Harold Grinspoon Foundation
2025 Amber Award Winners Group Photo

Meet the First Five Winners of the Grinspoon Amber Awards

Earlier today at the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) named its inaugural five winners of the Grinspoon Amber Awards.

News Index

Michelle-Koplan-Grinspoon-Award-Recipient-th.jpg

Amber Awards

News

JANUARY 15, 2026

Q&A with Michelle Koplan, Winner, 2025 Grinspoon Amber Awards

In honor of the open nomination window, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation is running a series of Q&A’s with the 2025 winners, concluding with Michelle Koplan.

Elana_Frank_Holding_Amber_Award (1).jpg

Amber Awards

News

JANUARY 14, 2026

Q&A with Elana Frank, Winner, 2025 Grinspoon Amber Awards

In honor of the open nomination window, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation is running a series of Q&A’s with the 2025 winners, continuing with Elana Frank.

Day-Camps-The-J-Climbing.jpg

JCamp 180

News

JANUARY 13, 2026

JCamp 180 Announces 36 2026 Day Camp Grant Recipients

JCamp 180, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, is excited to announce the 36 recipients of the Day Camp Matching Grant.

Jonathan_Falk_Holding_Amber_Award.jpg

Amber Awards

News

JANUARY 12, 2026

Q&A with Jon Falk, Winner, 2025 Grinspoon Amber Awards

In honor of the open nomination window, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation is running a series of Q&A’s with the 2025 winners, continuing with Jon Falk.

PJL_book_festival_attendees.jpg

PJ Library

News

JANUARY 12, 2026

PJ Library and 92NY Hold First Ever Jewish Children’s Book Festival

This past Sunday, over 2,000 families ventured to the Upper East Side for a day dedicated to the joy and excitement that Jewish children’s books inspire.

kids_reading_pjow_books.jpg

JANUARY 9, 2026

A PJ Our Way Milestone: 2 Million Middle Grade Jewish Books

This week, PJ Our Way, the continuation of PJ Library for middle grade readers aged 9-12, is marking a huge milestone: Two Million PJ Our Way books have been mailed since the program’s inception!

Jeremey_Burton_holding_amber_award_2.png

Amber Awards

News

JANUARY 8, 2026

Q&A with Jeremy Burton, Winner, 2025 Grinspoon Amber Awards

In honor of the open nomination window, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation is running a series of Q&A’s with the 2025 winners, continuing with Jeremy Burton.

Ana_Bonnheim_Holding_Amber_Award_2.jpg

Amber Awards

News

JANUARY 7, 2026

Q&A with Rabbi Ana Bonnheim, Winner, 2025 Grinspoon Amber Awards

In honor of the open nomination window, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation is running a series of Q&A’s with the 2025 winners, starting with Rabbi Ana Bonnheim

Campers in Lake

JCamp 180

News

DECEMBER 22, 2025

JCamp 180 Welcomes Four Nonprofit Jewish Camps From Across North America

JCamp 180, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, equips over 100 Jewish nonprofit overnight camps and nearly 40 day camps across North America with knowledge, skills, and resources to help them develop long-term organizational excellence. That excellence is key to a camp’s ability to thrive and offer experiences that create lifelong Jewish connections.

Kids With Books

PJ Library

News

DECEMBER 15, 2025

PJ Library Celebrates Five Years and 120+ Jewish Kids Books in Brazil

When PJ Library began in Brazil in 2020, there were approximately five Jewish titles for kids available for sale across the entire country. And these books were difficult to get ahold of.

PJ Library ecommerce animation

PJ Library

News

DECEMBER 15, 2025

Buy Books and More at PJ Library’s New Online Store

Just in time for Hanukkah, PJ Library is making several of its books, holiday guides, and family-friendly gifts available for purchase in a new online store!

