Page 29 - Jewish News_January-2021

COMMUNITY FOCUS January 2021 29A

JFCS launches diversity coloring book

Unique partnership with Ringling College students teaches children to respect and include all
Robert Stack FCS of the Suncoast proudly an- Ringling College, diversity from Em- About JFCS individuals who are homeless in Sara-
After years in the clothing business, nounces the release of Finding bracing Our Differences, and the heart Inspired by the Jewish tradition of sota, Manatee, Charlotte and Lee coun-
Robert Stack returned to school to be- JJoy in Our Differences: An Activ- of caring from JFCS.” helping all people, Jewish Family & ties. Services are delivered to people in
come a social worker. One of his first ity and Coloring Book. The book was Emily Murphy was excited when Children’s Service of the Suncoast need regardless of their religious back-
placements was in a hospital setting designed by Ringling College of Art she learned about the project: “A big provides counseling, personal sup- ground. More information is available
whose staff included one other mem- + Design students Emily Murphy and topic today is that representation mat- port and financial assistance to youth, at jfcs-cares.org.
ber of the Jewish faith. Once, when Courtney Jones to help children under- ters, especially for young kids, who adults, families, veterans, seniors and
another staff member got a bad cold, stand the deep importance of diversity need to see themselves in media be-
she prepared several servings of chick- and inclusion. The book is sponsored cause that is empowering. It makes
en soup for him. Feeling much better by JFCS’s “Take-a-Look Buy a Book” them feel real when they see someone NCJW 2021 scholarship
sooner than anticipated, he asked her and co-sponsored by Em- who is like them.”
what made the soup so effective. She bracing Our Differences, Sarah Wertheimer, applications available online
replied that it contained “Jewish pen- carrying on the mission to Executive Director of his year marks the 21 Annual Scholarship Grants Committee.
st
icillin.” He and other staff members help fight illiteracy in Sara- Embracing Our Differ- Scholarship Awards Program Members of the NCJW Scholar-
were mystified by this response as they sota and Manatee counties. ences, was delighted Tsponsored by the Sarasota- ship Grants Committee include Co-
actually thought there might be such Finding Joy in Our Dif- to get involved. “Be- Manatee Section of the National chair Natalie Weinstein, Jessica Dill,
a thing. The Jewish woman, probably ferences was revealed to cause of our close con- Council of Jewish Women (NCJW). Suzan Friedman, Nancy Gold, Joan
giggling inside, didn’t say anything for the public during a Zoom nection with our local The Scholarship Program recognizes Goodis, Cecelia Horwitz, Paulette
a few months. But, ever the punster, conference on Thursday, schools, we are thrilled and promotes education of “non-tra- Kessler-Westerman, Ginny Kutikoff,
Bob piped up, saying, “It’s not Jew- November 5. Attendees had to be able to distribute ditional students” who are seeking to Rosalie Lewis, Phyllis Lowitt and
ish penicillin but another medication, the opportunity to preview these meaningful ac- continue their education. The scholar- Rookie Shifrin.
Bubba Meisin.” the diversity activity book tivity books to all 1 ship application is available online at Applicants must demonstrate fi-
st
Many Aviva residents are original- and hear the story of its creation. grade students at Alta Vista, Emma E. NCJWsarasota-manatee.org. To access nancial need and meet the following
ly from New York. Sometimes, there The idea for the coloring book Booker, Gocio and Tuttle elementary the online application, pull down the criteria: be a minimum of 24 years of
can be a tendency among them to think originated with longtime JFCS vol- schools. I know that these students will Community Services tab and select age; have a gap of at least six years fol-
that anything west of the Hudson River unteer Sheila Birnbaum. After JFCS learn and grow through using this ac- Non-Traditional Scholarships. lowing high school graduation; hold a
is merely flyover country. I, therefore, enthusiastically adopted the project, tivity book and open their hearts and “The Scholarship Program un- high school diploma or GED; be a doc-
have relished sharing a story in their she approached Ringling College of minds to the world around them.” derscores the mission of the Saraso- umented resident of Sarasota County
company from my teenage years. Art + Design, then Embracing Our Finding Joy in Our Differences will ta-Manatee Section of the National or Manatee County; be registered at
Every summer our family would Differences, and was impressed with be provided free to 1 grade students at Council of Jewish Women to improve an accredited educational institution,
st
travel from Ohio to visit my grand- their gracious willingness to collabo- local Title I schools and to JFCS cli- the quality of life for women, children which must be a two-year college, a
father, who lived in Flushing, Queens, rate. “We have never before had three ents. Books are also available for a $10 and families. We consider all eligible community college, a four-year col-
New York. One year, my beloved Cin- nonprofits join together to create a donation. To order one or more activity students, male or female, who need lege, a vocational/technical school,
cinnati Reds happened to be playing community project,“ says Birnbaum. books, click the DONATE button on financial assistance to reach their per- graduate school or an online program.
the New York Mets while we were “Connecting with the right partners jfcs-cares.org and select Diversity Col- sonal and professional goals. Due to Online applications must be sub-
there. Since we were staying so close impacts positive results for the chil- oring Book in the drop-down menu. If the financial impact of Covid-19, we mitted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Febru-
to Shea Stadium, I just had to see The dren of Sarasota/Manatee. Our joint you are ordering three or more, email anticipate a significant increase in need ary 12.
Big Red Machine in action. But, hardly mission provides art and design from kpharo@jfcs-cares.org for a pick-up. this year,” noted Andria Bilan, Chair,
eager to draw attention to my foreigner
status in enemy territory, I didn’t wear
anything that suggested my loyalty
was not to the Mets. Sitting in the right
field upper deck, I watched with great
pride as the Reds, featuring stars John-
ny Bench, Pete Rose and Joe Morgan,
were introduced and took the field. But
this wonderful moment was quickly
spoiled when a couple of rows be-
hind me, a group of Met rowdies got
up and yelled, “Send these farmers
home.”
Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz serves as the
Community Chaplain and Director of
JFCS’s Jewish Healing Program and
the Director of Spiritual Services for
Aviva - A Campus for Senior Life. His
positions are underwritten by The Jew-
ish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

we are FED Of all the exotic places you’ve dreamt of visiting,

an out-of-town cancer center probably isn’t one of them.

Enriching Jewish Hearts A diagnosis of cancer is bad enough. Spending hours on a plane to get
care makes it worse. No one should have to leave home for cancer treatment—
and soon you won’t have to. Comprehensive cancer care is coming to
Sarasota. So you can stop fighting your way through strange airports

and start fighting your cancer here at home.
our Federation strives to enrich Jewish hearts in our Sarasota-Manatee Hope comes home. Give today.
Ycommunity — from life-changing trips to Israel for teens, community You have the power to give hope. Please consider a gift to help support the 941.917.1286 | smhf.org/hope
leaders and mothers and fathers to our Shapiro Teen Engagement Program Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute.
(STEP) to Gulf Coast Hillel and much more.
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OR BY VISITING www.freshfromflo-
jfedsrq.org • 941.371.4546 rida.com/divisions-offices /consumer-services. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. (REGISTRATION #CH103) THE HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION WILL USE THE FUNDS FOR THE
STATED PURPOSE BUT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO USE THE GIFT IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSE IF THE STATED PURPOSE IS IMPOSSIBLE OR IMPRACTICAL TO ACHIEVE.