We invite JCYF Alumni to stay in touch with us!
Please use this SurveyMonkey link to provide your contact information so we can keep you updated on special alumni events and opportunities.
Please use this SurveyMonkey link to provide your contact information so we can keep you updated on special alumni events and opportunities.
JCYF Distinguished Alumni Award
Each year, the JCYF Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes an alumnus/a who is making, or has made, an outstanding contribution to the Jewish Community on his/her campus or surrounding community.
Read on for information about previous winners!
Read on for information about previous winners!
2024 Award Winner:
Gabrielle Bailey
2023 Award Winner:
Philippa Chown
- JCYF Class of 2021
- Hometown: Princeton Junction, NJ
- College: Northeastern University
- Award Money Given To: Northeastern Hillel's Tikkun Olam Committee
Involvement in the Jewish Community and Israel:
I am deeply involved with the Northeastern Hillel both as a Board member and as President of the Tikkun Olam Committee linking students with local charitable organizations. I am dedicated to ensuring students find a welcoming environment at Hillel and feel integrated into the Jewish community. On Fridays, I attend services and dinners, cherishing moments with my friends. Additionally, I volunteer at a Jewish senior home through Hebrew Senior Life. My commitment to my Jewish roots extended to a memorable summer in Israel, where I experienced Birthright Israel and later worked at Technion in Haifa through Onward Israel. I've been a part of the Jewish Learning Fellowship and am looking forward to joining the Israel Learning Fellowship.
How has JCYF influenced your current involvement in the Jewish community?
Gabrielle's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
JCYF equipped me with the skills to research and partner with various organizations for events in collaboration with Northeastern Hillel’s Tikkun Olam Commitee. This experience also honed my ability to convey the significance and value of an organization's cause to fellow students.
Gabrielle's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
Dedicating time to the service of others is a valuable way to learn about both your community and yourself.
Philippa Chown
- JCYF Class of 2017
- Hometown: Princeton Junction, NJ
- College: McGill University
- Award Money Given To: DOROT, Inc.
Involvement in the Jewish Community and Israel:
After learning about DOROT through JCYF in 9th grade, I visited individuals and created lasting friendships. During a gap year in Israel focusing on social responsibility and mutual cultural respect with Kivunim, I met Jewish artists, musicians, historians and government leaders. I also volunteered with parents and their toddlers with special needs at Shalva. As Vice President of Chabad McGill, I cultivated a sense of belonging for students. I loved delivering food to homebound seniors during the thick of the pandemic, bringing them an extra smile and a short, but thoughtful conversation. Living in the city, I look forward to getting involved with DOROT and Chabad Young Professionals. Through Partners in Torah, I meet with a partner to enrich my Jewish life and learning.
How has JCYF influenced your current involvement in the Jewish community?
Philippa's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
Pirkei Avot teaches us to not separate ourselves from our communities. I remind myself to look within my community to build partnerships, meet new people, and volunteer. JCYF teaches us how our money, time and community can be leveraged for good.
Philippa's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
JCYF is a wonderful opportunity to find out who you are and what you care about. Find what motivates you to get involved and make your mark! I believe a life which emphasizes philanthropy and Jewish community will be a life rich with meaning and joy.
2022 Award Winner:
Mandi Lichtenstein
- JCYF Class of 2020
- Hometown: Robbinsville,NJ
- College: Elon University
- Award Money Given To: Mazon - A Jewish Response to Hunger
Involvement in the Jewish Community and Israel:
Over the course of the past year, I have made a tremendous effort to
become a part of the Jewish community on Elon University's campus. I
found myself forming a really deep connection with my campus's Hillel. I
enrolled in a Hebrew language class, and my professor, Boaz
Avraham-Katz has become one of my closest, most trusted mentors. I am
now taking Hebrew III, working for Hillel as an engagement intern, and
sitting on the Community Development Committee. Not only that, but I am
the treasurer of Elon University's Hebrew club, which we just started
this past year. I'm planning on doing Birthright Israel this coming summer and
following it with a program with Onward Israel, where I'll be spending a
month interning at the Technion Institute of Technology. Throughout
last year I taught my local New Jersey Hebrew School via ZOOM with one
of my friends.
How has JCYF influenced your current involvement in the Jewish community?
Mandi's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
JCYF taught me that there are more ways to get involved than just going to Hebrew school or getting tutored for a b'not mitzvah. JCYF taught me that Judaism is more than prayers and torah, it's a community of people who grow and learn together. I feel that I have tried my best to carry that with me to college, which is what helped me get involved in a meaningful way.
Mandi's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
Don't take this program for granted. Everything about JCYF has some form of importance that you may not know now, but you will later on. Enjoy every second.
2021 Award Winner:
Talia Feldman
How has JCYF influenced your current involvement in the Jewish community?
