FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RAMAH CAMPING MOVEMENT AND RUDERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
ANNOUNCE VIDEO CONTEST TO PROMOTE
INCLUSION OF CAMPERS WITH DISABILITIES

New York, NY (September 9, 2014)--The Ramah Camping Movement and the Ruderman Family Foundation are happy to announce "TIPTOE (The Inclusion Project: Through Our Eyes)," an inclusion-themed video contest for participants from all Jewish camps. The goal of TIPTOE is to increase awareness of the inclusion work happening at Jewish camps across North America.

"Who better to experience a truly inclusive camping experience than campers at Jewish camps across North America? For them, the inclusion of children with disabilities at their camps has become second nature," said Jay Ruderman, President of the Ruderman Family Foundation. "The TIPTOE contest is a great way for these campers to show the entire Jewish community how inclusion works at their camp and thereby encourage all camps in our community to become inclusive for all our children."

Campers and college-aged staff members who participated in a North American Jewish summer camp program in 2014 are eligible to submit 30- to 90-second videos that show their view of inclusion of children with disabilities in their Jewish camp. As an incentive, the first place prize includes $1,000 to the participant and a $1,750 donation to the winner's camp's inclusion program.

According to Rabbi Mitchell Cohen, National Ramah Director, "We hope that the TIPTOE contest will motivate campers and young adult staff members--our future Jewish leaders--to reflect on the value of inclusion and to spread the word about the inspirational inclusion work taking place at so many Jewish camps. Our partner, the Ruderman Family Foundation, is a generous supporter of the National Ramah Tikvah Network of programs for campers with disabilities. In addition, our partners at the Foundation for Jewish Camp and numerous camps across North America will help to publicize the contest."

Contest submissions are due by November 14, 2014. Additional details about the TIPTOE contest are available on the contest website, www.tiptoe2014.org, and at #TIPTOE2014.

TIPTOE is a partnership between the Ruderman Family Foundation and the National Ramah Tikvah Network of programs for campers with disabilities.

About the Ramah Camping Movement and the National Ramah Tikvah Network

Ramah is the camping arm of Conservative Judaism. Together, our programs provide Ramah experiences for 10,000 children, teens, and young adults annually.

The Ramah Camping Movement is a pioneer in the field of inclusion for Jewish campers with a wide range of disabilities. Tikvah, Breira B'Ramah, and Camp Yofi comprise the National Ramah Tikvah Network of programs. Since the first Ramah Tikvah program opened in 1970, a variety of programs for campers with disabilities -- overnight and day camp programs, vocational education programs, and family camps -- now operate in nine Ramah camps across North America. Regardless of their geographic location, families are directed to the regional Ramah camp that best suits their child's needs.

The National Ramah Commission of The Jewish Theological Seminary provides oversight, educational planning, and coordination on behalf of the network of Ramah camps throughout North America and Ramah Programs in Israel.

For more information, visit www.campramah.org.

About the Ruderman Family Foundation

The Ruderman Family Foundation believes that inclusion and understanding of all people is essential to a fair and flourishing community.

Guided by our Jewish values, we support effective programs, innovative partnerships and a dynamic approach to philanthropy in our core areas of interest: advocating for and advancing the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout the Jewish community; fostering a more nuanced understanding of the American Jewish community among Israeli leaders; and modeling the practice of strategic philanthropy worldwide.

The Foundation provides funding, leadership, expertise and insight in both the U.S. and Israel, with offices in both countries.

For more information, please visit www.rudermanfoundation.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Nancy Scheff, Director of Communications

National Ramah Commission, Inc. of The Jewish Theological Seminary

Email: nancy@campramah.org

Phone: (212) 678-8881

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