Jewish Women's Foundation of The Greater Palm Beaches Announces 2017 Grants

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – April 13, 2017 – Leadership at the Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches (JWF) recently announced its 2017 grant awards. The nonprofit grant making and advocacy organization, which focuses specifically on the needs of women and girls, awarded more than $400,000 to 22 different organizations, including local nonprofits. New this year was the allocation of $15,500, per year for two years, to West Palm Beach-based The Lord’s Place for the GROW Initiative, which stands for “Gender Responsive Opportunities for Women.” The grant will allow The Lord’s Place to integrate gender responsive tools, strategies and techniques into their service delivery model on an agency-wide level.

“Support for our mission is continuing to grow, which means we continue to expand our impact on local, national and international levels,” said Tami Baldinger, JWF CEO. “This year we awarded more than $400,000 for innovative solutions to issues impacting women and girls all over the globe – including right here in our backyard. I am especially pleased to support a new grantee partner, The Lord’s Place, who recognizes that there are unique challenges facing homeless women. We know that when women and girls are supported, the entire community benefits. We are encouraged by the global impact of organizations who share this same vision.”

Local grants also included the continuation of funding for the following organizations and respective projects:

Families First of PB County - Targeted Outreach of Pregnant Women, $20,000
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition - Circle of Wellness Maternal Mental Health Program, $20,000
PACE Center for Girls of Palm Beach County - PACEWorks, $22,000

In addition, JWF gave a variety of grants to national and international organizations, including the Human Trafficking Pro Bono Legal Center Moving Traditions, Unchained at Last and the Jewish Agency for Israel. In response to the budget cuts in the United States, JWF also awarded two special grants in the amount of $20,000 each for unrestricted support to two different national organizations focused on women’s healthcare and reproductive rights, and women in politics, respectively.

JWF allocates grants annually and all proposals are considered through the prism of a “gender lens.” Using a gender lens means understanding the unique challenges women and girls face pursuing equality and the ways in which systems, institutions and policies must change to advance women’s equality. JWF leaders and members appreciate creative problem-solving solutions to address women’s leadership, health and safety, and financial empowerment. Grants range from $10,000 to $25,000 annually, with some grants awarded as multi-year commitments. All grants are voted on by JWF Trustees, giving JWF’s members an active voice in the projects they support.

Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches is a nonprofit grant making and advocacy organization established to improve the lives of women and girls. Guided by Jewish values, JWF advocates for advancing all women and girls, and funds projects that have long-term effects for societal change on local, national and international levels by placing an unwavering focus on the root cause of issues. An inclusive organization, JWF welcomes members of all beliefs and genders who believe that when women and girls are empowered, the entire community benefits.

For more information about the Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches, please visit www.jwfpalmbeach.org or call 561-275-2200.