The Peninsula Jewish Community Teen Foundation (PJCTF) is a unique opportunity empowering teens in grades 8 through 10 to become thoughtful grantmakers, participate in meaningful activities that offer responsibility and practice tikkun olam in a community of peers. The Foundation helps to ensure that Jewish youth in the Bay Area carry forth the philanthropic spirit of their heritage well into the 21^st century.

Participation in the PJCTF requires a one-year commitment. The teens dedicate themselves to a weekend retreat in conjunction with the Community Jewish Youth Foundation of the East Bay and the Jewish Community Teen Foundation of Marin, and attend seven Sunday meetings and events during the academic year in order to:

• Run their own foundation;
• Deal with social justice issues and practical Jewish responses to them;
• Gain leadership, teamwork and fundraising skills;
• Collaborate on grantmaking and directed philanthropy.

Each year the PJCTF teen board decides upon a social action theme on which to focus their grantmaking work, while educating themselves about the value of directed philanthropy. Their goal in 2005-2006 was to support programs and organizations that address injustice and inequality, mainly internationally, but also locally, with an eye on education and a prefererence towards youth.

The PJCTF Board is currently seeking teen board members for the upcoming term. See application information below. The application deadline is September 30, 2006.

Learn about recent grants and get an overview and history of what the PJCTF does. Grant applications will be accepted starting January 2007.

You can also get involved by joining the board or advisory committee.

For more information contact:

Sue Schwartzman
Project Director and Regional Coordinator, Teen Philanthropy
for the Jewish Community Endowment Fund
5150 El Camino Real Suite D11
Los Altos, CA 94022
Phone: 650.919.2100 ext. 8004
Fax: 650.968.1389
Email: Tzedakahsue@aol.com