The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ (JCF) on July 3 announced that it has received a $5 million Jewish camping gift, representing a record-breaking amount for North America.
Given in support of a permanent Jewish camping fund, the gift “will create the first endowed full-time Jewish camp position in a federation in North America,” according to a press release from the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, of which the JCF is the planned giving and endowment arm.
“[The gift] will also provide ongoing support for several related programs: as many as 250 incentive grants for first-time overnight campers each summer, more affordable camp options for families, a ‘pipeline’ program to encourage Jewish day campers to transition to Jewish overnight camp, and ‘innovations; funding for programs that bring the power of Jewish camp to the community year-round,” the press release said.
Jeremy Fingerman, chief executive officer of the Foundation for Jewish Camp, said in a statement that the Greater MetroWest community’s Jewish camping efforts “will set the standard for others across North America.”