Eighteen Jews in their 20s and 30s have been selected as the 2009-2010 members of Roots & Branches Foundation. This initiative of Rose Community Foundation provides young adult Jews with hands-on grantmaking experience. Roots & Branches Foundation includes Jews from throughout the Metro Denver area. They represent a broad spectrum of Judaism, describing themselves as Orthodox, Reform, Reconstructionist, Modern Orthodox, Conservative and secular Jews.

From July 2009 through January 2010, Roots & Branches members will explore Jewish philanthropic concepts, establish funding priorities and decide how to grant up to $100,000. "Roots & Branches gave me the opportunity to challenge my mind and my heart, to meet new people, and to link up with the Jewish community in interesting and meaningful ways," says Rikke Siersbaek, former Roots & Branches Foundation member.

Roots & Branches Foundation members first met at a retreat on July 12. Regular meetings are planned every three weeks. The group will investigate and analyze community needs, decide on a grantmaking approach to address the needs they identify, and award grants based on their findings. All decisions on funding priorities and the awarding of grants will be made by the members. Lisa Farber Miller and Sarah Indyk will facilitate and serve as resource personnel from Rose Community Foundation. Jo Schaalman, a former member of Roots & Branches Foundation, will also serve as a facilitator for the group.

A list of the Roots & Branches Foundation members is below. More information about Roots & Branches Foundation is available at rcfdenver.org/initiatives_roots.htm, or by calling Sarah Indyk at 303.398.7416.

Roots & Branches Foundation 2009-2010 Members

Sephra Albert
Eric Altman
Carley Brooks
Adam Burstein
Sara Chaitin
Loren Faye
Zach Frisch
Lauri Gaffney
Rob Glucksman
Aaron Goldhamer
Joel Gratz
Sari Levy
Aaron Ney
Moshe Lev Perkins
Liza Reifler
Lainie Rosenthal
Andrew Silver
Jess Simmons