POP-Up Builds Philanthropic Ties

In the City Camp was the first of many organizations the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta Women’s Philanthropy chose to visit June 26 as part of its new POP-Up initiative.

The initiative, which stands for philanthropy, opportunity and purpose is an opportunity for female donors in the community to get involved in women’s philanthropy and to see different projects the Federation is supporting. It also provides an avenue for them to engage in community service or to create programs and start new initiatives.

“We feel that our donors need a connection to where their dollars are going, and if they can see all the different needs then it is a much easier ask for them to support the Federation than getting a phone call once a year and not having any idea where their dollars are going,” said Women’s Philanthropy campaign chair Deborah Levinson. “We can’t necessarily take them overseas, but we can show them all the wonderful local things that are happening.”

In the City Camp is one of many camps the Federation’s philanthropic dollars help support to create and build Jewish confidence among youth. Others include Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta day and overnight camps, Camp Barney Medintz, Camp Judea, Camp Ramah Darom and URJ Camp Coleman.

In the City Camp Founder and CEO Eileen Snow Price privately funded the camp herself before she applied and received a grant from the Federation’s Jewish Innovation Fund. But she said the Federation was a tremendous help. “They are the engine that is Jewish Atlanta and their partnership with us has proven invaluable as part of our growth.”

In the City Camp founder and chief executive officer Eileen Snow Price shares a hug with one of the campers during a tour of the camp.

She added, “I hope the Federation continues to support different endeavors because our community really needs that, and I think it’s the Federation’s goal to help change with it and help evolve the Jewish community to the best it can be in 2018.”

Women’s Philanthropy is trying to schedule two more Pop-Up programs that will highlight Jewish Family & Career Service’s Ben Massell Dental Clinic and the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum.

Women’s Philanthropy leaders and supporters listen to Debbie Levinson discuss Federation’s funding and introduce the first POP-Up.

Women’s Philanthropy President Linda Silberman spoke about her experience. “It was inspiring to hear Price speak. I have been to one of the camps before but to just see the growth and the space, how the children are learning and growing and the fact that they are making all these Jewish memories is wonderful.”

A camper enjoys hanging from the obstacle course while at In the City Camp.

She added, “We want to share all the amazing things that are going on in our community, so as we grow and want to influence more people, we can obviously get more donors and support. But it’s also very important that they see the work that we are doing as opposed to just hearing about it.”