The Russell Berrie Foundation Announces $4.48 Million in Emergency Grants to
Support COVID-19 Response Efforts in New Jersey and Israel
Funding will support local New Jersey, Israel and Jewish communities by providing coordination,
health and human services and innovation to combat COVID-19 challenges
Teaneck, NJ — May 19, 2020 — The Russell Berrie Foundation, a philanthropic organization, today announced $4.48 million in emergency grants to support organizations on the front lines of combatting the pandemic as they deliver COVID-19 relief efforts. The funds will prioritize direct grants to medical institutions and those providing medical and healthcare-related services as well as organizations addressing the needs of vulnerable populations (the elderly, food insecure, small businesses, etc.) in the Northern New Jersey Jewish community, the broader local community and in Israel.
The Russell Berrie Foundation is working primarily with existing grant recipients, which have displayed strong leadership and an ability to pivot effectively in these difficult times to meet rising demand for COVID-19 related services.
Of the $4.48 million, a total of $1.82 million in grants have been approved to serve organizations based primarily in Northern New Jersey including $235,000 granted to Jewish communal institutions supporting the foundation’s local community. The remaining $2.66 million in grants have been approved to serve emergency needs in Israel.
Grant Recipients in Northern New Jersey Community:
Medical and Healthcare Needs:
Holy Name Medical Center: $250,000 for the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) and lifesaving ventilators
Englewood Medical Center: $250,000 for emergency health needs including purchasing PPE and supplies
New Bridge Medical Center: $250,000 for emergency support as they meet lifeline medical and psychiatric needs
NJ YMCA Alliance: $200,000 to coordinate and provide emergency childcare for healthcare workers in Bergen County
Jewish Home Family: $100,000 for emergency personnel needs and the purchase of PPE
Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative: $85,000 to convert to a telemedicine platform to reach uninsured patients with otherwise limited access to care options
Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center: $50,000 for equipment and technology to meet patient’s needs for care while working remotely
The Diabetes Foundation: $50,000 to provide emergency diabetes care kits for at-risk patients in Bergen County
Food Insecurity:
Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey: $50,000 for coordination of local resources and delivery of kosher meals
Community Food Bank of New Jersey: $100,000 to lessen food insecurity and provide meals to those in need
Bergen Volunteer Center: $50,000 for coordination of services such as matching volunteers with organizations in need in the local community
Economic Insecurity:
Jewish Federation of Northern NJ: $50,000 to provide two case managers to Jewish Family and Children’s Services
Rising Tide Capital: $150,000 for technical assistance and support to small businesses
Northern NJ Community Foundation: $50,000 to support nonprofits working on the front lines with vulnerable communities and for arts organizations
Other:
BergenPAC: $100,000 for stabilization of this valued community arts and education institution
Center for Loving Kindness of the Pittsburgh JCC: $35,000 for their online interfaith network
Grant Recipients in Israel:
Medical and Healthcare Needs:
Azrieli Faculty of Medicine of the Bar Ilan University: $500,000 program for student volunteers supporting the healthcare needs of chronic care patients in community settings within the multiple, highly diverse and distinct ethnic and religious populations of the Eastern Galilee
MSR at Sheba Medical Center: $200,000 for training of healthcare teams nationally and $100,000 for a specialized mannequin necessary for developing sophisticated respiratory simulation protocols
Mash’abim: $35,000 for a Kiryat Shmona-based program providing emotional support to healthcare workers throughout the country
Societal Needs:
Eshel at the Joint Distribution Committee Israel: $100,000 to provide welfare services for the elderly in Israel’s Arab communities
Machshava Tova: $50,000 for access to technology for education and community services via a digital platform for Israel’s elderly population
Galila: $50,000 for beta site testing of a digital platform that will maximize medical home care as an alternative to hospitalization and $25,000 to create a hotline for the Bet Ha’Kerem Cluster
Arab-Jewish Center for Empowerment, Equality, and Cooperation (AJEEC): $50,000 for personal protective equipment and other hygiene-related needs for volunteers serving the Bedouin community of the Negev
Operations and Coordination with Local Organizations and Municipalities:
ELKA at the Joint Distribution Committee Israel: $200,000 for coordination of services at the local level and $50,000 for projects in East Jerusalem
Maoz-Seal: $150,000 for emergency support for network coordination within municipalities, healthcare and education systems and $50,000 for local projects in the Northern periphery communities
Other:
Israel Science Foundation: $100,000 to generate actionable discoveries in combatting COVID-19 in partnership with additional funders and the Israeli government
The Foundation has also dedicated a one million dollar program-related investment to Ogen Social Finance, Israel’s first social bank, which will provide impact loan support for small businesses and non-profit organizations. With the severe effects of the crisis on Israel’s economy reaching new heights, Ogen is providing relief to those in financial distress. The grant from The Russell Berrie Foundation meaningfully supports Ogen’s ability to provide much needed access to capital for NGOs and small businesses facing this sudden financial emergency.
“In this moment of extraordinary need, we are working to mitigate the pain and anxiety of communities both locally in Northern New Jersey and abroad,” said Angelica Berrie, President, The Russell Berrie Foundation. “Our strength as a community will be tested by this crisis and how we respond – generously, with empathy and compassion – will reflect our capacity to cope with future challenges. Our role in philanthropy is not just to give money but to lead, especially in times like this, when the need exceeds the capacity of any one giver to fill. We hope our leadership inspires others to give fearlessly at a moment when so many lives and the future of our community, our country and our world needs us more than ever before.”
Beyond meeting the immediate needs of these communities in crisis, The Russell Berrie Foundation believes in maximizing its support for organizations working toward long-term resilience. “We continue to assess ongoing challenges, with the knowledge that more work will need to be done, even after the pandemic passes,” said Ruth Salzman, CEO, The Russell Berrie Foundation. “We are actively learning from our partners on the ground how to anticipate what those needs will be and by investing in the ‘Day After’, we will be better prepared to serve our communities as they cope with the long-lasting impact and challenges ahead.”
Additional grants, both in the U.S. and Israel, will be announced on a rolling basis as the Foundation works in partnership with its grantees, communities and colleagues to respond to the current public health crisis. For more information and a full list of grant recipients visit: https://www.russellberriefoundation.org/covid-19
About The Russell Berrie Foundation
Established in 1985, The Russell Berrie Foundation is a philanthropic organization that identifies visionaries, institutions and unsung heroes doing groundbreaking work, and amplifies their impact by providing financial and strategic support. The Foundation invests in areas that reflect Russell Berrie’s passions and perspective, including diabetes care and research, Israel's cultural and economic vitality, interfaith bridge-building, elevating the profession of sales and strengthening community in New Jersey. Since inception, more than $300 million has been distributed to effective organizations that align with The Foundation’s core mission and values. https://www.russellberriefoundation.org/
Contact
Katie Vroom
Affect
T+1 201-966-4666