2 THE JEWISH CHRONICLE MAY 22, 2008
Metro
Teenage tikkun olam
Teen Philanthropy Project, youths donate $18,000 to local charities
BY JANE MUDER
Chronicle Correspondent
Two years since its inception, the
Samuel M. Goldston Teen Philanthropy
Project is enabling 24 Jewish youths in
the Pittsburgh area to donate a total of
$18,000 to Jewish and secular charities.
On Sunday, project participants voted
unanimously to allocate $6,000 apiece to
Jewish Family & Children’s Service and
the Holocaust Center, and $1,500 to the
Children’s Village. The remaining funds
were donated to secular charities, includ-
ing Gilda’s Club and FamilyLinks.
This year’s group visited four sites. Each
site submitted a grant proposal for the
teenagers’ consideration. Sunday’s ses-
sion, a forum-style meeting, was reserved
for participants to vote on allocations.
Founded in 2006 by Sharon Perelman,
associate foundation director of the Unit-
ed Jewish
Want to help? Federation,
For more information about the project
the Samuel M. Goldston Teen is run
Philanthropy Project, contact through the
Sara Gaal at (412) 521-1101, UJF, the
Ext. 3201, or at Agency for
J e w i s h
sgaal@ajlpittsburgh.org.
Learning
SouthSide Works 2755 East Carson Street
412-481-8862
HOURS: 10 am - 9 pm Monday - Saturday
12 pm - 6 pm Sunday
was this past February’s visit to Gilda’s
Club. Half of these kids had never heard
of Gilda’s Club. ”
Sunday’s meeting, led by Gaal and AJL
director of teen education Beth Young,
was distinguished by passionate debates
about the issues and causes at stake.
Samantha Ballengee, age 13, said she
appreciated taking part in the group’s
decision-making processes. “You get dif-
ferent perspectives and different ideas.”
Charlene Tissenbaum, 43, of Mt.
Lebanon, was pleased that her daughter Fe-
licia joined the program. “It teaches teens
the meaning of philanthropy” she said.
Ria David, mother of Jonathan Perlin,
agreed. “It’s a great way for [my son] to
Photo by Sara Gaal
hang out with kids his age … learn about
The 2007-08 Samuel M. Goldston Teen Philanthropy Project participants gathered at
Jewish values, tikkun olam.”
the Perlin residence Sunday for a final meeting session.
Gaal will continue directing the pro-
and J-SITE. on donations to secular organizations. gram next year.
To participate in the project, which Sara Gaal, development and programs “I love being a part of this, because
lasts the length of a school year, each stu- manager at the AJL, ran the project this you actually get to see that trickle-down
dent contributes his or her bar or bat year. She said the program is an opportu-
miztvah gift money to a pooled endow- nity for youths to meet peers from across
effect,” she said. “These are going to be
the kids that, 10 to 15 years from now,
ment fund. Contributions are matched the Pittsburgh region while learning
dollar-for-dollar through grants from about philanthropy and Jewish values.
are going to be making a big impact in
Linda and Edward Goldston, in memory The site visits were key to connecting
our community.”
of their son Samuel M. Goldston. Dona- participants with their local communi-
(Jane Muder can be reached at jmud-
er7@yahoo.com.)
tions to Jewish organizations are capped ties, Gaal said. “One of the best visits
at $6,000 per year, with lower dollar caps
Correction extra coverage at their synagogues. Due
to an editing error, a story in the May 15
Congregations that already have Au- Chronicle, “JHF puts up funds for AEDs
tomated Electronic Defibrillators in area synagogues,” reported that they
(AEDs) are not restricted from applying were restricted.
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