Team Happy-Birthday-Anna!

Team Happy-Birthday-Anna!

From Team Happy-Birthday-Anna!

JLV's Whole Community Inclusion helps families whose children have special needs to find full inclusion in Jewish community. Please help me celebrate JDAIM and sustain this critica

Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer

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About The Team

Of the many things my organization Jewish Learning Venture does, the one I am most touched by and proud of is our work in disability inclusion. Through our program, Whole Community Inclusion, we are helping families whose children have any kind of special to need to find full inclusion in their Jewish community. Hardly a day goes by where my I am not nearly moved to tears by the work my colleague Gabby Kaplan-Mayer does with boundless energy and heart to make this a reality. A few examples: 

  • The Reta Emerson Fellowship / Teen Assistant Program: trains a select group of teenagers from congregations to be one-on-one aids for Hebrew school students with any kind of special need. 
  • jkidphilly (PJ Library in Philadelphia): we host sensory-friendly programs so that all children can experience engaging Jewish programs and participate in mitzvah projects (PS my colleague Gabby reminds me that children with special needs are so often the recipient of mitzvah projects and it is so important that they are empowered to enact the mitzvah)
  • B'nai Mitzvah Tutor Training: we created the ONLY training in the country for clergy and tutors to learn about adapting lessons and rituals for all kinds of needs
  • Training Educators and Leaders: we provide workshops, networking, and one-on-one consulting for synagogue educators and inclusion leaders
  • Parent Seminars: We support parents to make Jewish rituals and practices adaptable for their children's needs through webinars, one on one concierge support, and downloadable materials.

Friends, as you can see this is truly an important cause to the Jewish community and has come to be one for me, too. Our agency has been given a challenge grant of up to $25,000 from the Lasko Family Foundation, which means all donations will be matched dollar for dollar! 

And, January 23 is my birthday. There is nothing that would mean more to me than if I could achieve this goal of raising $540 toward this critical campaign. Please join me!

More Info

All donations will be generously matched by the Lasko Family Foundation! 

February is Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). During this important month of learning, advocacy, and work for greater inclusion, YOU can make a difference for children with disabilities by supporting Whole Community Inclusion today. 

During JDAIM, your donation will be matched by the Lasko Family Foundation, doubling each dollar received. 

Based on national statistics, we estimate* that there are well over 7,000 children with disabilities in the Philadelphia Jewish community. While many important strides have been made to meet this tremendous need, we know that there are still thousands of families in the greater Philadelphia community who have not found support for their children's needs in Jewish communal spaces. 

Jewish Learning Venture's Whole Community Inclusion (WCI) works tirelessly to advocate for and serve children with disabilities in the Jewish community. Your gift will be generously matched dollar for dollar by the Lasko Family Foundation. Contributions will go toward programs for families, professional development for educators and clergy, and one-on-one consultations for professionals and parents. 

*This estimate is based on national statistics that show 20% of the population are individuals with disabilities. 

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