JVS SoCal presented scholarships to 240+ students at an award ceremony held at Sinai Temple on July 16. This year the scholarships ranged from $2,000 to $10,000, for a total of $950,000! JVS SoCal, historically known as Jewish Vocational Service, has provided scholarships to students across the Southland for more than 50 years.
The Scholarship Program provides a bridge of opportunity for Jewish students affected by the growing costs of higher education. “This program is successful because of its volunteers and how much they care about their work and the scholars that benefit from it,” said Jonathan A. Karp, JVS SoCal Board Chair and Co-Chair of the Scholarship Committee.
This is the 55th year the agency has awarded these need-based scholarships as part of a legacy devoted to Jewish communal service. To date, the JVS SoCal Scholarship Program has awarded $16.2 million to over 6,700 students. As part of the selection process, participants are matched with donors or funds that meet each student needs, alleviating the burden of educational debt.
Jeff Carr, JVS SoCal’s Chief Executive Officer, shared his gratitude for the program at the event, “It doesn’t just open a door. It removes the toll on the road to walking through it,” he said. The ceremony concluded with a networking reception where many recipients had the opportunity to meet their respective donors.
JVS SoCal is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve sustainable employment and financial independence. With a wide range of career training, employment and human services, JVS SoCal helps people across Southern California realize their professional potential.