Jewish Community Partners

Hope and excitement were in the air as Carolyn Schrier, B’nai Tzedek Coordinator, welcomed attendees to the 2024 B’nai Tzedek Grant Reception, held in early May. “We are here tonight to celebrate Jewish teen philanthropy in Memphis,” Schrier began, setting the tone for an evening dedicated to honoring the commitment and hard work of the 24 teens that participated in this year’s grant cycle.

The event marked the culmination of months of dedicated effort by teens in the Jewish Foundation of Memphis B’nai Tzedek teen philanthropy program. Beyond the joy of awarding grants, the reception provided an opportunity to reflect on the journey that led to this moment. Laura Kaplan, Vice President of Finance and Operations for Jewish Community Partners, and one of the program’s founding members, shared her experiences and insights with the audience.

Kaplan said, “As one of the first participants of B’nai Tzedek in Memphis, it gives me so much joy to see these teens making the commitment to learn about our local agencies and the power of giving. I know we can expect great things from these young leaders, and they give our Memphis Jewish community hope for the generations to come.”

The heart of the program lies in its grant-making process, where teens are empowered to make impactful decisions about how to allocate funds within the community. Schrier shared insights into the teens’ rigorous process, from reviewing grant applications to conducting interviews with potential recipients.

During the reception, the teens had the pleasure of presenting checks to the agencies selected to receive grants and were excited to explain the impact of the programs being funded.

This year, as a group, the teens made 13 grants to nine unique agencies. To date, program participants have also donated $3,700 from their individual funds across 20 organizations.

Participant Shoshanah Kaplowitz reflected on her time with B’nai Tzedek, saying. “I have always loved being a part of a group where I could meet all types of Jewish teens who have the same goals of helping and improving the Jewish community through chesed. Being an active member of B’nai Tzedek has improved both my leadership and decision-making skills.”

For more information on the Jewish Foundation of Memphis B’nai Tzedek teen philanthropy program, contact Carolyn Schrier at cschrier@jcpmemphis.org or call 901-374-0400.