Whippany, NJ, September 10, 2012 — Imagine that your child was having problems in school but you didn’t speak English well enough to advocate on his or her behalf.

The Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey (JWF) knows of women in just that situation who are desperate to help their children reach their potential, which is why it has awarded a grant to Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest NJ’s Empowered Mothers Advocacy Program. With funds from the Jewish Women’s Foundation, JVS will teach women immigrants how to navigate the public education system and advocate on behalf of their children’s education.

“JVS, located in East Orange, is one of five recipients of JWF’s sixth round of grants totaling $36,000 to programs that positively impact the lives the women and girls in the community,” announced Teddi Dolph of North Caldwell and Lesley Frost of Morristown, JWF co-chairs. Renie Carniol of New Providence is JWF’s interim director.

JWF is a collaborative philanthropy whose members are dedicated to empowering women and girls through education, advocacy, and strategic grant making. “JWF welcomes new members seeking a tangible opportunity to positively impact the lives of women throughout the community. We are very proud and inspired by the organizations we support, all of which are chosen after careful and thoughtful consideration,” said Dolph and Frost.

In addition to JVS’s Empowered Mothers Advocacy Program, awardees include:

• UMDNJ-University Behavioral Health, Newark: to support the Mom2Mom program in Newark, which will provide peer support and expand a help line to young mothers in Newark who are raising children with disabilities, thereby building resilience and empowerment in women who have added stresses in their lives 
• Newark Beth Israel Medical Center: continued funding of an empowering exercise program for low income women recovering from breast cancer surgery and other cancers. 
• Rachel Coalition, Florham Park: to support the cost of making additional copies of a user-friendly guide that helps victims of domestic violence navigate the legal system.
• Daughters of Israel, West Orange: to facilitate renovations of its beauty salon, including the addition of adjustable sinks and modern equipment, to improve the quality of life for women residents and sub-acute patients.

To join the Jewish Women’s Foundation of NJ and/or learn more about its granting process, visit www.jfedgmw.org/jwf or contact Renie Carniol, interim director, at (973) 929-3097 or rcarniol@jfedgmw.org.