Marina's Daughter with PJ Library Book

PJ Library

Perspectives

DECEMBER 8, 2025

Shalom Bayit (A Peaceful Home): How PJ Library is Strengthening Jewish Engagement in Latvia

Every November, as snow begins to fall, the Latvian resort town of Jūrmala, located along the chilly Baltic Sea, transforms into a warm hub of Jewish life and learning. On one Friday morning after school, Jewish families pack up excited children and head to the three-day Gibush Conference, known in Latvia as “the main Jewish event of the year.”

2025 Amber Award Winners Group Photo

Amber Awards

News

NOVEMBER 18, 2025

Meet the First Five Winners of the Grinspoon Amber Awards

Earlier today at the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) named its inaugural five winners of the Grinspoon Amber Awards.

Little Learners Conference Group Photo

PJ Library

News

NOVEMBER 14, 2025

Little Learners, Big Ideas at PJ Library in the UK’s Engagement Conference

Earlier this week, the PJ Library UK team brought together 33 Jewish educators — including nursery school teachers, synagogue educators, and communal professionals — for a day of learning and inspiration at the second Community Engagement Conference.

Tammy Dollin Speaking at Conference

Life & Legacy

Perspectives

NOVEMBER 10, 2025

Four Steps to Build a Strong Legacy Initiative

As a Life & Legacy Community Consultant of 10 years, Tammy Dollin knows the questions, hesitations, and fears that arise around asking people to consider leaving legacy gifts. After all, it’s taking two already challenging conversational topics — death and money — and combining them.

th-placeholder-life-legacy.png

Life & Legacy

News

NOVEMBER 6, 2025

Life & Legacy Surpasses $2 Billion in Commitments Towards a Vibrant Jewish Future

Today, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) has announced that the Life & Legacy program has surpassed $2 billion in legacy commitments. This program, a collaborative effort across 70+ communities, is paving the way for a vibrant Jewish future across North America.

Sarah Eisinger - Kadima: Let’s Go Forward

JCamp 180

News

OCTOBER 28, 2025

JCamp 180 Conference Invites Jewish Camps to Go Forward Through Inspiration, Learning, and Connection

Last week’s JCamp 180 annual conference welcomed more than 400 camp directors, development professionals, board members, and lay-leaders to Western Massachusetts for three days of networking, learning, strategizing and, of course, campfire-style singing.

sephardic_stories_authors_retreat.jpg

PJ Library

Perspectives

OCTOBER 9, 2025

Mentorship, Camaraderie, and Culture at PJ Library’s Sephardic Stories Initiative Retreat

Around the table there were colorful stories of Bukharan cooking, Iraqi Passover customs, Turkish coffee rituals, Libyan family lore, and other tales woven from a rich treasure trove of Sephardic historical memory.

afternoon_with_mimi_newsroom_post_hero.jpg

PJ Library

News

SEPTEMBER 30, 2025

‘PJ Library Presents: Afternoons with Mimi’ Joins Kids Podcast Series Exploring Big Feelings

A few weeks ago, Kids Listen, a nonprofit organization dedicated to high-quality children’s audio, announced the launch of Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups About Feelings, a limited podcast series.

Author Retreat - Author Writing in Book

PJ Library

News

SEPTEMBER 22, 2025

For 20 Aspiring Authors, PJ Library’s Picture Book Summer Camp Is More Than a Writer’s Retreat

Each August for the past four years, PJ Library has invited 20 emerging Jewish storybook authors to the rolling hills of rural Pennsylvania for PJ Library’s Picture Book Summer Camp (PBSC).

Build Endowment Tips

JCamp 180

Insights

SEPTEMBER 16, 2025

5 Tips for Engaging Your Organization’s Board to Help Build an Endowment

What will your organization look like, ten, twenty, fifty years from now? There’s no sure-fire way to predict the future, but building an endowment is the best way to secure it.

michael-hoffman-th.jpg

HGF

News

SEPTEMBER 2, 2025

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation Welcomes Michael Hoffman to Board of Directors

Hoffman is joining the HGF’s nine-person board, which includes the Foundation’s founder and namesake, Harold Grinspoon, and oversees the Foundation’s investments to support the pillars of a strong Jewish future.

