Scholarships to fund immersive travel experiences designed to forge a strong sense of Jewish identity for youth travelers; creating strong, lifelong connections with the State of Israel
HARTFORD, CT -- The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford (JCF) is pleased to announce the launch of its Israel Experience Scholarship Program aimed at aiding high school aged students participate in an immersive Israel travel experience.
This newly created program is offering a limited number of scholarships valued up to $6,000 per student; making the magnitude of the program among the largest in the nation. Rising 10th, 11th and 12th grade Jewish students residing in the Greater Hartford area who wish to participate in an immersive Israel travel experience ranging in length from four weeks to one semester are eligible to apply. First priority will be given to students with a demonstrated financial need and who are first time travelers to Israel.
The Israel Experience Scholarship Program is the result of a year of research by the Innovative Grants Subcommittee of JCF. The subcommittee recommended the creation of a program to encourage immersive Israel travel for the high school aged cohort. Studies show travel to Israel as being one of the most impactful Jewish educational experiences teens can have in developing and solidifying their Jewish identity.
The new program offers high schoolers the opportunity to form a strong Jewish identity that they can then share and grow with their family and community upon their return home. To further encourage a strong connection to the Greater Hartford Jewish community, the program includes both a pre- and post-educational component as well requisite volunteer service hours at local Jewish organizations. These requirements set the foundation for a strong connection to Judaism and Israel.
Participation in this program will not exclude students from eligibility in traveling with Birthright Israel in the future. The Israel Experience Scholarship Program will provide a solid foundation on which future visits to Israel can build upon.
Initial funding for this new program is provided by the estate of Louis and Virginia Cohen and will enable the Jewish Community Foundation to send 7 to 10 students to Israel in the first year. In the long term, the Foundation’s goal is to fund an immersive Israel travel experience for every Jewish high school student in the Greater Hartford community wishing to go.
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Contact:
Lisa Farren
Marketing and Communications Manager
Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford
860-523-7460
lfarren@jcfhartford.org
Website: www.jcfhartford.org