Bar and Bat Mitzvah endowment funds help young adults understand the importance of tzedakah and giving back to their community, setting them on a path to life-long giving. Each year in our community, over 230 Jewish teens have the joy of choosing a charity that will receive the income from their fund. In 2008, 50 charities received cheques because they were selected by a Bar or Bat Mitzvah fundholder.

One of the exciting aspects of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah fund is that it receives matching dollars! When the fund reaches $750 within two years of the Bar or Bat Mitzvah, fund benefactors Nora and David Kaufman add $250 in order to bring the fund up to $1,000. At this level, it becomes a donor-advised fund and the young person will be given the opportunity to select the distribution recipient.

Bar and Bat Mitzvah funds are an interesting and fun way to commemorate this important occasion in a child's life and to instill the value of philanthropy and tikkun olam at a young age.

For more information or to establish a fund, contact the Jewish Foundation at (204) 477-7528 and speak with Brenda Gurvey, Director of Donor Relations.