|
Cornerstone Awards
Low-income community organizations, though often ignored by a society that glorifies political and economic power, are the cornerstones of building a better America. Young Jews who are inspired by Jewish tradition or teaching to become leaders at these organizations, are the cornerstones of building a better Jewish community.
The Jewish Funds for Justice created the Cornerstone Awards to honor these men and women as Jewish leaders and to support the work of their organizations.
In 2008, the Jewish Funds for Justice will present four $10,000 awards to young Jews who exemplify strong Jewish leadership and values in the progressive nonprofit and organizing communities.
Twenty-five percent of each $10,000 Cornerstone Award will go toward the winner's professional development; seventy-five percent will be granted to the winner's organization for general support.
2008 Cornerstone Awards Eligibility Requirements:
- Be a self-identified Jew
- Be age 40 or younger by May 29, 2008
- Be able to attend the Cornerstone Awards ceremony on May 29, 2008
- Professional and organizational work not predominantly connected to a Jewish community or constituency
- Live and work in the United States
- Work for a domestic nonprofit or advocacy organization that serves low-income communities
Not eligible:
- Individuals working for organizations with a constituency that is primarily and intentionally Jewish including, but not limited to: synagogues, Jewish federations, denominational movements, Jewish schools, and institutions
- Individuals whose work is primarily the provision of social services
- Students, researchers, and academics who do not work full-time for domestic nonprofit or advocacy organizations that serve low-income communities
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Cornerstone Awards Application
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Application Process:
Enter your contact information to the right (click sign now) to receive an application.
All parts of the application must be completed and received by January 15, 2008.
|
Campaign Launched:
November 16, 2007
|
Low-income community organizations, though often ignored by a society that glorifies political and economic power, are the cornerstones of building a better America. Young Jews who are inspired by Jewish tradition or teaching to become leaders at these organizations, are the cornerstones of building a better Jewish community.
The Jewish Funds for Justice created the Cornerstone Awards to honor these men and women as Jewish leaders and to support the work of their organizations.
Too often these leaders are only recognized and embraced as Jews in retrospect. Yet while their connection to the Jewish community varied, as did the particular source of the motivation, men and women like Saul Alinsky, Betty Friedan, Lillian Wald, and Henry Moscowitz were Jewish leaders.
Today young leaders, cut from a similar mold, are making a difference in our country. They are organizing for health care access in immigrant communities, prosecuting exploitative employers on behalf of low-income workers, registering people to vote in communities of color, building interfaith coalitions to pass a living wage law.
For 20 years, the Jewish Funds for Justice has supported many of the organizations engaged in this work. Through the Cornerstone Awards, we honor some of the Jews whose passion and talents has helped these groups succeed.
Last year's Cornerstone Award Winners were:
Lawrence S. Levine Award: Andrew David Friedman, Make the Road by Walking, Brooklyn, NY
Ruth P. Usher Award: Julie Iny, Oakland Kids First, Oakland, CA
Valerie White Award: Elana Zoe Karopkin, Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice, Brooklyn, NY
Sally Kohn Award: David M. Lubell, Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, Nashville, TN
For more information on last year's winners, click here.
|
