Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) and Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) today announced a new FJC New England regional center, with additional financial support from The Krupp Family Foundation. The center will work to deepen support for Jewish day and overnight camps across the region; help camps deliver safe, joyful, and meaningful Jewish experiences for thousands of young people; and offer new scholarship opportunities for campers. Recruitment for a New England regional director is now underway.
The new center will increase the number of Jewish kids going to camp and provide camps with the resources they need to thrive. Together, these steps build the foundation of Jewish life and a vibrant Jewish future: Jewish camp is a proven pathway for identity, community, leadership, and growth — values that will be woven throughout the regional hub’s work.
FJC’s New England regional center builds on a longstanding partnership between FJC and CJP. Since 2008, CJP has partnered with FJC on its signature One Happy Camper® (OHC) program, which provides need-blind incentive grants for first-time campers. To date, FJC and its over 100 partners have awarded more than 130,000 OHC grants. This summer, CJP distributed over $900,000 in OHC grants and need-based scholarships, helping more than 400 new and returning campers experience the magic of Jewish camp.
“FJC is thrilled to partner with CJP to open our new regional center in New England, our first hub in collaboration with a federation,” said Jamie Simon, CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “Regional centers boost participation in professional learning and grant opportunities, and bolster local philanthropic relationships to better support camps. Having a leader on the ground enables us to tailor support to local trends, pilot ideas, and scale what works across the field. We are also grateful for The Krupp Family Foundation’s commitment to making this vision possible.”
FJC’s regional model embeds local expertise and relationships to serve camps and communities more effectively. Since launching its first center in Los Angeles in 2019, FJC has expanded to the Midwest (Chicago) and Southeast (Atlanta), with each center tailored to its local ecosystem but united in convening stakeholders, strengthening staff, providing local funding to camps, offering advisory support, and inspiring families to send their kids to Jewish camp. The New England center will be FJC’s fourth, and will bring the organization’s approach to the region’s dozens of day and overnight camps.
CJP works to make camp more accessible for families and supports the professionals serving those families. The New England center will build on CJP’s OHC grants and scholarships, further ensuring that Jewish camp remains a valuable aspect of the teen community’s experience in Greater Boston. This initiative aligns with CJP’s broad commitment to meaningful, relevant, and joyful Judaism and Jewish Peoplehood.
“We are a community that is deeply committed to inspiring our future generations, and CJP has a longstanding commitment to young families and teens,” said Rabbi Marc Baker, CEO of CJP. “In this moment, our partnership with FJC will strengthen the power of Jewish camp as one of the most joyful and transformative expressions of Jewish life. This center will inspire, nurture, and empower the next generation of Jews in New England and beyond.”
As part of the new effort, The Krupp Family Foundation will provide additional support that helps launch the center and expands scholarships for New England overnight campers. This investment reflects a growing coalition of local partners who see Jewish camp as a powerful pathway for identity, community, and leadership.
“Jewish overnight camp offers something increasingly rare: a safe, immersive environment where young people build joyful, lasting connections to Jewish life,” said Douglas and Judi Krupp, founders and board members of The Krupp Family Foundation. “The Krupp Foundation is proud to partner with FJC and CJP to ensure more children and families have access to this transformative experience.”