Priya: financial and emotional support for Growing Jewish Families in the KC metro

Priya: Growing Jewish Families continues to be a resource to Jewish individuals and families who are struggling on their path to parenthood. Priya offers emotional support, resource connection, spiritual guidance and financial assistance with fertility treatments and/or adoption.

The Priya Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City was established in July 2015 to support local Jewish couples on their fertility and adoption journeys. Priya currently has funding available to assist families who wish for support. 

Priya is pleased to announce Dr. Evelina Swartzman, a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, will be the guest speaker at the March 10 quarterly Bloom meeting. The evening of learning and conversation will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at JFS’ Brookside East location (425 E. 63rd Street, Kansas City).

Dr. Swartzman will lead a discussion on “Our Illusive Fertility: What every woman should know before, during and after conception.” Her presentation will cover facts behind how a woman’s body functions optimally, what is considered “normal,” and will address the not-so-obvious signs of when to worry. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.

Priya also helps to connect people with other services including counseling, outside support groups and peer mentorship opportunities. Priya’s quarterly Bloom meetings are open to anyone touched by infertility or adoption. Spouses and partners are welcome. People of all religious and spiritual backgrounds are invited and encouraged to attend.

Funds are currently available to support people at any stage of their journey growing a family. The Kansas City Priya Fund, supported by the generosity of many local funders, resides at The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City. It provides financial assistance for both medical reproductive efforts and adoption.

“The average cost of adoption or in-vitro fertilization can be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Even middle-class families need assistance with adoption or some of these procedures. We’re simply here to help, and ensure a strong future for our Jewish community,” said Annie Glickman, director of Priya: Growing Jewish Families.

Over 120 donors donated to the Giving Tuesday fundraising campaign, investing in the future of Jewish life. Priya: Growing Jewish Families is a community initiative in partnership with Jewish Family Services. Since the Fund’s inception in 2015, 15 babies have joined the Kansas City Jewish community, 21 families have received direct assistance and over 250 people have participated in programming. It is generously supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, The Community Legacy Fund, J-LEAD, Menorah Women’s Foundation, the Flo Harris Foundation of the Jewish Community Foundation, the Polsky Family Foundation and many individual donors.

Priya currently has funding available to assist families who wish for support. For more information about financial assistance or support services, visit priyakc.org or contact Porsche Elkins, Priya family consultant at JFS at 913-730-1474 or . You can also keep up with Priya and learn more about fertility, adoption and upcoming events by liking the Priya Facebook page at facebook.com/priyafund/.