26 | OCTOBER 13 • 2022
OUR COMMUNITY
A
bored teen? Not the best expe-
rience for anyone (yes, parents,
I’m talking to you, too.) A Teen
Board? Well, that’s a different story and,
by all accounts, a great experience in
learning to help others.
Teen Board is an initiative of The
Jewish Fund that aims to develop teens
as “philanthropists” and engage them in
hands-on grant-making.
Established in 1997 from the sale pro-
ceeds of Sinai Hospital to the Detroit
Medical Center, the Jewish Fund contin-
ues Sinai’s tradition of assuring quality
and compassionate care for those in need
by awarding grants to help vulnerable
individuals.
Each year, The Jewish Fund engages a
group of 25 Jewish high school students
in grades 10 through 12 to be Teen Board
members. At the end of the year, The
Jewish Fund Teen Board members work
together to grant $50,000 to both Jewish
and secular charities in Metro Detroit.
So, what’s it like to participate in this
special cohort that helps to change lives,
including those of the board members
themselves? We asked Teen Board partic-
ipants, and the answers speak for them-
selves.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART
ABOUT TEEN BOARD?
Nicolette Handler: My favorite part about
Teen Board is that I get to make a big dif-
ference in certain charity organizations,
which allows them to start new programs
or help more people. I also love the social
aspect of Teen Board because I got to
meet so many more Jewish teens in my
area.
Madison Charnas: I loved being able
to connect with other Jewish teens and
becoming more educated about the
amazing organizations, both Jewish and
non-Jewish, in the Metro Detroit area.
Going on the different site visits was real-
ly interesting and so was hearing about all
the things these organizations do.
Ella Fried: My favorite part about Teen
Board was interviewing the different
organizations because they shared excit-
ing evidence of the change they were
making in the community, and I felt
empowered to be a part of that change.
Tali Feingold: My favorite part is site
visits with the nonprofits. I had the
opportunity to meet with nonprofit
leaders to discuss their grant proposals.
I heard firsthand stories of their accom-
plishments and their aspirations for the
future. In all my site visits, the leaders’
passion was contagious, and I found
myself discovering a deeper connection
to their grant, goals and to philanthropy
as a whole.
WHAT LESSONS FROM TEEN
BOARD HAVE OR WILL SHAPE
YOUR JEWISH IDENTITY?
Madison Charnas: Philanthropy is a
large part of Judaism and, while I was
on the Teen Board, I was able to learn
more than just the basics of philanthro-
py. There is a large focus on helping the
members of the community who need it,
which is also a large part of Judaism that I
would like to continue to focus on.
Ella Fried: Judaism and passion for
social justice are two major parts of my
identity. Teen Board helped to combine
these two parts of me, each one fueling
and strengthening the other.
Nicolette Handler: Teen Board has
shaped my Jewish identity by strength-
ening my tikkun olam, which is a core
Jewish value.
Tali Feingold: When in Teen Board,
I read about many Jewish nonprofits,
engaged in many discussions about
Judaism and antisemitism, all surrounded
by a community of Jewish teens and lead-
ers. Throughout the year, I learned about
the difficulties that being Jewish can
sometimes bring. But what stuck with me
more is the countless ways Jewish com-
munity members assist each other. I feel
that this has led to an unwavering pride
in the Jewish people and a strengthened
Jewish identity.
Help Your Teens Become the
Change They Want to See
JEWISH FEDERATION