0

Looking For Help

Other youth groups hope to join BBYO
as a recipient of Federation allocations.

Team recommended that the United
Jewish Foundation divide $50,000
among all area youth groups, a policy
that began early this spring. The
he leaders of three major
money provides scholarships for stu-
Detroit Jewish youth
dents attending youth group conven-
groups are pushing gently
tions and funds a voucher system
for regular Federation fund-
whereby youth groups can obtain cer-
ing of their programs. Federation offi-
tain services — such as rooms and
to
cials say, cautiously, they might be able
photocopying machines — through
to provide some additional money but
Federation and its constituent agen-
not a permanent annual subsidy.
cies.
At present only the non-denomina-
Yedwab said he is grateful for this
tional B'nai B'rith Youth Organization
assistance, but it does not address the
gets a regular grant. Two weeks ago
core issues that youth groups face: hir-
Federation announced its 1998-99
ing enough staff to develop new pro-
allocations, giving BBYO $65,000.
grams and recruit new members.
Leaders from Detroit's other Jewish
"Scholarship money is wonderful. It
youth groups — particularly United
helps needy individuals, but it doesn't 01
Synagogue Youth (Conservative),
build a movement,"
National Federation of
K> he said. "Really, the
Temple Youth (Reform) and
41 dollars spent on
National Council of
youth movements is
Synagogue Youth
(Orthodox) — say they need
o lacking. This is a
problem in the
regular Federation funds to
whole Jewish world,
combat what they describe
not just Federation."
as stretched budgets and a
According to their
shortage of employees.
coordinators, NFTY
For the past few years,
has approximately
they thought they were
525 members in the
headed in that direction. In
Detroit area, while
1994, USY, NCSY and
NCSY has approxi-
NFTY together were award-
mately 200 members
ed a three-year Max Fisher
and USY has
Foundation grant through
approximately 300
the United Jewish
members. They are
Foundation. Each group
funded by their
received a total of $30,000
B'nai Brith Youth Organization participants at a Passover seder.
national organiza-
and used the money to
tions, as well as local
increase outreach to pre-
fund-raising efforts. Several other
Federation leaders assert that while
high school teens. The groups say
youth groups also have chapters in the
they are unlikely to start giving regular
their Fisher Foundation-funded pro-
Detroit area.
allocations, they are exploring ways of
jects were successful, but they are not
Michigan Region BBYO, which has
increasing funding for youth groups.
sure they will be able to keep them
962
members from metropolitan
When
USY,
NFTY
and
NCSY
going on their current budgets.
Detroit, has received Federation allo-
approached Federation last year for
Federation officials say Fisher grants
cations since 1988.
ongoing funding, Federation respond-
simply provide seed money for new
"Part of our need derived from the
ed by forming a Youth Services
projects, with the expectation that the
cutbacks that the national BBYO
Assessment Team to "analyze the situa-
recipient organization will continue
made to our staff," said Arnie
tion and make a decision that balances
funding once the project is up and
Weiner, BBYO senior executive
meeting the needs of the youth groups
running. However, until their grants
regional director. "Gradually, the
with the appropriate role of the
expired, representatives of the youth
support
from Federation has grown,
Federation,"
according
to
a
December
groups thought otherwise.
based
on
our penetration into the
.
1997
report.
'At the time we applied, we
youth population."
The Youth Services Assessment
believed that we were following the

JULIE WIENER
Staff Writer

T

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same path BBYO had followed in get-
ting funding," said Rabbi Paul Yedwab
of Temple Israel, who helped NFTY
apply with USY and NCSY for the
Fisher grant. "At the end of the grant,
we were told that wasn't the case."
Rabbi Aaron Bergman of Beth
Abraham Hillel Moses and Rabbi
Tzali Freedman, regional director of
NCSY, also said they believed the
Fisher grant would lead to further
funding.
"I'd love for USY to become a line
item on Federation's allocations,"
added Bergman, who helped draft
the Fisher grant proposal. "I want
that for the other youth groups too.
The best value for your money is
youth workers."

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