You can make a difference!
A word from Co-Chairs Jonathan A. Karp and David Bolour
For over 50 years, the JVS Scholarship Program has transformed the lives of thousands of students, helping them pursue and achieve their academic and ultimately career dreams. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 1 in 4 Jews in California lives in a household with less than $50,000 in annual income. When we started our program in 1972, the state of California had just recently ended free in-state tuition for the UC system – today, the California resident estimate is more than $40,000 per year.
The need has never been greater. As we continue down the road for the next 50 years of the JVS Scholarship Program, we must redouble our efforts to provide as many need-based scholarships to eligible students as possible.
What makes the JVS Scholarship Program one of the strongest and most long-standing JVS SoCal programs are the multigenerational groups of volunteers that dedicate their time, effort, and knowledge to help students across the Jewish community. This is a true expression of our peoplehood’s time-honored commitment to l’dor v’dor, helping from one generation to the next generation.
The accomplishments and educational triumphs of the students we support would not be possible without those who serve on the Scholarship Committee, who each year face the challenge of allocating limited resources and selecting these bright leaders. This year we were fortunate to be able to distribute $820,000 in scholarships.
Thanks to the Scholarship Committee’s efforts, our program benefited a total of 214 Jewish students this year. For their support, dedication, and time, we are so grateful. Since the program started in 1972, a total of $13.4 million has been awarded to over 6,000 students. Our Committee members’ devotion to the advancement of our students, who are able to provide the gift of education for the people that need it most is what makes the program successful.
L’Shalom,
Jonathan A. Karp and David Bolour, Scholarship Committee Co-Chairs
Mission of the Scholarship Committee
The JVS Scholarship Committee serves to ensure the continuation and financial stability of the JVS Scholarship Program. Through its dedicated volunteers, along with JVS staff, the Committee is involved in every aspect of the program. This includes interviewing and selecting potential recipients, program oversight, fundraising campaigns, administering the scholarships, alumni outreach and development, and recruiting new members and donors.
The JVS Scholarship Committee is a unique policy and services committee. Our dedicated committee members are actively engaged in:
- Setting program policy and structure
- Hands-on participation interviewing prospective and renewal students
- Award determination
- Participate in one or more subcommittees:
- Student Interviewing
- Development
- Alumni Development
- Support Development/Fundraising efforts, campaigns and events
- Pledge a minimum $1,000 “give or get” annual contributions
- Attend four committee meetings a year
Former Chairs of the Scholarship Committee
Edgar M. Phillips, Jr.
1984 – 1987
Charles Wilson
1988 – 1990
Betty Wilson
1991 – 1992
Rhea Coskey
1993 – 1996
Marilyn Kwiker
1997 – 1998
Donna Ellman Garber
1999 – 2000
Joyce Berger
2001 – 2002
Joy Kravitz
2003 – 2005
Judy Felsenthal
2006
Rhea Coskey, Ellen Morehead Weisman, and Nancy Paul
2007
Nan Kalish Goodman and Ellen Weisman Morehead
2008 – 2010
Ellen Weisman Morehead and Marnie Bodek
2011 – 2012
Nan Kalish Goodman and Jonathan A. Karp
2013 – 2014
Jonathan A. Karp and Leland Fesenthal
2015
Leland Felsenthal and Matthew Paul
2016 – 2017
Matthew Paul and Jonathan A. Karp
2018
Matthew Paul and Alan Polsky
2019
Alan Polsky and Jonathan A. Karp
2020 – 2021
Jonathan A. Karp and David Bolour
2022 – 2023
2024 Scholarship Committee
Jonathan A. Karp, Co-Chair
David Bolour, Co-Chair
Sam Abrahamson
Laura Adler
Devin Andre
Linda Androlia
Adam Bolden
Julian Brenman
Sunny Caine
Rhea Coskey
Heather Ezer
Michael Ezer
Dr. James Factor
Debbie Fellman
Judy Felsenthal
Leland Felsenthal
Ashley Franklin
Alexandra Gagerman
Ryan Gagerman
Judith Galperson
Brian Gantwerker, MD
Donna Ellman Garber
Andrew Gindy
Nan Kalish Goodman
Jackie Gottlieb
Susan Greenberg
Salli Harris
Kevin Hayavi, MD
Barbara Herman
Carol Karp
Elizabeth Karp
David Klapper
Caro Krissman
Fred Kunik
Emma Lapin
John Lapin
Barbara R. Leanse
Pearle Rae Levey
Robert Liebesman
Brad Lundy
David Maltzman
Michael Maltzman
Jeanette Mandelbaum
Geri Morguelan
David Nikayin
Neda Nikayin
Matthew Paul
Nancy Paul
David Pelaia
Helane Pines
Adam Pivko
Alan Polsky
Sahar Pouyanrad
Rick Powell
Jordan Pynes
Pat Sills
Seth Silverman
Miriam Stein
Steven Taylor
Polly Marks Weinberg
A. Charles Wilson
Tim Wilson
Alex Winnick
Support the dreams of Jewish scholars
In today’s economy, a higher education is no longer a luxury but a necessity. A college education remains the best investment a student can make in his or her future – recent studies have shown that people with a college degree earn 98% more than people without a degree.
Circle of Honor Endowment Fund
The funds invested by Circle of Honor donors play an essential role in supporting the JVS Scholarship Program now and in the years to come. The Circle of Honor Endowment Fund is long-term investment mechanism enabling JVS to use a percentage of the total earned interest to create scholarship awards now, while reinvesting the remainder of the funds to create awards into the future.
Individuals and corporations who join the Circle of Honor, starting at the $25,000 level or above, create a permanent scholarship fund that may be named in the donor’s honor or in honor or memory of a loved one. Circle of Honor pledges may be paid over time.
Circle of Honor donors are prominently acknowledged on the JVS Wall of Honor in four categories:
Silver Circle (gifts of $25,000)
Gold Circle ($50,000)
Platinum Circle ($75,000)
Diamond Circle ($100,000 or more)
Donors are also invited to attend our annual Scholarship Awards Reception, where they have the opportunity to meet the recipient(s) of their scholarship awards.
Students face serious financial challenges in pursuing higher education:
- Over the last decade, college-loan balances in the United States have jumped more than $833 billion to reach an all-time high of $1.4 trillion, according to a recent report by Experian.
- The average outstanding balance is now $34,144, up 62 percent over the last 10 years. In addition, the percentage of borrowers who owe $50,000 or more has tripled over the same time period, according to a separate report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- A college education is now the second-largest expense an individual is likely to make in a lifetime-right after purchasing a home.
- For recent graduates, their student loan debt also has long-term consequences and may very well shape the rest of their lives. From buying a car or a home to getting married and even having children, many millennials are putting off life’s major milestones because of their record debt.
More Information
Julia Furer
Scholarship Program Director
julia.furer@jvs-socal.org
Joyce Cele
Scholarship Program Coordinator
jcele@jvs-socal.org
Mailing Address:
JVS Scholarship Program
6505 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90048