The Samuel Bronfman Foundation Second Stage Growth Fund 

Deadline:  Letter of Inquiry Required by May 17, 2012 

Description:  Supports post start-up organizations that seek to foster strong Jewish identities. Bronfman grants give priority to organizations and projects that create meaningful            engagement, empower youth and young adults, support pluralistic communities and create unity. Organizations may apply for up to $100,000.

Eligibility:  Organizations or programs within organizations that are at least six years old and have annual operating budgets of less than $5 million; that serve one of the core principals of The      Samuel Bronfman Foundation; and hold a 501c(3) status.

Contact:  Please visit the website below for details concerning the Letter of Inquiry.                            http://tinyurl.com/6w6kfsf 
Email:  grants@thesbf.org

_____________________________________________________________________________
Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation Children's Health and Wellness and Literacy Programs

Deadline:  Grant requests will be accepted on a rolling basis from March until August 31, 2012. 

Description:  Supports individual projects and organizations that address education, literacy, health and wellness. Priority given to projects near a Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Eligibility:  Nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canada programs that provide direct support for children and families in the areas of health and wellness, literacy or education.

Contact:  http://tinyurl.com/6jhx3fa
Email:  giving@buildabear.com

______________________________________________________________________________
Newman's Own Recognizing Unique Opportunities to Improve Quality of Life for Military Families

Deadline:  May 1, 2012 

Description:  Supports organizations and projects that directly support military families. Priority will be given to volunteer-based projects and organizations with innovative ideas for how to                       best serve military families in dynamic ways. Grant awards up to $25,000.

Eligibility:  Nonprofit organizations that support the lives of military families.

Contact:  http://tinyurl.com/6av9y6l 
Email:  vreeping@fisherhouse.org

______________________________________________________________________________
State Farm Youth Advisory Board Service-Learning Grants

Deadline:  May 4, 2012 

Description:  Supports organizations and projects that address the root cause of lack of access to higher education, closing the achievement gap, financial literacy, community safety and                        natural disaster preparedness, social health and wellness, and environmental responsibility.

Eligibility:  Public and Charter K-12 schools and non-profit organizations in the U.S. or Canadian provinces of Alberta, New Brunswick, or Ontario that demonstrate innovative ways to address one
of the primary goals listed in the grant description. Private schools themselves are not eligible for funding but may collaborate with and engage a K-12 public school that agrees to apply for the YAB grant opportunity with support from the private school.

Contact:  http://tinyurl.com/3r8p22v

Senate Reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
On Thursday, April 26th, the Senate passed the reauthorization of VAWA by a vote of 68-31. This reauthorized version includes needed improvements in the law that provides federal law enforcement agencies the tools and authority to combat crimes against women. Since the first enactment of VAWA in 1994, instances of violence against women have decreased 53 percent. Now the House of Representatives must pass VAWA for it to become law.  

We can expect to see partisan disagreement in the House and we will keep you informed as this bill makes its way through the legislative process. If you have any questions, please contact Shelley Rood. For link to the full article, click here.

Lee Sherman, AJFCA CEO and Lori Weinstein, Executive Director of Jewish Women International, co-authored an op-ed, in early March, highlighting the issue of domestic violence in the Jewish community and calling for advocacy for continuation of the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

In recognition of JFS Delaware's excellent work in domestic violence prevention, Vice President Biden invited JFS Delaware to the White House on April 18th for a panel discussion on the Violence Against Women Act and a private lunch with the Vice President. Attending with Dory Zatuchni, CEO, was Scott Michels, Director of Youth Development, Brahmin Jackson, Media Matters intern and case manager, and Tre Bracey, Media Matters intern. We are so proud of Dory and her team for representing JFS at the highest level of government. Please read Dory's detailed account of the day, including a description of the briefing and private lunch.  

Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Celebration Act passes House of Representatives

On April 16th, the United States Congress moved one step closer to bestowing the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal upon Raoul Wallenberg for his heroic mission to save the lives of nearly 100,000 Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust. Thank you for your strong support of this initiative.

The House of Representatives, due in part to your efforts to secure the cosponsorship of more than 300 representatives, unanimously approved the Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Celebration Act (H.R. 3001).  With its passage in the House, the bill moves on to the Senate, which must pass either the House bill or an identical Senate bill (S. 1591) to bestow upon Wallenberg the Congressional Gold Medal.

Through passage of this legislation, Congress can honor a true humanitarian for the sake of his family and the thousands of survivors who he saved.  This is especially timely as we commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day today. We ask for your assistance in thanking your Representative for their support for this effort, as well as securing the support of your Senators to cosponsor this legislation. 

Action Steps

Thank Your Representative

1. Enter your zip code on the top right of the following website to locate the name and phone number of    your Representative: http://www.house.gov. 

2. Please call their office and:

• Thank them for voting for H.R. 3001, the Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Celebration Act.
• Urge them to work with their colleagues in the United States Senate to pass either H.R. 3001 or S. 1591 and complete the process of bestowing upon Raoul Wallenberg the Congressional Gold Medal. 

Contact Your Senators

3. Please visit the following website and select your state from the "Find Your Senators" dropdown menu on the top right to find the names and phone numbers of your senators: http://www.senate.gov.

4. Check the following website, listing current cosponsors of this legislation, to see if your senators are cosponsors: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:S.1591:@@@N 

5. If your senators are already cosponsors, please call their offices and:

• Thank them for cosponsoring S. 1591, the Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Celebration Act.
• Urge them to contact Sen. Tim Johnson, Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, and request that S. 1591 or H.R. 3001 be considered by the Committee as soon as possible.

6. If your senators are not yet cosponsors, please call their offices and express the following:

• As your constituent, I urge you to cosponsor S. 1591, the Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Celebration Act.
• Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat in Nazi-occupied Hungary, is recognized as a hero of the Holocaust for his extensive and successful mission to save the lives of nearly 100,000 Hungarian Jews.
• He is one of the truly inspiring figures of the 20th Century, and many prominent Americans Jews, including the late Congressman Tom Lantos and his wife Annette, credit their survival to his heroic actions.
• Please cosponsor this legislation, which would bestow upon him the Congressional Gold Medal this year, the 100th anniversary of his birth.
• To cosponsor this bill, please contact Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at 202-224-6542. Thank you so much for your support! 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Shelley Rood.

HHS Announces the Administration for Community Living

Recently, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the creation of a new agency, the Administration for Community Living (ACL). The ACL will combine the efforts of the Administration on Aging, the Office on Disability and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities into one agency, with enhanced policy and program support for cross-cutting initiatives focused on the unique needs of particular groups such as children or adults with developmental or physical disabilities, or seniors, including seniors with Alzheimer's. Kathy Greenlee, the Assistant Secretary for Aging, who has met with family service agencies and federations on numerous occasions, will lead the newly formed organization and serve as its Administrator.

The Administration for Community Living announced:

"All Americans - including people with disabilities and seniors - should be able to live at home with the supports they need, participating in communities that value their contributions. To help meet these needs, HHS is creating a new organization, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) with the goal of increasing access to community supports and full participation, while focusing attention and resources on the unique needs of older Americans and people with disabilities."

More information can be found at the Administration for Community Living.  AJFCA will monitor this development, including the reactions coming from the disabilities and aging communities and Congressional leaders, and keep you apprised of how this will affect local programs.  As you may know, AJFCA has excellent working relationships with leaders of these agencies and our voice remains vital as ever.  Please contact Shelley Rood if you have questions.