Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, MA recently received a $30,000 grant from the anonymous Boston-based foundation to support a program to close education achievement gaps at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Framingham.
"This is your urban poverty elementary school in suburbia," said JFS CEO Marc Jacobs. "When you think about the gigantic achievement gaps that are there for children in the commonwealth, you usually think about Lawrence and Lowell and Mission Hill and the like, but it's also right here in Framingham."
"This is your urban poverty elementary school in suburbia," said JFS CEO Marc Jacobs. "When you think about the gigantic achievement gaps that are there for children in the commonwealth, you usually think about Lawrence and Lowell and Mission Hill and the like, but it's also right here in Framingham."
Thousands in Metro Detroit's Jewish community have been flocking to Home Depot's Facebook page in recent weeks. No, they are not all interested in becoming fans of the national retail giant. They are simply trying to help a local social service agency win $250,000 from the Home Depot Foundation.
Jewish Family Service in Michigan was one of 12 nonprofits around the country to win a monthly prize of $25,000 cash and another $5,000 in Home Depot gift cards from the Home Depot Foundation this past January. That win put them in the competition for the Aprons in Action contest that will give away a total of a half-million dollars in March. JFS plans to use the cash prize for its Project Build! program, which provides JFS clients with safe and barrier-free homes through pro bono repairs and renovations provided by local builders, remodelers and suppliers.
While many nonprofits in the Jewish community are still trying to find their way in the new world of social media, online contests like the Home Depot Foundation's Aprons in Action have pushed nonprofit organizations to create a social media strategy to get out the vote on Facebook, the social networking site that boasts more than 850 million users.
Retail giants like Target and Home Depot, as well as large corporations like Toyota and Ford Motor Company, have drawn millions of Facebook users to their corporate and foundation "Fan Pages" through their online contests.
AJFCA is thrilled to see Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit's social media efforts featured in eJewish Philanthropy. In addition to supporting their efforts, AJFCA wishes to congratulate JFS Detroit on winning a 2012 Kovod Award for Effective Use, of Social Media, which will be presented at the Annual Conference on April 23rd.
Continue to read about these crowd-raising initiatives in the remainder of the article.
Nonprofits Compete in Facebook Contests, March 19, 2012, eJP, by Rabbi Jason Miller
Jewish Family Service in Michigan was one of 12 nonprofits around the country to win a monthly prize of $25,000 cash and another $5,000 in Home Depot gift cards from the Home Depot Foundation this past January. That win put them in the competition for the Aprons in Action contest that will give away a total of a half-million dollars in March. JFS plans to use the cash prize for its Project Build! program, which provides JFS clients with safe and barrier-free homes through pro bono repairs and renovations provided by local builders, remodelers and suppliers.
While many nonprofits in the Jewish community are still trying to find their way in the new world of social media, online contests like the Home Depot Foundation's Aprons in Action have pushed nonprofit organizations to create a social media strategy to get out the vote on Facebook, the social networking site that boasts more than 850 million users.
Retail giants like Target and Home Depot, as well as large corporations like Toyota and Ford Motor Company, have drawn millions of Facebook users to their corporate and foundation "Fan Pages" through their online contests.
AJFCA is thrilled to see Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit's social media efforts featured in eJewish Philanthropy. In addition to supporting their efforts, AJFCA wishes to congratulate JFS Detroit on winning a 2012 Kovod Award for Effective Use, of Social Media, which will be presented at the Annual Conference on April 23rd.
Continue to read about these crowd-raising initiatives in the remainder of the article.
Nonprofits Compete in Facebook Contests, March 19, 2012, eJP, by Rabbi Jason Miller
Jewish Family Service of Raleigh-Cary is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Their kick-off event ---GOOD DEEDS DAY is slated for Sunday, March 25th. For the first time, the Raleigh-Cary community will join with Jews in this country, in Israel and across the globe for this internationally recognized day of performing mitzvot.
Good Deeds Day, established in Israel in 2007, is a local opportunity to renew Jewish values by giving to the community in which one lives. During the past five years, more than 140,000 volunteers have participated in this day of service. JFS is asking Good Deeds Day volunteers to help families in the Jewish community by bringing a grocery store or gas gift card with them on Good Deeds Day. JFS will distribute these cards to Jewish families who are in need of financial assistance.
Good Deeds Day, established in Israel in 2007, is a local opportunity to renew Jewish values by giving to the community in which one lives. During the past five years, more than 140,000 volunteers have participated in this day of service. JFS is asking Good Deeds Day volunteers to help families in the Jewish community by bringing a grocery store or gas gift card with them on Good Deeds Day. JFS will distribute these cards to Jewish families who are in need of financial assistance.
