Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey Awards $125,000 to Local Organizations

The Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey (JWF-NJ), a giving circle of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest, has announced five new grants of $25,000 each to support urgent needs affecting women and girls in Essex and surrounding counties. These grants reflect JWF-NJ’s ongoing commitment to creating systemic change through strategic, values-driven philanthropy.

This year’s grantees include:

• CASA for Children of Essex County - The project will train Court Appointed Special Advocates on issues of trafficking, trauma, and reproductive health to better serve teen girls in foster care who face complex risks.

• Essex County Family Justice Center - The project will expand case management services for survivors of domestic violence, with a specific focus on women who have endured strangulation — one of the most dangerous indicators of escalating abuse.

• Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest - The project will pilot a new initiative combining Intensive ESL training with a Certified Home Health Aide course, equipping immigrant women with the tools they need for employment and independence.

• University Hospital Foundation - The project will provide blood pressure cuffs and educational support to hypertensive pregnant women for at-home monitoring — a critical intervention in preventing maternal complications.

• Volunteer Lawyers for Justice - The project will train attorneys to assist caregivers in obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) for their children — a legal pathway that offers protection, stability, and a future path to U.S. citizenship for vulnerable youth.

“We are proud to support these innovative programs that uplift and empower women and girls in our community. Behind every grant is a story of hope, resilience, and the belief that meaningful change begins with compassion,” said Debbie Turvey, JWF-NJ Co-chair. “These grants are more than financial support — they are a statement of our belief in partnering with organizations to create a safer, healthier, and more just future for women and girls,” added Debbie Otner, JWF-NJ Co-chair.

This year’s focus on domestic violence continues a line of support initiated last year at this time, when JWF-NJ awarded a grant to the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center (DASACC) to furnish an emergency shelter with essential items — including a dining set, commercial washer/dryer, and swing set for children — ensuring that women fleeing abuse could find comfort, dignity, and a place to rebuild.

Also in 2024-25, JWF-NJ funded the Perinatal Health Equity Initiative, which provided in-home prenatal and postpartum visits to Black mothers in East Orange and nearby areas. This innovative, community-based model helped reduce health disparities, while offering care and advocacy in a trusted, supportive environment. That work directly inspired this year’s investment in maternal blood pressure monitoring devices at University Hospital.

JWF-NJ has over 85 committed members, and the momentum is growing. As JWF-NJ looks ahead, it continues to seek new partners and projects that elevate the well-being of women and girls in Northern-Central New Jersey. To learn more about membership or apply for a grant, visit www.jwfnj.org