JCHAI NAMED ONE OF AMERICA’S TOP 50 INNOVATIVE JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS

JCHAI featured in 13th annual Slingshot Guide, which highlights the best of the Jewish non-profit world.

Bryn Mawr, Pa. – Judith Creed Horizons for Achieving Independence (JCHAI), an organization that empowers disabled adults to live and work independently, today was named one of North America’s top 50 innovative Jewish organizations in the 13th annual Slingshot Guide. The Guide is a go-to resource for volunteers, activists and donors looking for new, innovative opportunities that will ensure the Jewish community remains relevant and thriving.

Organizations included in this year’s Guide were evaluated on their innovative approach, the impact of their work, their leadership in the sector and their effectiveness at achieving results. Selected from among hundreds of finalists and reviewed by more than 100 individuals with expertise in grant-making and Jewish communal life, the Guide called JCHAI an organization that “doesn’t believe in limits” for its developmentally disabled members and truly gives its members “a better quality of life.” The Guide notes that due to JCHAI’s services and offerings, parents of JCHAI members are able to go on vacation for the first time in decades.

“JCHAI is proud and honored to be featured in this year’s Guide for our work that truly empowers developmentally disabled adults to learn how to live and work independently, while becoming contributing members of the Greater Philadelphia economy,” said Judith Creed, Board Chair of JCHAI. “With a 75 percent employment placement rate, we are continuing to see the impact of JCHAI’s efforts and are thrilled to be positioned alongside the other inspiring organizations in this year’s Guide.”

The organizations included in the Guide are driving the future of Jewish life and engagement by motivating new audiences to participate in their work and responding to the needs of individuals and communities – both within and beyond the Jewish community – as never before.

Added Stefanie Rhodes, Executive Director of Slingshot, which publishes the Guide each year,

“Slingshot’s work is to help Jews find, fund and connect to meaningful, exciting experiences in Jewish life. We are proud to highlight organizations doing exceptional work, serving as the trailblazers for what is possible, meeting the community’s evolving needs and inspiring all of us. Whether we look to the Guide for funding ideas, best practices or trends in Jewish life, it remains a resource for all of us, providing new tools and optimism for our collective future.”

Sarah Rueven, Slingshot’s board chair, agreed, "We are excited to highlight the work of organizations that strengthen Jewish life by rising to the challenges of the day and making our community more relevant to our generation. We are inspired by projects that help people connect to Jewish life in ways that both feel fresh and relevant, while honoring our traditions. Readers will learn about valuable new projects and gain a deeper insight into the emerging needs in Jewish life, as identified by our community's top leaders.” 

To learn more about JCHAI’s services and offerings, please visit www.jchai.org.

About JCHAI

Founded in 1987, Judith Creed Horizons for Achieving Independence (JCHAI) empowers adults with developmental disabilities including autism to live and work independently in the community. Through educational, vocational, social and supported living services, JCHAI’s experienced staff help create an inclusive environment where adults with disabilities can learn, have fun and live up to their potential. To learn more about JCHAI’s programs and offerings, please visit www.jchai.org or check us out on social on Facebook or Twitter.

About the Slingshot Guide

The Slingshot Guide, now in its thirteenth year, was created by a team of young funders as a guidebook to help funders of all ages diversify their giving portfolios to include the most innovative and effective organizations, programs and projects in North America. The Guide contains information about each organization’s origin, mission, strategy, impact and budget, as well as details about its unique character. The Slingshot Guide has proven to be a catalyst for next generation funding and offers a telling snapshot of shifting trends in North America's Jewish community – and how nonprofits are meeting new needs and reaching new audiences. The book has been published annually since 2005. Each edition is available as a free download at www.slingshotfund.org, where you can learn more about Slingshot’s work and new strategy for continuing their impact into the future.