Eight months of consensus building, research, exploring social justice issues, learning about the nonprofit world and fundraising culminated with more than $18,000 in total grants awarded to four Houston nonprofits. The Anti-Defamation League Southwest, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, Israeli-American Council Houston and Houston Hillel received grants supporting programs that focus on combatting antisemitism and providing Israel education.
“This year, our decision was simple,” said Teagan Fingeret, member of the JTPI alumni cohort. “Following the attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, we as Jewish teens watched as our friends and family faced violence across the sea. When given the choice on how we wanted to impact our community through JTPI, we knew we had to act on the hardships our community has been experiencing.”
Jenny Abbott, education and tour specialist in the Interfaith Relations and Community Partnerships department at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, represented IM at the ceremony.
“With the generous grant provided by the J-Teen Philanthropy Initiative, we intend to grow our tour program,” Abbott said. “We now have the option to add a tour comparing movements within Judaism, exploring Judaism in its many forms of practice. In each of our tours to synagogues, we can add specific information to decrease antisemitism and ways to be an ally to the Jewish community.”
Thirty-two teens from eight high schools participated in JTPI for the 2023-2024 school year.
“JTPI is an organization grounded with Jewish values. Hope, lovingkindness, justice and preservation fuel our work while reinforcing the motivation to reach our goal,” said Daniel Gordon, a third-year JTPI member. “I am so proud to be part of such a hardworking and exceptional group of teenagers.”
To learn more about the J-Teen Philanthropy Initiative, go to erjcchous
ton.org/teen or contact Barrie Skalsky at [email protected].
