Roots & Branches Foundation, a grantmaking initiative of Rose Community Foundation, has awarded $89,282 in grants to nine organizations.

Three of the grants will provide need-based scholarships to Jewish youth from Greater Denver and Boulder to attend Colorado’s Jewish residential summer camps. Six grants are to agencies providing services for victims of human trafficking in Greater Denver and Boulder. The grants were awarded at a March 22 celebration for members of Roots & Branches Foundation and grant recipients.

This is the fourth year of Roots & Branches Foundation, which is composed of Jewish individuals in their 20s and 30s from throughout metro Denver. This year’s 18-member group studied Jewish traditions of giving, strategic philanthropy and community needs, and created grant priorities expressed in a Request for Proposals. They then reviewed the proposals, met with staff and reached funding decisions in February 2011.

This experience opened our eyes and led us to educate ourselves about some of the more pressing needs and issues in our community,” says Roots & Branches Foundation member Matthew LeBauer, LCSW. “It allowed us to connect with so many inspiring organizations and individuals and to put into action our Jewish values of repairing the world and pursuing justice.”

Following is a list of the grants awarded by Roots & Branches Foundation. Locations indicate the organization’s headquarters, not necessarily the geographic area served.

JEWISH RESIDENTIAL SUMMER CAMPS
The following organizations received grants to provide need-based scholarships for Jewish youth from Greater Denver and Boulder to attend Colorado’s Jewish overnight summer camps:

• JCC Ranch Camp (Denver): $11,267
• The Maurice B. Shwayder Camp of Temple Emanuel (Denver): $11,267
• Ramah Outdoor Adventure (Denver): $8,196

SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Center for Immigrants and Immigration Services (Denver): $12,500 for outreach and to provide emergency support, case management, life-skills education and legal services to victims of human trafficking in five African immigrant communities.

The Delores Project (Denver): $4,000 to provide shelter and counseling to women who are victims of human trafficking.

The Denver Center for Crime Victims (Denver): $5,000 to provide legal services, case management, counseling and emergency financial support to immigrant victims of human trafficking.

Prax(us) (Denver): $12,000 to support the Street Outreach and Community Organizing programs in addressing the needs of youth victims of human trafficking.

Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (Westminster): $15,052 to provide free legal services to child victims of human trafficking seeking lawful immigration status.

Urban Peak (Denver): $10,000 to provide shelter, case management, education and job placement, and physical and mental medical care to homeless youth victims of human trafficking.

To learn more about Roots & Branches Foundation, visit rcfdenver.org/initiatives_roots.htm, or contact Sarah Indyk at 303.398.7416. A list of members follows.

Roots & Branches Foundation 2010-2011 Members

Sharon Pincus Abrams
Joel Aronoff
Alyce Blum
Yosh Eisbart
Daniel Feiner
Bernard Friedman
Sarah Gibson
Alison Greenberg
Zach Hochstadt
Matthew LeBauer
Jordan Linkow
Alison Mikula
Michael Moses
Alan Reifler
Rachel Shields
Ilana Simon
Mara Trager
Stefanie Slade Winfield