Jacy Announces First Grants of $12,500 to Jewish Student Groups in New York Area

The newly organized Board of Directors of the Jewish Association for College Youth (JACY)–an independent subvention agency established by the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies–has made its first allocations to Jewish student groups on metropolitan campuses, according to an announcement by Martin Blumenthal, its president. In its initial allocations, the Board made grants totalling $12,500 for supplementary use to Jewish student groups at Columbia University and New York University, the Jewish Student Press Service, the New York Union of Jewish Students, and the editorial board of a city-wide Jewish student newspaper. Forthcoming Board meetings will be devoted to further consideration of proposals from student groups and agencies, with a view to allocating additional sums for the establishment and improvement of Jewish student activities on campuses throughout the metropolitan are an Organized to help establish and maintain closer relationships between community and campus, JACY has been reviewing proposals from recognized student groups and agencies related to Jewish college students in order to determine the amount of support it will extend to such programs within the limits of available funds.

The JACY Board started its work several weeks ago with an initial $75,000 grant from Federation, intended primarily as seed money, with the understanding that it would not only manage its own program, but would also enjoy latitude to seek funds beyond those received from Federation. It was also intended that JACY would encourage recognized student groups and agencies to submit applications related to programs which would meet the personal needs of students for counseling and other forms of health and welfare service, nourish their sense of Jewish identity and connection with the Jewish community, increase their knowledge and understanding of Jewish values and contemporary Jewish life through educational and cultural activities, and cultivate their participation in community affairs. Guidelines on priorities tentatively established by JACY for the distribution of available funds, according to Mr. Blumenthal, stress the factor of maximal student initiative and participation, the advisability of helping new Jewish student groups to flourish where little Jewish activity has hitherto been evident, and the overriding need to stimulate programs which are likely to enjoy a measure of continuity.

Of the Board’s first allocations of $12,500, $2,500 was made to the New York Union of Jewish Students in support of an upcoming New York area conference in March and “Jubilee 71,” scheduled for April, which aims to acquaint participants with opportunities for Jewish studies and experience available on campus. Another $2,500 was allocated to the Jewish Student Press Service, for more effective service to Jewish student newspapers in New York, and $3,500 for establishment of a city-wide Jewish student paper. The latter grant carries with it the condition that all interested groups agree on a representative Board. The Council of Federations and Jewish Welfare Funds announced on Feb. 5 a number of grants from its committee on funding national campus projects, with the largest grant of $10,000 to the Jewish Student Press Service. The $2,500 to the Jewish Student Press Service by JACY is the second from Federation sources. The remainder of the overall allocation designated $2,000 for Jewish student programs at Columbia, to be administered through Rabbi Charles Sheer, counsellor to Jewish students, and an equal amount for student programs at New York University’s downtown and Washington Heights campuses, to be administered through the director of Jewish Culture Foundation.