Jewish EXCEL Scholarship Fund initiative

Aug. 18, 2009 - PRLog -- Jewish, EXCEL® Scholarship Fund
Provides K-8, Day School Tuition Relief

SEDONA, AZ - The National Jewish Day School Foundation announces its Jewish EXCEL Scholarship Fund initiative. EXCEL is an acronym for EXcellence in Classroom Education and Learning. This fund raising initiative is ‘trans denominational” for it supports all branches of Judaism by awarding $4,000 scholarships for families in financial need whose children are enrolled in Jewish elementary day schools. Foundation scholarships then are matched by the student’s school to provide a total of $8,000 in support per child.

The mission of the Foundation is to build Jewish identity, values, and literacy through elementary Jewish day school education. The focus of the Foundation is on schools which embrace a quality, dual curriculum. According to Foundation founder and educator Michael L. Dean, PhD, “This two-track program includes both secular subjects (e.g., language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science) and Jewish literacy instruction (e.g., Hebrew, Jewish history, Jewish texts, Jewish core values, and love and support for Israel). In addition, a Jewish day school education emphasizes building Jewish identity as well as living and learning about life through a Jewish lens.”
Lifelong learning habits are best established in the formative years when these values can be nurtured and reinforced daily. A strong relationship and commitment to Judaism begins with a formal education rooted in the traditions and teachings of our faith. In a world that is rapidly embracing secular values, we need to remind ourselves of the importance of our traditions and values. Education at the day school level is critical to keeping those traditions alive… Renewing and strengthening our relationship with our faith and the community starts in the schools. (The Kohelet Foundation, “Why is Jewish Day School Education Important? “ June 8, 2009)

Dr. Dean further maintains that “There is a critical need to provide children and their families with an environment, peers, mentors, and skills to enrich their Jewish identity and self-image within the context of a Jewish value system. We all can play a pivotal role in meeting this need by helping to make Jewish day school education affordable.”

Since every dollar will be matched at the local Jewish day school level, $25 becomes $50, $50 becomes $100, and so on. All donations are tax deductible. The National Jewish Day School Foundation is a registered 501(c) (3) organization. Donation funds are managed by the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF), also a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt foundation and one of the largest community philanthropic foundations in the United States. More information about the Jewish EXCEL Fund initiative can be found at www.JewishDaySchoolFoundation.Org.