JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

Green Beanie Winner

First Place (tie): UJA-Federation of New York

http://www.ujafedny.org UJA-Federation is offering opportunities for its network of beneficiary agencies to become green, including grants, educational programs, and a Jewish environmental fellowship. Addressing climate change at the local level, its Greening Initiative aims to both reduce the federation’s and the network’s carbon footprint and to raise environmental consciousness for the citizens of New York. In doing so, federation and the network agencies are responding proactively to the City of New York’s PlaNYC to create a sustainable city (http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/home/home.shtml ), while also achieving its mission and supporting the organization’s strategic directions. Through this Initiative, network agencies will be provided with the necessary tools to guide them in making environmentally sound changes within their own organizations, and in reaching out to and engaging their constituents. To help guide this initiative, the federation has formed the Greening Task Force, which is co-chaired by lay leader John Usdan and Rabbi Joy Levitt of the JCC in Manhattan. The task force, which is staffed by the Jewish Communal Network Commission, is comprised of seasoned lay leaders, members of the emerging leader community, agency staff and federation staff from across many departments. The Initiative also includes plans for the creation of a Green Resource Guide for network agencies. The guide will identify a range of strategies and resources that agencies can pursue to assist them in becoming more energy efficient and environmentally sound. In addition, an educational program is being developed to support agencies in implementing the strategies identified in the Resource Guide. With the support of a private donor, federation will be providing matching grants to several agencies to support a certified energy audit. And $100,000 in grants will be available to support agencies in implementing energy efficient and environmentally friendly changes within their organization. A Jewish Greening Fellowship, which is being funded through the federation's Commission on Jewish Identity and Renewal, will provide training and support to fellows from up to 20 network camps and community centers

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