By J.Team, Special to JTNews
Once a month, high schoolers who participate in J.Team, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle’s Jewish youth philanthropy program, meet to learn about different charities both in the Puget Sound region and around the world. At the same time, these students learn about the nature of philanthropy, the importance of social action, and how their decisions affect the community around them. Starting with about $8,000, the teens learn about different organizations through site visits and presentations, then discuss with each other the reasons why each should be considered. At a reception later this spring, the teens will invite the finalists and award each with a check and their impressions of the value of the work they do.
Throughout the school year, the teens have blogged about the charities they have learned about. Some excerpts are here:
This month J.Team met at Treehouse, which is an amazing non-profit that offers foster kids a happier and healthier life. From visiting them, we really could understand the dedication of the staff. Their commitment to helping foster kids was demonstrated by the beautiful store in the basement and the presentation given to us. Rabbi Daniel Weiner from Temple De Hirsch Sinai came to talk to us while we were at Treehouse and through his enthusiastic games and interactive lessons we were able to rank important factors that go into choosing non-profits.
— Jake L.
The hospice program at Kline Galland helps people live out their remaining days as fully and as comfortably as possible, with the support of Jewish customs. I think this is important that a hospice, with the support of Jewish beliefs, is available to our community because it shows that we care for the most vulnerable people in our community and they live with dignity. I also appreciate that they do not only support the patient but also the families in their time of need.
— Julia A.
I have been a part of J.Team for two years and I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in this organization.
Out of all of the organizations that I have learned about these past two years, Fare Start is certainly one of the most impressive. Not only is Fare Start innovative, it’s also effective. Through the presentation that J.Team got there, I was able to see how food is truly just their tool to take impoverished people of Seattle and give them the motivation and experience to truly change their life situation. I will certainly be dragging my parents to Fare Start on a Thursday night for a delicious meal!
— Sarah G.
While nursing homes are not a rare thing, a Jewish one here is one that really makes a difference. For those that are in their very late years and still want to keep kosher don’t have to advocate like at other nursing homes. There, they can be supplied with what they desire. But I think one of the most key principles of Kline Galland is the respect they give to those who are dying, allowing them to live their final years in dignity, something a sad amount of nursing homes lack. In this day and age with nursing home neglect, Kline Galland does the exact opposite, giving every single resident what they need and when they need it, and allowing them to keep their pride as they pass on.
— Zach G.
I like being able to make open decisions with as few obstacles as possible, and I am a huge fan of lively debate and democratic process. As soon as I read some of the pamphlets and talked to J.Team director Marla Goldberg, I was hooked. The other teens involved are awesome, and they’re from a variety of neighborhoods and backgrounds with different perspectives on what we should do with our grant money. It is good to have disagreement, because competition always inspires better decision making. Despite some fundamental perspective differences, I think that we all get along great and that we will end the year with a spectacular selection of organizations.
I am a jazz pianist, and that takes up most of my spare time. However, after visiting the Summit at First Hill, that’s run by Kline Galland, I talked to their activities director, and now play for the residents on Friday afternoons. Had I not visited the facility on J.Team’s behalf in late December, that idea never would have occurred to me.
— David R.
One thing that visiting Kline Galland made me realize is that while choosing charities to fund, it is vital to try and step back from your own personal life situation and evaluate the charity in a broader sense. While it is hard for me to imagine myself in a place like Kline Galland when I am only 17 years old, when I take a step back and try and see the importance of a place like Kline Galland to an elderly person, I can truly see the value of an organization. In a way, I must imagine I am in someone else’s shoes. It is the same regarding homelessness or hunger. I personally don’t experience these challenges so I must evaluate the charities not based off personal experience (because I have none) but rather by trying to empathize and understand the struggle that homeless or hungry people face.
— Robbie E.