that was held in May 2011; and The Temple received a donation in honor of Rabbi Chester Diamond’s 75th birthday.
“We are pleased to be able to announce the awarding of these grants,” said Debbie Friedman, co-chair of the JHHS Excellence Grants Committee. “They have helped to enhance Jewish educational and cultural opportunities and to improve health and wellness in the Jewish community. We are gratified that so many agencies have been able to use this funding to further their causes.”
Applications for JHHS Louisville Jewish Community Excellence Grants may be submitted year ‘round by local Jewish non-profit entities and will be reviewed quarterly on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, for consideration for the following quarter. Applications can be downloaded online at www.jhsmh.org or call (502) 587-4230 for more information.