Talia's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
Find issues that you believe in and support them in various ways. Take what you learn and give to causes and organizations you are passionate about in the future. Use your experience working on a team to form or advance organizations that you support. Keep the ideas and lessons you learned in JCYF with you as you move on to the next chapter of your life.
Talia Feldman
- JCYF Class of 2017
- Hometown: Princeton,NJ
- College: University of Delaware
- Award Money Given To: University of Delaware Hillel
Since I
arrived at the University of Delaware, I’ve been very involved in the
Jewish community. There was no pro-Israel presence on campus, so I
established Blue Hens for Israel, a pro-Israel student
organization and became founding president. We create
programs including IsraelFest for Yom HaAtzmaut and brought Our
Narrative to campus where an Israeli and Palestinian share personal
narratives. We send students to AIPAC Policy
Conference and work with the UD StandWithUs Emerson Fellow to create Israel programming. I
am also a Hillel Shabbat services leader, fellow of Hadar’s Collegiate
Davening Fellowship, and was fellow on The Nachshon Project.
How has JCYF influenced your current involvement in the Jewish community?
JCYF introduced me to great organizations, near and far, which serve the community, the arts, education and Israel. I
learned I have the power to work towards improving the world and
how important it is to dedicate money and time to causes that are
important to you. I have been able to find my passions on campus within
the Jewish community and work to bring new ideas and perspectives to
campus.
Talia's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
Find issues that you believe in and support them in various ways. Take what you learn and give to causes and organizations you are passionate about in the future. Use your experience working on a team to form or advance organizations that you support. Keep the ideas and lessons you learned in JCYF with you as you move on to the next chapter of your life.
2020 Award Winner:
Connor Dedrick- JCYF Class of 2017
- Hometown: Montgomery,NJ
- College: Boston University
- Award Money Given To: Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem
I served as Treasurer for BU Hillel Student Board as a freshman and now as President and head of Religious Life Council. I helped create the Religious Life Retreat engaging students in a pluralistic Jewish community, lead Mitzvote to increase civic engagement and assist students with absentee ballot voter registration. I work on Holocaust education events and contemporary Jewish issues at the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies. I am also a Boston Interfaith Leadership Initiative fellow where I’ve become an effective leader and teach others to do the same. I participated in Birthright Israel and study at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem as part of the Taamu Uru College Cohort.
How has JCYF influenced your current involvement in the Jewish community?
JCYF taught me that Tikkun Olam is never complete. I always look for ways to improve and reach for new and exciting goals. After the tragedies in Pittsburgh and Christchurch, I reached out to the campus Muslim community to create regular dinners for Muslim and Jewish students. This led to the creation of the Interfaith Cooperative which encourages those of different faiths and world views to appreciate commonalities and differences through safe and productive conversation.
Connor's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
My hope for you is that you will move forward with causes dear to you for as long as you can, and when you can't move forward with them anymore, I hope that you can move to the side and help empower the people who will come after you.
2019 Award Winner:
- JCYF Class of 2016
- Hometown: Princeton Junction,NJ
- College: Barnard College of Columbia University
- Award Money Given To: Students Supporting Israel
I’ve been a proud Jewish activist since the fourth grade with a passion for Israel and Judaism. I joined the Hillel community during my first semester at college, attending events and weekly Shabbat services. As a founding board member of Columbia University Students Supporting Israel (SSI), a Pro-Israel group, I develop partnerships with other campus groups and will serve as Vice President next semester. I have written for the school newspaper about Israel-related issues. I also work at Rodeph Sholom Religious School teaching Hebrew, Jewish studies, and Torah. We organize philanthropy events and programming to help struggling communities in the city.
How has JCYF influenced your current involvement in the Jewish community?
JCYF provided me with a platform to change the world and establish my role as a young Jewish activist. Working for SSI on campus, I see what a huge impact a small donation can have on the success of an organization. JCYF was just the beginning of my involvement in the Jewish community.
Lindsay's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
Be grateful for the opportunity to help others. Use the lessons of JCYF to continue a life of philanthropy strengthening the Jewish and Israeli communities. If you do not take action for the Jewish people and Israel, NO ONE ELSE WILL. Be the change, this is just the beginning!
2018 Award Winner:
Matthew Hampel- JCYF Class of 2015
- Hometown: Yardley, PA
- College: Penn State University
- Award Money Given To: BKind at Penn State
JCYF inspired me to become a leader in the Jewish community on campus. I am the Secretary of Students Supporting Israel (SSI) which promotes Israel’s right to exist and its culture. I sit on the Challah for Hunger executive board which bakes and sells challah to raise money for a local food bank. I am active in Hillel's THON, a year-long fundraising endeavor for pediatric cancer research and treatment. Finally, I am starting BKind, an on-campus initiative from an Israeli company that encourages people to "pay it forward" with good deeds and spread random acts of kindness.
