Dear Friends of DJCF,
Not a day goes by that I am not confronted by the rise in antisemitism and the fear it has created for so many members of our Jewish community. From the significant financial burdens institutions face as they are forced to invest in embassy-level security – on top of raising funds to advance their core missions – to heartbreaking reports of hatred and violence against Jews in synagogues or simply for being visibly Jewish, the reality can feel daunting and, at times, bleak.
Perhaps you could use a morale boost as well. For me, nothing lifts my spirits more quickly than seeing our community in action. At the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation, our team has a front-row seat to the extraordinary power of generosity and collaboration. Since my last newsletter, several exciting partnerships and forward-looking investments have been announced:
- The Aaron Family JCC launched a strategic partnership with the Dallas Jewish Historical Society, creating new opportunities to explore Jewish history, deepen community connections, and expand learning. JCC CEO Todd Polikoff and DJHS Executive Director Beri Schwitzer are truly making history together.
- The Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas introduced its 2026 Leadership Development Group under the leadership of Senior Director of Women’s Philanthropy & Leadership, Karin Lester. Karin was also recently selected for the prestigious Jewish Federations of North America and Repair the World 2026 Catalyst Program – yasher koach!
- Congregation Anshai Torah established a landmark partnership with the JCC to bring the J’s acclaimed preschool to Anshai’s Plano campus, expanding access and strengthening community through creative collaboration. Hats off to the dedicated professionals and lay leaders who brought this vision to life, especially Todd Chanon, JCC Board Chair, and Michael Dubner, Anshai Board Chair.
- The Biblical Museum of Art director Dr. Scott Peck has curated a museum-quality exhibition at the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation headquarters, featuring works by local luminaries including George Tobolowsky and Pamela Nelson – artists whose work has been showcased at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and NorthPark Center. We invite you to stop by and experience it in person.
Here at the Foundation, we have also been deeply engaged in the execution of our signature college scholarship program. Since 1982, donors have partnered with us to establish scholarship funds based on financial need, academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and community service. By supporting students in their pursuit of higher education, we honor the Jewish value of lifelong learning while investing in the future leaders of our community. This program remains a cornerstone of our mission to foster opportunity, equity, and continuity, within the Jewish community and beyond.
Over the past 44 years, funds on our platform have supported more than 1,200 students through $3.3 million in scholarship awards. Our efforts now extend across the full spectrum of Jewish youth development, including preschool scholarships, Jewish overnight camp experiences, March of the Living, Israel Teen Tour, and more. With recent investments in our systems, we can now track recipients throughout their entire journey of philanthropic support, revealing powerful, full-circle stories of impact.
One such story involves a remarkable young woman who received support for Jewish overnight camp and March of the Living through funds established at DJCF by Dallas families, including the Daniels Family Israel Education Endowment Fund and the Essie and Reuben Rosenbloom Foundation.
Ahead of our upcoming scholarship reception, we received this moving note from her mother:
“Growing up in a small country town as the only Jewish family – and now attending college with only a handful of Jewish students – has not prevented my daughter from developing a deep and meaningful connection to Judaism.
With assistance from the synagogue, I was able to afford membership at Congregation Anshai Torah – an hour from our home – which provided her with a spiritual home and Jewish education twice a week from second through twelfth grade.
As a single mother, without overnight camp scholarship support, she would not have been able to attend Camp Young Judaea. Those blissful weeks at Jewish summer camp fostered spiritual growth and lifelong friendships.
Without DJCF scholarships, she would not have been able to participate in the March of the Living, which inspired her Girl Scouts Gold Award project. And without continued DJCF support, she would not be able to attend college, where she was selected as one of only 24 students in a competitive Fulbright Scholarship graphic design program.
She has proudly recruited Jewish students to her sorority, hosted Jewish holiday dinners in her apartment, and now serves on the board of her campus Hillel.
Thank you for making it possible for her to access opportunities that shaped her into the leader she is today.”
This is how we truly change the world. Not only by responding to antisemitism and the very real dangers Jews face each day, but by proactively investing in the future – ensuring that every individual has access to joyful, meaningful, and sustaining connections to Jewish life.
Our team invites you to come alongside us in this essential work. I would welcome the opportunity to talk about your hopes and dreams for strengthening the future of our community for Jews of all ages and stages.
Foundation Sponsorships
If you’re interested in supporting our work or learning more about sponsorship opportunities, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out to Risa Gross, Senior Director of Impact and Agency Relations, at [email protected] to explore ways to partner with DJCF/SWCF and make a meaningful impact in our community.
Scholarship Reception
Please join us for the 34th Annual College Scholarship Reception where we honor scholarship donors and the amazing students who benefit from their generosity. Register in the link below.
The Aaron Family JCC
7900 Northaven Road, Dallas, TX 75230
Sunday, May 17, 2026
3:00 – 4:30 PM
Employee Spotlight: Ashley Soto
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