Nearly 60 area teens are participants in Teen Philanthropy Institute (TPI), a revolving three-year program of the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, in Tenafly, New Jersey, that helps evolve young adults into effective leaders, giving to charity with a sense of excitement and purpose.

After donating $250 of their own money to demonstrate their commitment to the program, the teens learn skills to prepare them to become philanthropists, including social justice, the obligation to give, leadership, budget planning and grant writing.

The teens meet with philanthropists and grantees and research charities. They help others through hands-on projects; TPI participants like Randi Adler discover “contributing time and effort to help others build a foundation for a better life is worth more than emptying my pockets.” One parent remarked, “The feeling of pride and empowerment my daughter gained…was something she never encountered before. She has become emotionally invested in the organizations she supported and presenting these groups with the money they raised is a moment she'll never forget.”

Each cohort (three-year team) thoughtfully chose which charities would benefit from their efforts. Besides hands-on efforts, the charities also received a share of $55,000 raised by the teens since 2008. The list includes:

• Bergen Family Center (educational and recreational programs for children in need of day-care, pre-school and after-school programming)

• Bergen Reads (youth literacy initiative)

• Bonim Builders (renovating, rehabilitating and refurbishing homes for those in need in Northern New Jersey)

• Center for Food Action (seeks to prevent hunger and homelessness)

• Children’s IBD Center at Mount Sinai (provides comprehensive care to children and families with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease)

• Family Promise (helps low-income families achieve lasting independence)

• Institute for Educational Achievement (helps individuals with autism acquire skills that allow them to become more involved in their communities)

• Table to Table (collects fresh, prepared food and delivers it to organizations that serve it to impoverished NJ counties)

“Introducing philanthropy into teenager's lives makes them aware of others in need, giving them access to a world of giving and empathy that will be forever incorporated into their lives,” says Kaplen JCC on the Palisades Vice President JoJo Rubach, whose daughter, Bri participated in the project.

The JCC is accepting applications for the new cohort through November. Interviews will be held in December and the first session for that cohort will begin in January. For more information, contact Judi Nahary at jnahary@jccotp.org.