Local initiative bets the Jewish future on better preschools
Originally published in The Jewish News of Northern California
Following a successful pilot program in the East Bay, EarlyJ has been open to grant applications from throughout the Bay Area since March 2023, distributing more than $1.2 million to 21 preschools as of mid-May. Included in the total is $233,000 for added security following the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, the global spike in antisemitism and parent concerns about safety.
The EarlyJ initiative is funded by the Rodan Family Foundation and the Koum Family Foundation, which together committed to $12 million over five years, in collaboration with 26 funding partners.
The pilot and expansion were structured around data and findings produced from a comprehensive look at Bay Area Jewish preschools conducted by Rosov Consulting and commissioned by the Koret Foundation, as well as population survey data.
