Applications for funding through the 2013 Jewish Community Impact Fund are now available on the Federation website.  Once again, $40,000 will be available for proposals of $2,000 - $10,000 each that will add new and innovative programs to enhance Jewish life in Ann Arbor.  The deadline for submission this year is in September so you need to act fast.

The programs funded in 2012 will be going live this fall.

• The Israel Fellow funded for UM Hillel (who will also work one day each week in the broader Jewish community) has been selected and will arrive prior to the opening of the fall term.
• StoryCorps has agreed to work with Beth Israel Congregation on the Oral History Project of the Ann Arbor Jewish community.
• The JCC Teen Leadership Council had its first informational meeting in May, will be holding a recruitment session on August 22nd and its first Leadership Workshop on Sunday, September 9th in conjunction with the Neutral Zone.  Interested teens should contact the JCC for additional information.
• Hebrew Day School will be launching the Parent Education Series: Raising A Jewish Child in conjunction with Beth Israel, Temple Beth Emeth and the JCC Early Childhood Center.
• Sukkah Arbor, the design-build competition, has selected the winning designs from among dozens submitted from across the United States.  The winning designs will be built and on display downtown in Liberty Plaza on September 23rd before being relocated to the Jewish Community Center where they will be on display throughout the Sukkot holiday.

  
Once again this year, the new proposals will be unveiled on the federation website at the Main Event and community voting will be available through December 1.  The top two vote-getters will be funded while a selection committee will choose additional awardees.  One important change this year will be that only donors who give a minimum of $18 to the Federation Annual Campaign will be allowed to vote. 

The Jewish Community Impact Fund represents an important opportunity to assure that there is always room for new ideas to engage our community in Jewish life.  If you have an idea you believe Ann Arbor needs, go to the website and print out an application today.  The only thing that limits us is our own imagination.

Shabbat Shalom,