GA Small Community Camp Fund Announced

Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) is excited to launch a new Georgia Small Community Camp Fund. Georgia families living 50 miles or more outside Atlanta are now eligible for new need-blind grants and need-based scholarships toward Jewish overnight camp. Expanding financial aid to smaller Jewish communities will help more young Jews in the Peach State experience the magic of Jewish camp.

“We want every family who would like to send their child to Jewish summer camp to have the means to do so,” said Jamie Simon, interim CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “I grew up as the only Jewish kid in my class. Jewish camp helped me connect to other young Jews — and the community as a whole. I’m thrilled that this initiative will offer the same opportunity to kids from smaller Jewish communities.”

Jewish summer camp strengthens identity, fosters friendships, and helps kids grow as leaders in a fun, supportive environment. Financial support often plays a crucial role in enabling kids to attend camp. After the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta began offering grants and scholarship assistance to families in 2014, Atlanta rose to become one of the top U.S. Jewish communities in terms of summer camp enrollment.

Building on FJC’s successful Small Communities Incentive program, FJC is expanding its outreach in this region. Thanks to a gift from the Riesenberger family — which is originally from Columbus, Ga., and experienced the profound impact of Jewish camp — FJC will support both need-blind grants of up to $1,500 through the foundation’s signature One Happy Camper program and scholarship support for first- and second-time campers that demonstrate financial need. The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta will administer and process applications.

“Without support from the Riesenbergers and [Federation], FJC would simply not have been in a position to provide these scholarships to Georgia families outside of Atlanta,” said FJC Southeast Director Bobby Harris.

Applications for grants are open now and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. To learn more and apply, families can visit https://www.jewishcamp.org/ga