How has JCYF influenced your current involvement in the Jewish community?
My participation in JCYF showed me that there are numerous ways to be a part of and take a leadership role within the Jewish community. It introduced me to the various ways of giving Tzedakah and encouraged me to take an initiative in Tikkun Olam. JCYF introduced me to philanthropic organizations which allowed me to immediately take a leadership role in organizations on campus.
Matthew's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
JCYF is an incredibly valuable experience. Prospective employers and people you meet in college and beyond are impressed by its merits. It demonstrates initiative, and showcases essential skills such as planning, teamwork, leadership, and decision-making.
2017 Award Winner:
Stephanie Woloshin
- JCYF Class of 2015
- Hometown: Yardley, PA
- College: Lynn University
- Award Money Given To: Jewish Teen Funders Network
I established Students Supporting Israel (SSI) at Lynn University, the first pro-Israel group and student-led Zionist grass roots movement. I am involved with ZOA, Chabad and am Vice President of Hillel at Lynn and board member of Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach County. I have spoken and written articles promoting Jewish causes on campus, and was privileged to attend the Anti-BDS summit at the U.N. Since starting college, I have been a Judaics and Religious School teacher at B'nai Israel Synagogue.
JCYF sparked my passion for Jewish agencies, philanthropy, learning and more specifically, an interest in Jewish programming and leadership. Through the program, I developed advocacy and analytical skills. I was so inspired, that I assisted JCYF in their office last summer. My goal is to incorporate philanthropy as a component of all Jewish programming - my ideas are limitless.
Stephanie's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
JCYF enables students to impart real tangible change and repair the world. Value the opportunity to positively change the world through your contributions. It is imperative that each one of us contributes to enriching our world.
2016 Award Winner:Stephanie Blitzer
- JCYF Class of 2013
- Hometown: East Windsor, NJ
- College: American University
- Award Money Given To: HIAS
I started Challah for Hunger at American University with friends. We bake challah together while discussing social issues affecting us and the homeless residents of Washington, DC. The challahs are sold and proceeds are given to Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger, as well as a local DC organization which combats hunger. We look forward to expanding the chapter and increasing community awareness.
How has JCYF influenced your current involvement in the Jewish community?
JCYF showed me how to be an active participant in the Jewish community beyond youth group programs. Since graduating from the program, I wanted to apply what I learned about Tzedakah and Tikkun Olam to stay involved in the Jewish community. JCYF fueled my enthusiasm to start Challah for Hunger on my campus. This has allowed me to connect with more like-minded people with similar interests.
Stephanie's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
Don't take JCYF for granted. There is so much to learn: using Maimonides' Ladder of Tzedakah to compare organizations, or gaining a new perspective of fund distribution. Don't wait until you graduate from JCYF to fully understand and appreciate the skills you developed. It is a privilege to participate in such an amazing organization.
2015 Award Winner:Molly Fisch-Friedman
- JCYF Class of 2012
- Hometown: Princeton Junction, NJ
- College: Princeton University
- Award Money Given To: Greenwood House
On campus, I am president of Koleinu, Princeton's Jewish a cappella group. As president, I make sure that the group continues to function, and I help promote our presence on and off campus. Additionally, I have spent the last 2 years on the board of Koach, the Conservative minyan at the Center for Jewish Life. I have also spent the last 2 summers working for two different Jewish community organizations. In the summer of 2013, I interned at Adath Israel Congregation through the JFCS's Avodah Internship program. This past summer, I was fortunate enough to be a Goldman Fellow for the American Jewish Committee. I teach both Hebrew and Judaica at my synagogue's Hebrew School. This experience has taught me a lot, and it has shown me how rewarding teaching can be.
Participating in JCYF gave me a greater sense of the importance of maintaining a connection to many Jewish communities. I learned about organizations near and far that are dedicated to maintaining the Jewish community and ensuring that Jews all over the world have resources. This showed me that each one of us has the capacity to contribute whether by giving our time, money, or ideas. Every piece of tzedakah we donate contributes to the betterment of the local and broader Jewish communities.
Molly's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
You are doing incredibly important work by supporting the Jewish community across the world. The small actions you take here in New Jersey can impact people in your town, your state, your country, and your world. That's no small feat! Congratulations on everything you've been able to do so far, and if you keep it up, you'll be able to do amazing things in your future.
| 2014 Award Winner: Daniel Fine
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I'm an executive board member for Hillel at Penn and an active member on the board of Chabad. I have consistently signed off as a student leader in support of Israel on PIPAC's inaugural Israel support declaration over the last 3 years. Additionally, Chabad honored me last summer as one of America's Top 50 Jewish College Leaders. I had the good fortune of being hosted for a few days in Washington DC where we met with Israeli Chief Rabbi Metzger, had an incredible discussion with Elie Wiesel, and conversed with many political leaders. At the summit, I was asked to speak at the closing ceremony on behalf of all Jewish students to those leaders and rabbis from around the world, which was a truly humbling experience. I have also been a leader within and a speaker for the MEOR organization and Maimonides programs.
