Jewish Community Foundation Awards $3 million in COVID-19 Relief to 19 L.A. Groups

The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles (JCFLA) announced Dec. 21 it has awarded $3 million in grants to 19 organizations as part of the institution’s comprehensive COVID-19 relief efforts.

The distributions are part of the foundation’s effort to sustain local Jewish non-profits experiencing economic hardship because of the pandemic.

“The human suffering and economic toll on our communities – which we are closely monitoring locally, nationally and in Israel – are devastating,” Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Marvin I. Schotland said in a statement to the Journal. “As the pandemic rages on, those with the capacity to give must continue to step up. The Foundation and our 1,300 generous donor families remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the viability of programs and organizations as they navigate through these difficult times, including a precipitous decline in fundraising.”

The latest round of grants builds upon $2.5 million awarded this past July to 22 Los Angeles-area non-profits to address vital needs, including food and housing insecurity, financial assistance and access to health care.

To date, The Foundation has awarded $5.5 million in grants to 41 non-profits. The remaining dollars that are part of this second phase will be distributed in early 2021. The grants are all under the previously announced COVID-19 Response Grants initiative, where the Foundation directs $8.3 million of its 2020 institutional giving for pandemic response and relief. This amount, coupled with The Foundation’s institutional giving, brings grants committed for COVID-19 relief to nearly $14 million in total.

This amount, coupled with The Foundation’s institutional giving, brings grants committed for COVID-19 relief to nearly $14 million in total.

Of this $3 million, $1.5 million will be awarded to 16 current and former Foundation grant recipients including university Hillels, the Pico Union Project, Silverlake Independent Jewish Community Center, Builders of Jewish Education, Friendship Circle, JQ International,  Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles, The Miracle Project, Fuente Latina, 30 Years After, Honeymoon Israel and Moving Traditions.

One million will also be awarded to Jewish day schools and summer camps to help with tuition assistance and camp scholarships.

The remaining $500,000 will be distributed to organizations helping address critical needs in Israel. This includes unemployment, food insecurity, paramedical care and the welfare of at-risk youth. The grants will be made out to two organizations: the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and Latet.

Asher Gellis, executive director of LGBTQ Jewish non-profit JQ International shared how grateful he and the JQ community are for the Foundation’s investment.

“JQ International can meet the needs of our most vulnerable community members and provide life-affirming support services, educational outreach and training, and connection for LGBTQ+ Jews and allies during this challenging time,” Gellis said. “We extend our sincere thanks to The Foundation and all our supporters.”

Rabbi Michy Rav-Noy, executive director of the Friendship Circle of Los Angeles also shared his thanks.

“We are deeply honored and so grateful to be a COVID-19 Response Grants recipient,” Rav-Noy said. “The Foundation funds will help us meet the challenges ahead as we continue to provide ongoing support and vital programs to the Jewish special needs population we serve during the pandemic.”

Established in 1954, the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles manages charitable assets of more than $1.3 billion entrusted to it by more than 1,300 families and ranks among the 10 largest Los Angeles foundations. In 2019, The Foundation and its donors distributed $129 million in grants to 2,700 non-profits with programs that span the range of philanthropic giving. Over the past 13 years, it has distributed more than $1 billion to thousands of non-profits across a diverse spectrum.