Russian-Jewish Community Outreach Initiative by The Foundation for Jewish Camp

The Foundation for Jewish Camp unifies and galvanizes the field of Jewish overnight camp and significantly increases the number of children participating in transformative summers at Jewish camp, assuring a vibrant North American Jewish community. Genesis Philanthropy Group supports the Foundation’s Russian-speaking Jewish Outreach Initiative. In 2011, the Initiative focused on two major strategies: expanding recruitment efforts to the Russian-speaking Jewish population and training camp counselors to serve as role models for campers.

Eleven camps in the United States were chosen to receive grants and consulting services because of their proximity to significant Russian-speaking Jewish populations as well as the camp directors’ commitments to engaging these populations. The camps were:

  • Surprise Lake Camp
  • Camp Poyntelle
  • Young Judaea Camp Sprout Lake
  • Passport NYC @ 92nd Street Y
  • Eden Village Camp
  • New Jersey Y Camps
  • Camp Laurelwood
  • Berkshire Hills-Emanuel Camps
  • Camp Henry Horner Chicago
  • JCC Ranch Camp Denver
  • JCA Shalom

In 2011, this initiative increased the number of first time campers from Russian-speaking Jewish homes in North America by 50%.

Financial support for the FJC was provided by Genesis Philanthropy Group, Crown Family Philanthropies, and other generous donors.

Goals and Objectives

  • Create stronger connections between Russian-speaking Jews and the American Jewish community.
  • Increase interest in local Jewish camps among families and children from the Russian-speaking Jewish community.
  • Develop a cadre of Madrichim from the Russian Jewish community that introduce campers to the vibrancy of the Jewish community in general, and Russian Jewish community in particular.
Grantee Link: 
The Foundation for Jewish Camp