J.Team's blog

I joined the J.Team because of the direct impact we can make as a group. We personally meet with organizations and create connections with the people running them directly, which gives a really clear and accurate sense of where our money is going and who it is helping.

I think that the current J.Team group is extremely diverse, with inevitably different views on philanthropy. Although our values and beliefs are so diverse, we can use this to our own advantage to open each other's eyes with new ideas.

I joined J.Team in its first year. I heard about this program from a family member of mine and decided to get involved. I became interested in the program through the overall concept of philanthropy and working to give to back to the community for a greater cause. I have been in this group for over 2 years and I think that this group is very dynamic. We are able to communicate our ideas and are able to agree to disagree. I have been very impressed with our group so far and I am excited to see how our final decisions turn out.

I'm a part of J.Team because I think it's incredibly interesting to learn about how different non-profits give back to the less fortunate. It's wonderful that teenagers in the Jewish Community get to have a say in where the money goes. Every time we visit a various charity I become more educated about what they're working towards.

This month J.Team met at Treehouse, which is an amazing non-profit that offers foster kids a happier and healthier life. From visiting them, we really could understand the dedication of the staff. Their commitment to helping foster kids was demonstrated by the beautiful store in the basement and the presentation given to us. Rabbi Weiner came to talk to us while we were at Treehouse and through his enthusiastic games and interactive lessons we were able to rank important factors that go into choosing non-profits.

I decided to join J.Team because I heard about it from a friend who was very enthusiastic and spoke highly of the program. I became interested in the overall concept, that a group of Jewish teens could learn about nonprofit organizations and have an opportunity to donate money to them. So far, I have been very impressed in the group and am very happy to be part of the experience. While visiting the Kline Galland Home, we met with Administrator David Brumer.

I have been a part of J.Team for two years and I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in this organization. I wanted to join because everyone in my family is a philanthropist and I thought it would be great for me to give back to the community as well.

I joined J.Team last year because my mother worked for Federation and told me that I should. Shortly after I joined, I realized that this extra curricular was so much more than that. I came to that conclusion after seeing many great non-profit organizations and the magnitude of help that they can provide. Out of all of the organizations that I have learned about these past two years, Fare Start is certainly one of the most impressive. Not only is Fare Start innovative, but its also effective.

I’ve always been exposed to tzedakah; I went to a Jewish day school for several years and my parents often included me in discussions about where their donations would go. I decided to join J-Team at the beginning of this school year so I could make my own impact, separate from my parents. Last Sunday, we visited Treehouse, an organization that allows foster kids to live normal, happy lives by providing support for academic, emotional, and material well-being.

Kline Galland Home, the most well known Jewish-nursing homes in the area is home to the hospice program, pretty much the central topic discussed at our visit. On a personal level I do believe that this program is extremely meaningful to so many people allowing the elderly Jews a place to stay, be cared for, and still have that core Jewish foundations.