ATLANTA JEWISH DAY SCHOOL
EDUCATOR WELLNESS  MICROGRANTS

Why:  

• To ensure that our community’s educators are prioritizing efforts that help them maintain strong minds and bodies as they engage in the vital work of educating our children. 

What:  

• With the support of the Hirsch Legacy Fund, the Jewish Federation proudly offers Educator Wellness Grants of up to $400 to be used to promote and support health and wellness. 

Eligibility:  

• Full-time educators (classroom teachers, specialist teachers – art, music, P.E., media, technology, learning specialists, and counselors) currently employed by a K-12 Jewish Day School in Metro Atlanta affiliated with Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.  

• Professionals may request one grant, up to $400, per school year. 

• Fall cycle: reserved for first-time applicants 

• Winter cycle: provide grants to first-time applicants and approve grants to previous recipients as funding allows 

Examples include: 

• Individual therapy 

• Wellness retreat or seminar 

• Mindfulness, yoga, or meditation classes 

• Massage or bodywork sessions 

• Memberships to a gym, JCC, or wellness center 

• Personal trainer, fitness, or exercise classes  

• Home fitness equipment 

• Online exercise classes, wellness apps or trackers 

• Nutritionist services 

• Meal prep services 

• OT, PT, chiropractor or acupuncture services 

• Child babysitting or respite care 

• Personal coaching – time management, career coaching, etc. 

• Hobby/recreational classes and materials 

• Housekeeping 

Application Process: 

• To apply, please complete and submit the form below. 

• Fall Cycle: 

• • Applications should be submitted between September 30 and October 28. 

• • Applications will be reviewed, and recipients will be notified if their grant has been approved by November 22. 

• • If approved, funds will be transferred through Venmo within 2 weeks of approval from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. 

• Spring cycle: 

• • Applications should be submitted between January 13 and February 7. 

• • Applications will be reviewed, and recipients will be notified if their grant has been approved by March 7. 

• • If approved, funds will be transferred through Venmo within 2 weeks of approval from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. 

• • Recipients are required to complete a brief post-grant survey by the end of the 2024-2025 school year. 

• • Recipients need to establish a Venmo account to receive payment. 

• • Please note that this application will remain strictly confidential. 

Questions? Contact Shelley Fogelson, Day School Coordinator, at  sfogelson@jewishatlanta.org. 

Additional resources to support educator wellness 

MJCCA fitness programs – https://www.atlantajcc.org/our-programs/fitness-wellness 

• The MJCCA offers many fitness programs at our Zaban Park Campus for every fitness level. From group exercise classes and STOTT PILATES® to the Brill Family Fitness Center and one-on-one personal training sessions, the workout opportunities are endless. 

 

Jewish Family and Career Services (JF&CS) of Atlanta Clinical Services   – https://jfcsatl.org/services/clinical-services 

• JF&CS provides guidance and support for all ages. They offer counseling for children, teens, and families in the Horwitz-Zusman Child & Family Center. They provide both individual and group therapies across a broad spectrum of issues – from divorce and bereavement to anxiety and depression. JF&CS’s goal is to support and enhance the emotional well-being of our clients as they navigate life’s challenges. 

 

Jewish Interest Free Loans of Atlanta (JIFLA)  – https://jifla.org 

• JIFLA assists Jewish community members in Georgia to achieve financial stability in challenging times with interest-free loans. 

 

The Blue Dove Foundation – www.thebluedovefoundation.org 

• The Blue Dove Foundation was created to address mental illness and addiction in the Jewish community and beyond. They work with Jewish and interfaith organizations and communities across the country and around the world. 

 

HAMSA (Helping Atlantans Manage Substance Abuse) – https://jfcsatl.org/services/clinical-services/hamsa 

• HAMSA (Helping Atlantans Manage Substance Abuse) provides support, resources, and education for those seeking recovery from substance abuse. They work to dispel myths about addiction and eliminate the shame so often felt by those struggling with addiction and their families. Through a Jewish lens, HAMSA offers information and referral services, Narcan education and supply, sober holiday celebrations and gatherings, and expert clinical support. 

 

The Berman Center – https://bermancenteratl.com/ 

• The Berman Center offers high-quality, individualized programs for adolescents, teens, and adults seeking treatment for mental health and substance abuse disorders. 

 

Jeff’s Place – https://www.jeffsplaceatlanta.org/ 

• Jeff’s Place is a community. People of all backgrounds gather to spend time and enjoy a hot drink and a warm conversation together. Programs focused on the recovery community utilize Jeff’s Place to meet and cultivate relationships with each other and their connection to their Higher Power. Jeff’s Place hosts regular 12-step meetings. But Jeff’s Place is more than a physical space. It is a living entity dedicated to those struggling with substance use abuse, those in recovery, and their loved ones. 

 

Metro Atlanta Community Mikvah (MACoM) – https://www.macomatlanta.com/ 

• The mission of the Metro Atlanta Community Mikvah (MACoM) is to provide a safe, sensitive, welcoming, halachic and aesthetically beautiful environment for Jewish ritual immersion and conversion, allowing for ongoing fulfillment of spirituality, Torah awareness, healing and wellness. 

 

Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity (SOJOURN) – https://sojourngsd.org/ 

• SOJOURN’s mission is to empower communities to advance and celebrate gender and sexual diversity across the South.  SOJOURN is proud to offer a variety of educational activities and experiences. Workshops focus on giving students, teachers, and communities the tools to be welcoming for gender and sexually diverse people, Judaic learning, and suicide prevention.  

Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta Leadership
Beth Weiller Arogeti | Board Chair
David Fisher | Interim President & CEO
Avery Kastin | Community Planning & Impact Chair
Mark Stern | Community Planning & Impact Co-Chair
Rich Walter | Chief of Programs & Grant Making
Annie Garrett | Senior Director of Planning