Livingston—Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy/Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School have offered to give families who move to the area $25,000 in tuition credit, while participating area shuls will offer up to $12,500 credits when families join them. The announcement about the innovative program, The Bonim Community Growth Incentive, is to stimulate growth in the schools, shuls and neighborhood, addresses middle income affordability, and strengthen the school’s financial assistance program.
Working in tandem with area synagogues, the program offers incentives valued up to $37,500 for new families who move into the area, join a participating synagogue, and enroll their child/children in JKHA/RKYHS. The schools will be offering up to a $25,000 credit towards their yeshiva tuition, while participating area synagogues will be providing benefits of up to $12,500 for new member families that join and send their child/children to JKHA/RKYHS. These benefits include discounts on membership dues, nursery school tuition, High Holiday seats, annual dinner, building fund obligations, and more. To date, participating communities include synagogues in Livingston, Springfield, and West Orange.
Because Jewish education is a significant financial commitment for families, JKHA/RKYHS will also roll out the all-new Yesodot Middle Income Affordability Program for the 2015-2016 academic year. The program is based on a principle that total tuition should not exceed a reasonable portion of a family’s income. For qualifying families, total tuition, regardless of how many children are enrolled, is capped at a percentage of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). If a family’s AGI is between $150,000 and $275,000, their tuition will be capped at 15% – 18% of their total AGI. This allows eligible families to plan their financial future and education-related costs with greater certainty.
JKHA/RKYHS issued a statement saying that the schools are “grateful for the generosity, vision, and leadership of Paula and Jerry Gottesman Family Supporting Foundation for its commitment to this program. In addition, the school thanks the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ and The Partnership for Jewish Learning and Life for their partnership in this important endeavor. Their support and commitment are integral to this program.”
As an additional component to the JKHA/RKYHS Affordability and Growth Initiative, the school has launched the L’Atidenu Financial Assistance Endowment Fund to support the crucial and fast-growing need for financial assistance for JKHA/RKYHS families. When fully funded, this initiative will build an endowment to perpetually provide additional resources to the annual Financial Assistance program. Funds raised in the endowment campaign will directly support that program.
“Our school is steadfast in its commitment to enable every child to have the opportunity to receive a Jewish education. We’ve spent a great deal of time taking a closer look at what will best serve our current school families, as well as attract new families to our school and grow our extended community, offering them a ‘complete package,’” commented Rabbi Rubin, JKHA and RKYHS Head of School.
“It is critical for us as a school to meet each school family where they are and eliminate barriers to providing their children with a first-rate Jewish and secular education,” added Sandra Blank, Director of Admissions and Community Relations. “We are also excited to be opening doors to the school and community for new families through the Bonim Program, and we look forward to welcoming them.”
