Biberstein Social Action Fund: Call for Proposals
Annual social action grants available
Nonprofit organizations in Yolo County are invited to submit applications to the Biberstein Social Action Fund for grants to address poverty, discrimination, abuse and neglect issues.
The
fund was established in 2002 by the board of directors of Congregation Bet
Haverim, Jewish Fellowship of Davis, to honor Ernie and Hannah Biberstein,
who are among the founding members of the synagogue. The Bibersteins are
longtime area residents and have devoted much of their lives to community
service and social justice.
The goal of the annual awards made from the fund is to help groups in their efforts to meet unfulfilled needs.
"In light of all the budget cuts in social services, we hope that grants like ours can make a difference," said Hannah Biberstein. "It means a lot to us that real individuals benefit from our grants." Special consideration is given to new and/or innovative projects, she said.
An annual Call for Proposals is released each September. Grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 are awarded each November. A committee of Bet Haverim congregants review grant applications, which are due October 15. Current Biberstein Fund committee members are congregants Ernie and Hannah Biberstein, Joy Cohan, Sandy Jones and Lyra Halprin, and Rabbi Greg Wolfe. The application form may also be downloaded here.
Or, contact Biberstein Social Action Fund, c/o Congregation Bet Haverim, 1715 Anderson Road, Davis, CA 95616, or call (530) 758-0842, or email: office@bethaverim.org to receive an application form.
The Bibersteins were among the founders of Davis Community Meals, where they have served as board members and officers. They are also active in a variety of interfaith groups, including Care for God's Creation, and Celebration of Abraham, which brings together Jews, Moslems and Christians. They were recipients of the Brinley award for community service in 1998, and the Thong Hy Huynh Memorial Humanitarian Award in 2005. Ernie Biberstein is a professor emeritus of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Hannah Biberstein was a mediator in the original city of Davis mediation program, was chair of the city's Social Services Commission, and served on the Affordable Housing Task Force.
Grant recipients include:
2003:
People Resources, Inc./Elderly Nutrition Program; Citizens Who Care,
Inc.;
Yolo Children's Fund; and Yolo County Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
2004:
Blacks for Effective Community Action/Davis High School Youth in Focus
program, Yolo County Family Service Agency's Kids Turn Spring 2005 program,
Progress Ranch Treatment Services for Children, Yolo Adult Day Health
Center, Davis Bridge Educational Foundation, and the "Outa-Sight" mutual
support group for the blind.
2005: Madison Continuation High School, Esparto Unified School District; Short-Term Emergency Aid Committee, Davis; Kylee Lillich Giving Tree, Woodland; Yolo County Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center; Yolo County Family Service Agency; and Yolo County Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
2006: Families First, Yolo Crisis Nursery; Sacramento Rebuilding Together/Davis Senior Center; People Resources, Inc./Elderly Nutrition Program; and Citizens Who Care, Inc.
| 2007: St. Francis Pet Education and Training Center;
Habitat for Humanity; Citizens Who Care, Inc.; Davis Bridge
Educational Foundation; People Resources Inc./Elderly Nutrition
Program; Families First; Yolo Wayfarer Center; and the Yolo Adult
Day Health Center.
Pictured at right: St. Francis Pet Education and Training Center. For a Pilot Service Dog Program in the Yolo County District Attorney's office to provide crime victim assistance for children making their way through the court system. Lori Raineri, volunteer dog handler.
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For more details on funded projects, please call Hannah or Ernie Biberstein at (530) 756-1761. Contributions to the fund may be made through Congregation Bet Haverim, 1715 Anderson Road, Davis, 95616. Please note that the donation is for the Biberstein Social Action Fund.