Meet Our New Grantees

Los Angeles Area Grants

Community Advocates
Awarded $20,000 for general support

Founded by two of Los Angeles' foremost community leaders (one Jewish, one African American), Community Advocates works to help unite the diverse populations of this city by fostering common ground across races, ethnicities, and religions. In addition to their work helping to grow interfaith initiatives, they began holding a series of community forums which bring together academics, community leaders, authors, and members of all faith and ethnic backgrounds to discuss, debate, and ultimately impact what it means to be part of one of the most diverse cities in the nation. To maximize this impact, all events are broadcast on local television and public radio.

Library Foundation of Los Angeles
Awarded $100,000 to endow the Jewish collection of books and periodicals

The Los Angeles Central Library, which welcomes about 2 million visitors per year, has developed a Jewish collection of over 8,500 circulating volumes, non-circulating reference materials, and historical periodicals. Important volumes include: a 1901 collection of the 12-volume Jewish Encyclopedia, issues of The American Hebrew periodical dating from 1886–1899, and a full-color reproduction of a 15th century hagaddah. All circulating materials in the collection are available to anyone throughout the city through a request made at their local branch, and new volumes are purchased every year to enhance the collection.

Jewish Community Library of Los Angeles
Awarded $15,000 for Director's Innovation Fund

Founded in 1948, the Jewish Community Library of Los Angeles is the only free lending library that specializes in Jewish-related materials (books, movies, music, and periodicals) in the city. The library circulates 300 items each day and serves about 20,000 people each year. In addition to those who visit its physical space, the Library also delivers material to those who are home bound and has an online presence. In recent years, the Library has expanded its family programming to include year round events with well-known authors, musical performances, and fine art workshops that teach Jewish culture through creativity. They have been able to do so, in part, because of the leadership of Abigail Yasgur, the Library's Director.