Last year I was lucky enough to participate in a program called the East Bay Jewish Community Teen Foundation. This year, I’ve come back to the program with hopes of learning more about the philanthropy and leadership skills that it teaches, and with the intent to become more involved with the world around me. This is a unique opportunity, and I am excited to embark on this journey, and I’m asking today if you will help me and the teen foundation, as well as all those who benefit by making a contribution to the mission of the EBJCTF. The EBJCTF consists of 23 high school aged students committed to learning about justice, tzedakah, from a jewish perspective. With each other’s support and the knowledge of generations before us, we gain skills that will benefit us for the rest of our lives. Throughout the year we learn how to research organizations, run our own foundation, send out Requests for Proposals to nonprofits, evaluate grant proposals and organizations, and reach consensus through group discussions. This year our fundraising goal for the board is $40,000, which includes a matching $5,000 grand from the Jewish Federation. My personal goal is to raise $1,700, and I hope you will assist me. There are so many ways to help rehabilitate people in violent areas, that any donation would be immensely helpful. I know that the current economic situation is not ideal, but as Anne Frank put it, “No one has ever become poor by giving.” Now more than ever, tzedakah is necessary, and I hope you will take me up on this opportunity to give.

The Zimbabwe Peace Project says more than 16,000 cases of politically motivated murder, torture, rape, assault and other abuses were committed in Zimbabwe in the first half of this year alone.

It is the mission of the EBJCTF of 2011 to fund organizations that provide rehabilitation to people affected by violent conflict in Africa and Israel through medical care, psychological services, and educational opportunities that promote self-sufficiency.