More than 600 people were in attendance as the Jewish Community Youth Foundation celebrated its 10-year anniversary at its annual philanthropy fair and check presentation ceremony on March 3 at High School South. A total of $72,000 was distributed to 29 programs by 162 area teens representing 12 middle schools, 21 high schools, and 17 synagogues.
JCYF is a teen philanthropy program administered by Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County, the Ricky and Andrew J. Shechtel Philanthropic Fund, and the Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks.
Students from West Windsor and Plainsboro include Emily Calman, Leah Dworsky, Mallory Friedlander, Isabel Josephson, Katrina Meni, Michael Mitgang, Jess Sabin, Griffin Valentine, Jenna Valentine, Philippa Chown, Chloe Heller, Laura Wolfe, Michael Greenberger, Sam Merkovitz, Jack Paley, Kenneth Pepper, Julia Redavid, Allyson Samet, Ethan Schweitzer, Emily Strober, Abby Wold, Lindsay Chevlin, Ben Litwin, Alli Bacher, Jenna Bailin, Allison Cohen, Rachel Goldfinger, Noah Wolfe.
Also Zachary Bacall, Lucian Chown, Kyle Jacobson, Grant Keller, Brett Schenkman, Andrew Bortnick, Ben Chevlin, Daniel Greenfield, Matthew Wold, Samantha Cirkus, Sophie Davis, Allison Fleming, Emma Fleming, Bethany Harris, Matthew Lichtenstein, Brian Alba, Jake Armus, Carly Bloom, Sarah Derman, Sloane Garelick, Courtney Laermer, Ben Meshumar, Michael Miller, Samantha Paley, Dustin Tabor, Drew Weinberger, Maxwell Weiss, Stefanie Wisotsky, Elianna Wydra, Michelle Heker, and Jacqueline Litwin.
Alison Berg of Princeton Junction, a 2010 JCYF graduate, received the third annual JCYF Distinguished Alumni Award for her commitment to the Jewish community and her participation in many philanthropic and community service activities.
A junior at the University of Michigan double majoring in political science and communications, Berg graduated from High School North in 2010. She has lived in West Windsor close to 14 years.
At Michigan Berg is the director of philanthropy and service for her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha. She is responsible for two major fundraising events per year for breast cancer education and awareness (a 5k Pink Ribbon Run and a “Pinknic”) in addition to other events raising awareness rather than money.
Berg also provides the chapter with various service opportunities including making Valentine’s Day packages for cancer patients, hosting a senior prom at nursing homes, helping Girl Scout’s complete badges, and helping clean up public campus areas.
She also participated in an alternative spring break program to Nicaragua to help establish sustainable agricultural practices. Berg created a video advertisement for the Huron Valley Humane Society’s major fundraiser event and participated in Habitat for Humanity projects in Michigan. She recently visited Israel through Birthright.
Berg’s $360 award was donated to sponsor fellow JCYF alumna Erica Borsack of West Windsor as she participates in the NYC Aquaphor Triathlon for Team OneFamily. The organization helps victims of terrorist attacks in Israel rebuild their lives.
“The Jewish Community Youth Foundation was the best high school experience that I had and has lasted me long past graduation,” Berg says. “My experiences and the steps I have taken to continue my involvement in the community have shaped my career path to nonprofit management.”
Since the inception of the program 10 years ago, 357 JCYF participants have donated $463,745 to 53 Jewish programs. “The money was originally donated by the group of students involved in the JCYF program,” says Berg. “Each student donated a certain amount of their own money — earned from babysitting, doing chores, and bar and bat mitzvah gifts.” The Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks and the Andrew J. Shechtel Philanthropic Fund match each dollar, tripling the pool of money.
