The Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey (JWF-NJ), a giving circle of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest, has announced five new grants of $25,000 each to support urgent needs affecting women and girls in Essex and surrounding counties. These grants reflect JWF-NJ’s ongoing commitment to creating systemic change through strategic, values-driven philanthropy.
This year’s grantees include:
- CASA for Children of Essex County – The project will train Court Appointed Special Advocates on issues of trafficking, trauma, and reproductive health to better serve tween girls in foster care who face complex risks.
- Essex County Family Justice Center – The project will expand case management services for survivors of domestic violence, with a specific focus on women who have endured strangulation—one of the most dangerous indicators of escalating abuse.
- Jewish Vocational Service of Metrowest – The project will pilot a new initiative combining Intensive ESL training with a Certified Home Health Aide course, equipping immigrant women with the tools they need for employment and independence.
- University Hospital Foundation – The project will provide blood pressure cuffs and educational support to hypertensive pregnant women for at-home monitoring—a critical intervention in preventing maternal complications.
- Volunteer Lawyers for Justice – The project will train attorneys to assist caregivers in obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) for their children—a legal pathway that offers protection, stability, and a future path to U.S. citizenship for vulnerable youth.
“We are proud to support these innovative programs that uplift and empower women and girls in our community. Behind every grant is a story of hope, resilience, and the belief that meaningful change begins with compassion,” said Debbie Turvey, JWF-NJ Co-chair. “These grants are more than financial support—they are a statement of our belief in partnering with organizations to create a safer, healthier, and more just future for women and girls,” added Debbie Otner, JWF-NJ Co-chair.
This year’s focus on domestic violence continues a line of support initiated last year at this time, when JWF-NJ awarded a grant to the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center (DASACC) to furnish an emergency shelter with essential items—including a dining set, commercial washer/dryer, and swing set for children—ensuring that women fleeing abuse could find comfort, dignity, and a place to rebuild.
Also in 2024-25, JWF-NJ funded the Perinatal Health Equity Initiative, which provided in-home prenatal and postpartum visits to Black mothers in East Orange and nearby areas. This innovative, community-based model helped reduce health disparities, while offering care and advocacy in a trusted, supportive environment. That work directly inspired this year’s investment in maternal blood pressure monitoring devices at University Hospital.
JWF-NJ has over 85 committed members, and the momentum is growing. As JWF-NJ looks ahead, it continues to seek new partners and projects that elevate the well-being of women and girls in Northern-Central New Jersey. To learn more about membership or apply for a grant, visit www.jwfnj.org