SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – Tarbuton has been named one of North America’s top 82 innovative Jewish organizations in the tenth annual Slingshot Guide. The Guide has become a go-to resource for volunteers, activists and donors looking for new opportunities and projects that, through their innovative nature, will ensure the Jewish community remains relevant and thriving. Slingshot 2014-15 was released today.
Selected from among hundreds of finalists reviewed by 112 professionals with expertise in grant-making and Jewish communal life, the Guide recognized the Tarbuton for being “at the center of immense Jewish experimentation, creativity and collaboration that is happening in San Diego.” Organizations included in this year’s Guide were evaluated on their innovative approach, the impact they have in their work, the leadership they have in their sector, and their effectiveness at achieving results. “This is our second year in the Guide, and we’re honored to be recognized again for our innovative cultural approach to Jewish life for American Jews and Israelis in San Diego.” said Jennie Starr, Director.
The Tarbuton was recognized for creating new entry-points to the Jewish community for local Jews & Israelis through Israeli cultural, non-denominational youth and adult Jewish programs. The Tarbuton, a San Diego Jewish Startup, founded in 2006, an independent 501c3, reaches over 1,500 households, 200-300 engaging in Israeli Cultural programming weekly or bimonthly programs. Over 110 children study in Tarbuton after school and Sunday programming. Bringing the Jewish community together through collaboration, the Tarbuton offers its programs in Carlsbad with JCoSD, in Del Mar with the Ken Jewish Community, and in Del Cerro at Temple Emanu-El. Bringing Israeli culture and Modern Hebrew to the general public, Modern Hebrew classes are offered in public schools in the Del Mar and Solana Beach school districts and Modern Hebrew story times in public libraries in Del Mar and Encinitas.
The Tarbuton provides Adult programming in collaboration with the Israeli House in Los Angeles, bringing Israeli plays and speakers to San Diego. The Jewish Federation of San Diego awarded Tarbuton a NextGen grant for 2014 – 2015 to collaborate with other area Jewish organizations in order to create exciting programming aimed at young adults.
Will Schneider, Executive Director of Slingshot, which publishes the Guide each year, added that “Slingshot is all about inspiring Jews to get involved in the Jewish community. After ten years the book remains relevant because it is a megaphone for exciting and meaningful projects. The target reader of the guide is not involved in Jewish life, in part because they had no idea there were new meaningful Jewish projects springing up all around them. Organizations in Slingshot often receive added press and funding from those who read about them, but the deepest impact is on our readers who dog-ear and highlight their copy of Slingshot, excited about the potential of the Jewish community. This tenth year of the Guide was more competitive than every year before, and the final product features the largest number of projects doing the widest variety of work.”
Being listed in the Guide is often a critical step for selected organizations to attain much needed additional funding and to expand the reach of their work. Selected organizations are eligible for grants from the Slingshot Fund, a peer-giving network of young donors with an eye for identifying, highlighting and advancing causes that resonate the most with the next generation of philanthropists. Furthermore, the Guide is a frequently used resource for donors seeking to support organizations transforming the world in novel and interesting ways.
The Tarbuton received a three-year challenge grant of up to $154,000 from the Leichtag Foundation to further its work to enrich Jewish life through Israeli culture.
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Preceding provided by Tarbuton, which may be contacted for more information viahttp://www.tarbuton.org