Roots & Branches Foundation, a grantmaking initiative of Rose Community Foundation, has awarded $68,653 in grants to eight projects in two grant priority area’s: supporting access to integrated healthcare for low-income and medically uninsured people, and engaging Jewish people ages 21 to 40 in ongoing volunteer programs that promote social justice.

This was the sixth year of Roots & Branches Foundation, which is composed of Jewish individuals in their 20s and 30s from throughout metro Denver. To inform their grantmaking, this year’s 18-member group studied Jewish traditions of giving, strategic philanthropy and community needs, and conducted site visits with prospective grantees.

Following is a list of the grants awarded by Roots & Branches Foundation in 2013. Locations indicate the organization’s headquarters, not necessarily the geographic area served.

Supporting Access to Integrated Health Care for Low-Income and Medically Uninsured People
Clinica Family Health Services (Boulder): $10,008 for the Thornton Medical Clinic, which provides mental health services, and primary and specialized care.
Community Health Services (Adams): $10,008 to support the integration of a comprehensive oral health pilot program serving students at the Adams City Middle School health center.
Inner City Health Center (Denver): $10,008 to provide mental health services, dental care and primary medical care.
Mental Health Center of Denver (Denver): $10,008 to support integration of mental and primary medical care.
Project CLIMB (Denver): $10,008 for the Baby & Me group visitation program, offered in both Spanish and English for parents and their infants. Project CLIMB is a program of Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Engaging Jewish People Ages 21 to 40 in Ongoing Volunteer Programs that Promote Social Justice
Ekar (Denver): $9,361 to support Growing and Giving, a program engaging Jewish 20- and 30-year olds in combatting hunger and malnutrition in partnership with Moishe House Denver.
Hazon (Denver and Boulder): $7,751 for a new fellow position to integrate food justice into Hazon’s programs and to engage Jewish 20-41 year olds in supporting their work.
Keshet (Denver): $1,501 for social justice community organizing training to help Keshet’s young adult volunteer planning team promote inclusion in Jewish and LGBTQ communities.

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

Roots & Branches Foundation 2012-2013 Members
Nhi Aronheim
Alonit Cohen
Rena Dulberg
Sarah Felsen
Elizabeth Freudenthal
Josh Gold
Adam Goodman
Coby Gould
Dan Harrison
Shanna Kattari
Shoshana Kraus
Kate Lewis
Ari Michaeli
Miranda Miller
Lorii Rabinowitz
Jennifer Sarche
Joshua Trager
David Weingarden