Foundation News

Koret’s Director of Programs, Danielle Foreman, calls on local philanthropists to help improve the quality of life in the Bay Area.

The Koret Foundation has launched a new K-12 Education Innovation Initiative to provide more than $11 million worth of grants over the next three years to fund pilot programs in the Bay Area. Grantees include organizations devoted to ensuring college access and success, STEM learning, teacher training, and skills- and opportunity-building for students in underserved communities.

As the US government shutdown continues into its third week, Bay Area food banks are providing support for workers missing their latest paychecks. Community food banks in Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Francisco – Marin have all stepped in to help furloughed federal workers by delivering food and produce, setting up temporary pantries, and helping families to enroll in the CalFresh food stamp program and find the closest food distribution site.

The de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park launched the de Youngsters Studio—a pioneering play space dedicated to engaging children’s curiosity. The Studio features hands-on activity stations that use technology to explore fundamental art concepts: color, composition, shape and form, texture, and sculpture. Admission to the Studio is free and open to children of all ages and with activities specifically created for ages 3–8.

On December 9, the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto hosted the Z3 conference in partnership with the Reut Group, fostering conversations around a strong vision for the future of Zionism and Israel-World Jewry relations. Z3 is a platform for mobilizing a global network of leaders and organizations committed to strengthening the relationship on the basis of equal standing between Israel and World Jewry. Koret President Dr. Anita Friedman served on two panels focused on the voice of World Jewry in relation to Israel (photo credit Saul Bromberger).

Wishing everyone a happy Hanukkah!

A staple in San Francisco modern dance, Joe Goode Performance Group (JGPG) fuses dance-theatre with text, gestures, and humor. The Resilience Project is a residency partnership between JGPG, the CJM, and veterans organizations that to explore how we deal with trauma. The residency began in the fall with a final performance at the CJM in 2019.

Koret support helped to launch Bridge to Arts and Music, a program that offers after-school instruction in piano, voice, and other disciplines for underserved communities through a partnership with Third Baptist Church, Temple Emanu-El, and San Francisco Interfaith Council.

The leading Israeli humanitarian NGO deployed an emergency response team to California following the deadliest wildfire in the state’s history. IsraAID’s team is distributing relief supplies, supporting first responders as they care for those affected, and will open a Child-Friendly Space in the community to help children cope with the trauma and stress of losing their homes.

The Koret Foundation is proud to congratulate Koret President Dr. Anita Friedman for receiving a Silver SPUR Award for her work with Jewish Family and Children’s Services and her dedication to serving the San Francisco Bay Area community. The Silver SPUR Awards Luncheon honors individuals who have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to bettering the San Francisco Bay Area. Other honorees included Reverend Harry Chuck, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, and Greg Moore.