Please see note from Paul Lewis of PJ Library. Ginny Grossman Director, Resource Center for Jewish Education A Program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation 594 Converse St. Longmeadow, MA. 01106 413.567.7586 413.439.1985 fax 413.567.5792 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> www.hgf.org<http://www.hgf.org>
From: Paul Lewis Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 2:30 PM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Cc: Regina Grossman Subject: RE: [ha-Safran] I'm confused about PJ Library Dear Enid and Amy: Your questions about PJ Library were forwarded to me and I'm happy to respond. I am the Director of Community Development for PJ Library, overseeing efforts to bring PJ Library to the metropolitan Washington, DC area. I love that you looked at our website (pjlibrary.org) and have gained a basic understanding of the PJ Library program. I'll try to clarify... PJ Library is a partnership between the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, which created PJ Library six years ago, and each local Jewish community. We currently send 100,000 books each month to Jewish children from 6 months through 8 years old in 175 communities throughout North America. Most frequently the local Jewish Federation is our "implementing partner." Philanthropist Harold Grinspoon funds half the cost of the program and each local community must raise the other half. This is very much Harold's style of tzedakah, where he leverages his donation to encourage others. This actually inspires or "creates" many new philanthropists. You are correct that PJ Library subscriptions are absolutely free to participants. Receiving wonderful, age-appropriate Jewish children's books in the mail each month is a powerful gift from the local Jewish community to its young families. It says "we care about you and want to welcome you into the community." PJ Library will be available to every family raising Jewish children-in-married or interfaith. A family need not be a member of any synagogue or JCC or donor to Federation to participate. Through PJ Library story time programs and events held at JCCs, synagogues, pre-schools, day-schools and in public space, PJ connects young Jewish families to each other and to the wide variety of services and organizations within the community. PJ Library is a highly effective tool to identify unaffiliated and unengaged families. I am currently working with Washington's Federation CEO, Steve Rakitt, to raise sufficient funds to bring PJ Library to the Greater Washington area. Because Washington has such a large Jewish population, our fundraising needs are significant, but I'm pleased to tell you Steve has made PJ Library a priority and he is making good progress. We are hopeful we can reach our fundraising goal soon. Of course, if you can lead us to potential donors in the DC area, please let us know as soon as possible. Once we have raised the needed money to launch in DC, we will have meetings with every local Jewish agency that touches kids 8 and under-synagogues, pre-schools, JCCs, day-schools, etc. We will explain how each organization can partner with us to take advantage of this amazing program. With your collaboration on program ideas and hosting programs, PJ Library will benefit your agency and the entire Jewish community of Washington. It's really exciting and we are getting close. I hope this clarification helps. If you want to discuss this further, please feel free to call me. -- Paul Lewis Director of Community Development, PJ Library(r) Harold Grinspoon Foundation 380 Union Street West Springfield, MA 01089 413-439-1950-office direct | 413-575-3314-cell [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> - www.pjlibrary.org<http://www.pjlibrary.org/> From: Rosalie Eisen Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 11:44 AM To: Paul Lewis Subject: FW: [ha-Safran] I'm confused about PJ Library FYI Rosalie From: Enid Sperber [mailto:[email protected]]<mailto:[mailto:[email protected]]> Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 11:43 AM To: Rosalie Eisen Subject: Fwd: [ha-Safran] I'm confused about PJ Library Hi Rosalie, The following email came on the AJL listserv. I thought who best to answer but you! So I am forwarding it to you. It also gives me the opportunity to wish you and your family a healthy and happy New Year. Best, Enid ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Amy Turim & Larry Hershman <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Date: Wed, Sep 5, 2012 at 6:23 PM Subject: [ha-Safran] I'm confused about PJ Library To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> This may be very old news to many of you, but I'd like to understand the role my synagogue library could play in supporting PJ Library. According to what I see on the website, their funding comes from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and other monies donated by libraries. The money from the HGF and the "Implementing Partners" goes to purchase books that are then free for participating member families. Is this correct? Are any AJL libraries involved? As great as this idea is, I don't have a budget for this purpose, though perhaps our congregation would support a fundraiser. I have a feeling that I'm missing a crucial piece, and I'd appreciate any clarification. Thanks - Amy Turim Temple Emanuel Kensington, MD __ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran -- Enid Kent Sperber Library Consultant/Archivist Temple Israel of Hollywood Los Angeles, CA 90046 She is too fond of books and it has turned her brain. Louisa May Alcott
__ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [email protected] To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: [email protected] Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list [email protected] https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
