(Courtesy of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest) The Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey (JWF-NJ), a giving circle of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ, recently awarded more than $41,000 to five local nonprofit organizations that are working to positively impact women and girls, and to two organizations in Israel that are helping women deal with trauma in the wake of the Hamas attacks.

Nine thousand dollars will be directed to Partners of Fallen IDF Soldiers. Although the army provides financial and emotional support to spouses of Israel Defense Forces soldiers killed in action, it does not extend services to girlfriends and fiancés. This organization provides group and individual counseling to the affected young woman and to her parent/s (to help their daughter navigate her loss). Since October 7, 151 new partners have been identified, two new support groups have been opened (with three more starting soon), and 70 partners have begun receiving individual therapy.

An additional $9,000 will go to the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel (ARCCI). All nine centers affiliated with this network have significantly increased counseling services for female survivors who were triggered by reading reports in the press or seeing videos on social media of Hamas terrorists sexually assaulting women.

Locally, the trustees approved $23,792 in grants to support Impact projects throughout new Jersey, including $5,000 to Girls in Gear in Essex County, $5,000 to Moms Helping Moms Foundation in Warren, $3,792 to RENEW Life Center in Paterson, $5,000 to Turning Point Community Services in Irvington and $5,000 to YWCA of Eastern Union County in Elizabeth.

Since its formation in 2007, JWF-NJ has awarded grants to more than 85 organizations, totaling more than $1.4 million. If you are interested in learning more about the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey and its mission of “Giving Together, Granting for Change,” please see the website at https://jwfnj.org