Celebrating 18 years of teen philanthropy at the B’nai Tzedek Shuk
Young philanthropists learn about communal agencies at the Jewish Community Foundation’s annual B’nai Tzedek Shuk.On Thursday, Feb. 28, several dozen teens, parents and grandparents gathered for the Jewish Community Foundation’s 13th annual B’nai Tzedek Shuk. The B’nai Tzedek program introduces Bar and Bat Mitzvah-age youth to the joys of tzedakah by offering them their own personal charitable giving accounts at the Foundation. Once a year, fund holders may grant 10 percent of their funds to a Jewish charity, either locally or in Israel. The B’nai Tzedek Shuk is the Foundation’s yearly philanthropy fair where fundholders have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives from Jewish nonprofits and learn about the needs of the community before making their annual grants.Attendees enjoyed refreshments and a social reception before participating in an interactive and educational trivia game about the B’nai Tzedek program. A lucky Shuk attendee without a B’nai Tzedek Fund won the opportunity to open a fund for free.The theme of this year’s event was “Chai Hopes,” a nod to the program’s 18th year of empowering teens to make a difference in the community. Since B’nai Tzedek’s inception in 2001, more than 550 teens have opened funds and more than $260,000 has been donated to Jewish nonprofits. In a recent survey of B’nai Tzedek participants and their parents, 90 percent of teen respondents indicated that they had learned about charities they had not previously known and 84 percent of parents reported that the program helped develop their child’s philanthropic interests.The Shuk was planned by the B’nai Tzedek Youth Council, a cadre of 18 high school students, with support from Beatrice Fine, director of Funder Services and Education of the Jewish Community Foundation. The event was generously underwritten by the Sam and Lucy Gould JCF Program Fund.“The B’nai Tzedek Shuk is an amazing way for teens to give back to their community from an early age,” said Anna Clauer, B’nai Tzedek Youth Council member. “B’nai Tzedek focuses on giving tzedakah, and it encourages teens to donate to causes and organizations that they want to support. The Shuk is a fun and educational way for teens to give back each year.”More than $3,500 was donated to charity by young fund holders at the Shuk. For more information about the B’nai Tzedek program, contact Beatrice Fine at 913-327-4618 or .
