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April 21st, 2006 Bowdoin Hillel Awarded Soref Advancement Initiative Grant (click for more)

Bowdoin Hillel Awarded Grant to Strengthen Jewish Student Life on Campus
Only Eight Colleges Nationwide Selected for Prestigious Program

(April 21, 2006) . Jewish student life at Bowdoin College received a boost this spring with help from a $5,000 strategic grant from Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. Bowodin Hillel is one of only eight campuses nationwide to be selected for Hillel.s Soref Advancement Initiative (SAI), an intensive program that helps Hillels on campuses with small Jewish populations strengthen their existing programs and plan for future growth and development. Bowdoin Hillel began its one-year participation in SAI with a two-day seminar at Hillel.s Schusterman International Center in Washington, D.C., on March 26-27.

Shelley Barron '09 and Sherrie Bergman joined students and Hillel advisors from Butler University, CUNY City College, Colorado College, Louisiana State University, SUNY New Paltz, the University of San Diego and the University of Toledo to meet with Schusterman International Center staff, undergo skills training, network with one another and set goals for the upcoming year. After returning to campus, the participants are continuing to share ideas and consult with Hillel professionals through regular conference calls, listservs, Web-based seminars and on-site and telephone consultations.

In addition to the $5,000 grant, Jewish students at SAI campuses will also benefit from special funding that allows them to attend student leadership programs, such as Hillel.s Charles Schusterman International Student Leaders Assembly and the Charlotte B. and Jack J. Spitzer B.nai B.rith Hillel Forum on Public Policy.

SAI, a program led by Hillel.s Soref Initiative for Emerging Campuses, began in 2005 on six campuses, and the participating Hillels have since reported a tremendous growth in Jewish life at their institutions. All have increased attendance at events, enhanced their programming content and engaged new students to fulfill leadership roles. Improved relations with the local community college or university have led to increased fundraising efforts, press coverage and ongoing co-sponsorship with other student organizations.

The largest Jewish campus organization in the world, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life seeks to inspire every Jewish student to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life through its network of more than 500 campus foundations, program centers and affiliates. Hillel enriches the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students of all backgrounds so they may enrich the Jewish people and the world.