Newton-Based International Philanthropy Announces Award Winners; Among Three U.S. Organizations To Receive Award Is Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston, Which Is Also Based in Newton
Newton, MA (June 20, 2012) – The Ruderman Family Foundation , an international philanthropic organization based in Newton, announced last week the 10 winners of its inaugural Ruderman Prize in Disability, a global competition of philanthropic organizations.
Among the winners, one of three from in the U.S., is Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston (JBBS of Greater Boston), also based in Newton.
Winners were selected on their strength, innovation, and effectiveness in fostering the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the Jewish community.
The Ruderman Family Foundation chose to award JBBS of Greater Boston a Ruderman Prize for JBBS’s Friend 2 Friend – a program which continues the Big Brother Big Sister “benefits of friendship and companionship” past the 19th birthday of the Little Brother or Little Sister, which is the typical end date for the Big Brother-Little Brother or Big Sister-Little Sister relationship.
JBBS of Greater Boston, founded in 1919, is New England’s oldest youth mentoring organization.
In addition to the three U.S. winners, there were five winning organizations in Israel, one in Mexico, and one in the United Kingdom.
Each winning organization will receive a grant of $20,000 to continue its work.
“In this first year of the Ruderman Prize in Disability program we have been tremendously encouraged with the number of organizations that have applied – and the quality and high achievement of the applicants,” said Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation. “Awarding the prizes is the genesis of a legacy that we believe will support and promote new opportunities for people with disabilities in the Jewish community. Our goal is the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the Jewish community.”
Ruderman added, “These 10 award winners offer a vision of a world with full inclusion, where people with disabilities have the same opportunities for employment, education, religion, and enjoyment of their communities as those without disabilities,” said Jay Ruderman. “These grants will nourish and nurture that vision.”
The mission of the Ruderman Family Foundation is two-fold: Promoting the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the Jewish community through meaningful programs and public awareness and in fostering cooperation and a stronger relationship between Israel and the U.S. Jewish community.