How has JCYF influenced your current involvement in the Jewish community?
My work in JCYF initialized my interest in participating in events that are specifically connected to Judaism. It was my first Jewish organization leadership role, which has led to involvement in similar positions in larger organizations within my current Jewish communities.
Daniel's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
Hey JCYF. Hope you're enjoying your experience thus far! To keep this short and sweet, have fun while participating at JCYF, but also think about and appreciate the values that it teaches you. It’s a program that goes beyond philanthropy and helps give you a greater connection to the Jewish community. From the causes and organizations that you support to the friends with whom you share the experience with, JCYF is a great and unique program. Learn from it. Appreciate it. And enjoy!
| 2013 Award Winner: Alison Berg
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Before coming to college, I was not only a member of JCYF, but also a member of the Youth Advisory Board and Gesher LeKesher. This past summer, I was an Avodah Intern with the Jewish Federation of PMB promoting Project Buy Israeli Goods. I visited Israel through Birthright and continue my relationship with the Israeli soldiers.
Community Activities:
I am involved in Challah for Hunger, a Hillel program where students bake and sell challah on campus each week and all proceeds go to fight world hunger. I traveled to Nicaragua on an Alternative Spring Break trip with American Jewish World Services to help build a school to teach sustainable agriculture and studied the Jewish law of giving. I also volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and am Director of Philanthropy for my sorority — our national philanthropy being Breast Cancer Education and Awareness.
How has JCYF influenced your current involvement in the Jewish community?
My involvement in JCYF not only taught me invaluable lessons such as communication, leadership, cooperation and compassion, but it led me to the goals that I now have for my future — a career in non-profit management. Also, it exposed me to the various kinds of need in the world and while I was able to give money through JCYF, it made me want to experience the need first hand. The program inspired me to take the trip to Nicaragua instead of going to Cancun with my friends, live outdoors and do physical labor all day.
Alison's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
JCYF gives students the opportunity to gain a new perspective on the world and the Jewish guidelines on how to give. If they take advantage of this, they will be much better informed citizens and will be able to use their problem solving skills in every day life. The Jewish Community Youth Foundation was the best high school experience that I had and has lasted me long past graduation.
| 2012 Award Winner: Samara Wright
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This spring semester I will be studying abroad in Israel. I will be studying at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem at the Rothberg International School. I am really interested in learning about the Israeli culture and exploring the land of Israel! I am also interested in learning Hebrew, which I have already started doing at the University of Pittsburgh.
Community Activities:
At the University of Pittsburgh I am an active member of the club Challah for Hunger. This past fall semester I helped to start the Challah for Hunger chapter in Pittsburgh. In this club, we bake challot in the kitchen at the Hillel, sell the bread on campus and then donate the proceeds to non-profit charities in the area. I also participated in a club called Café Ivrit. In this club we practiced our Hebrew language skills and learned about the Israeli culture.
How has JCYF influenced your current involvement in the Jewish community?
My participation in JCYF has influenced me profoundly. JCYF cultivated my awareness and responsibility as a Jewish young adult to give back to the community. JCYF has taught me the power of leadership skills. I use those leadership skills on the college campus daily.
Samara's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
Take a moment to appreciate and self-reflect on the amazing skills learned from JCYF. Take advantage of the connections you make among your peers and the adults around you. Feel great about yourself because you are participating in such a great program and giving back to the community in a meaningful way.
| 2011 Award Winner: Lily Pepper
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Hillel Board Member · Birthright/Taglit · NYU Tel Aviv · Tel Aviv Summer Internship Experience · Four semesters of Hebrew · Minor in Jewish Studies · Lived in Community Service Dorm on Campus · Internship with Elliot Berger of Merrill Lynch who advises private foundations with their philanthropic efforts.
Community Activities:
As a Hillel Board Member, I am involved in helping to plan and execute a variety of activities. As a member of the Community Service Dorm, I helped organize joint activities between the Habitat for Humanity Club, Community Service Dorm and the Trinity College Hillel.
How has JCYF influenced your current involvement in the Jewish community?
Being involved in JCYF helped me to understand the importance of giving back to the Jewish and other surrounding communities. At Trinity College I have been involved in a lot of community outreach programs. Additionally I have been involved with my family’s growing foundation.
Lily's Message to the Current JCYF Participants:
Learn about and donate to organizations in which you are interested and care about. Try to avoid choosing organizations that you think “look good,” in other words be discerning; though wherever you choose to contribute will be the right choice because you chose to contribute!
