JCYF has impacted me personally as I have become more empathic and aware of the struggles people face, both in my community and across the globe. I have also learned the impact individuals are able to make, and how just a small group of people can do a lot of good.

I will bring to college the teamwork skills I have developed, my ability to speak up, the confidence to pursue things I am passionate about and guiding others.

I will miss connecting with Jewish peers and knowing that I am a part of something special. JCYF has strengthened my commitment to giving by showing me how simple it can be, and I feel more Jewish through doing good deeds.

I would like to advise people to do their best on JCYF Fund Day, and to advocate for the organizations you are passionate about.

JCYF taught me the importance of philanthropy and how I can make a difference in the world. It gave me the tools to help people and see how they are impacted through my actions. I learned to research philanthropic organizations in the area and around the world and to allocate my money to help people.

I will miss the feeing of teamwork and working with my peers to donate money to organizations that need it. JCYF has made me feel more connected to the Jewish values of philanthropy and tzedakah.

To JCYF participants: You have the ability to really help people through your actions and you should be proud of what you can accomplish here with JCYF.

Throughout my five years in the JCYF programs, I have been heavily impacted as a person and a philanthropist. My perception of the field of giving has expanded far beyond what I originally thought, allowing me to act philanthropically in many situations. I can take these skills with me to college as I continue to give in the future as well as the networking skills we learned to help in my career. The thing that I will miss most is the community bonding aspect, getting to meet and connect with new people from synagogues all across the area. JCYF has made me proud of my identity as a Jew through using it to help other people.

JCYF helped me find my place within the Jewish community. I made friends and learned about my community.I will miss hanging out with my friends and learning about new organizations.

I think my biggest take away is to give what you can because all of these organizations are significantly impacted by donations of every size.

Because of JCYF, I hope to get involved in the college community and join Hillel or Chabad.

To JCYF participants: This is a great opportunity to meet Jewish teenagers just like yourself!

JCYF helped me find my voice as a Jewish teen leader during a time of global conflict surrounding Jews and the Jewish homeland. I’ve learned to use my voice to advocate and empower others and to educate peers and make a difference in the way we treat each other. Participating in Youth Advisory Board meetings motivated me to create meaningful change in my community.

As a part of JCYF, I’ve learned the power of donations made with intention. By investigating multiple nonprofits and discussing the best way to allocate funds, I’ve learned that making a monetary donation can have both quantitative and qualitative impact on the beneficiaries. As such, I am motivated to continue donating to nonprofits helping the Jewish community during these tough times of alienation and hardship. I’ve also learned that my donations can impact people all around the world. I’m more committed to giving, but now I will seek to do thorough research to make educated choices about donations, continuing the work we do in JCYF.

Message to share with other participants: Enjoy the present moment! Everything goes by so quickly.

As a JCYF participant over the past 5 years, I learned the importance of supporting philanthropic organizations and fundraising to make a difference. I am grateful for the opportunities to research and interview various organizations. JCYF built an uplifting community that encouraged donating to charities and being passionate about our donations.

I will bring the leadership and communication skills I gained from JCYF with me to college. I have become a more confident public speaker through asking questions to grant representatives and participating in group discussions. Additionally, because I know the supportive feeling of being a part of a Jewish community, I look forward to continuing Jewish philanthropy in college.

I will miss the community and lively conversations fostered at every JCYF meeting. I felt a sense of belonging talking to other Jewish teenagers about our religious experiences. I cherish the meaningful conversations about our Jewish values and the importance of giving tzedakah. I will also miss Allocation Day in which we actively listened to each others’ ideas and collaborated to decide which philanthropic organizations would receive our donations.

Since starting JCYF, I have gotten to know other Jewish teens in my area and feel a sense of community. Despite my age (12) and experience at the time, I was able to make a significant impact on my community. I have become involved in volunteering initiatives and connected with my Jewish identity, especially since there are not any Jewish clubs at my school. Today, I have a new perspective on Jewish values and organizations.

JCYF opened my eyes to philanthropic organizations in America and Israel, and strengthened my commitment to giving and being an active member in my community. To continue the values JCYF has taught me, I hope to join clubs related to philanthropy and Jewish life.

JCYF has especially helped connect me with other Jewish students and I will miss them.

My message to current participants is to be actively involved in JCYF because you will learn a lot of valuable lessons in leadership. Also, researching organizations further outside JCYF can teach you more about philanthropy and opportunities to get involved.