th-placeholder-life-legacy.png

Life & Legacy

News

MAY 1, 2025

Life and Legacy’s Annual Conference Strategically Positions Jewish Communities for Future-Building Success

This past week, 220 representatives from Jewish communities across the U.S. and Canada came together in Springfield, Massachusetts for the 2025 Life & Legacy Leadership Conference.

th-placeholder-pjlibrary.png

PJ Library

News

APRIL 4, 2025

175+ Program Professionals and Parent Connectors Glimpse into Mirrors and Windows at PJ Library’s International Conference

This past week, 175+ PJ Library partners from communities across North America came together with PJ Library staff in Springfield, MA for three days of learning and networking at the organization’s International Conference, which has been held annually since 2009.

book-cover-next-year-in-white-house-th.jpg

PJ Library

News

MARCH 4, 2025

PJ Library and Penguin Random House’s New Book Tells the Story Behind the First White House Seder

PJ Library, in partnership with Penguin Random House’s Crown Books for Young Readers, is excited to announce the release of “Next Year in the White House: Barack Obama’s First Presidential Seder,” a heartwarming Passover children's book by award-winning author Richard Michelson and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator E.B. Lewis.

Grinspoon Jewish Story Awards

PJ Library

News

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Harold Grinspoon Deepens Commitment to Jewish Children’s Book Authors with the Grinspoon Jewish Story Awards

It’s a remarkable feat to write a book, especially one that speaks to the values and vibrancy of the Jewish community. Since 2020, The Harold Grinspoon Foundation has recognized the significant achievements of new authors selected for the PJ Library and PJ Our Way line-ups, and now, the Author Incentive Award will be known as the Grinspoon Jewish Story Awards.

th-placeholder-amber-awards.png

Amber Awards

News

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

The Grinspoon Amber Awards to Honor Outstanding Professionals in the Jewish Communal Field

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) proudly announced the launch of the Grinspoon Amber Awards at the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) 2024 General Assembly gathering in Washington DC.

th-placeholder-pjlibrary.png

PJ Library

News

MARCH 26, 2024

This March, PJ Library Presents, A Podcast Network for Kids (With a Jewish Twist) Crosses the One Million Download Milestone

This March, PJ Library Presents, the award-winning podcast network for kids, has crossed the one million download milestone. As one of the largest free book programs in the world, PJ Library launched the network three years ago as another way to help parents bring Jewish stories, celebrations, and traditions into family life.

PJ Library Streits

PJ Library

News

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

Why is this matzah box different than all others?

PJ Library, the free, global Jewish storybook program created by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, is teaming up with Streit’s Matzos to bring kid-friendly resources and activities to more Jewish families in the U.S. and Canada this Passover.

th-placeholder-jcamp.png

JCamp 180

News

OCTOBER 24, 2023

Foundation for Jewish Camp and JCamp 180® Partner to Present the Jewish Camp Summit in December 2024

Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) and JCamp 180, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF), are partnering to host a joint Jewish Camp Summit December 8-11, 2024.

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards

News

MARCH 28, 2023

The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation Celebrates 20th Annual Teachers Awards

2023 marks the 20th Anniversary of the Excellence in Teaching Awards for educators in Western Massachusetts. The award, given by the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation (HGCF) in partnership with the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, seeks to motivate teachers at all stages of their careers to aspire to excellence.

th-placeholder-jcamp.png

JCamp 180

News

OCTOBER 19, 2022

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s JCamp 180® to invest $25 million in Jewish Camps

JCamp 180, a core program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF), will support more than 100 nonprofit Jewish overnight camps over the next five years with the $25 million Forward Together matching grant.

th-placeholder-jcamp.png

JCamp 180

News

FEBRUARY 4, 2021

New $11 Million Grant Programs for Nonprofit Jewish Summer Camps Announced as Camps Prepare for Strong 2021 Summer

As nonprofit Jewish summer camps continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing uncertainty, leading Jewish funders are committing to nearly $11 million in matching funds for Jewish camps, with the hope that their effort continues to further recovery and inspires additional giving in 2021.

th-placeholder-pjlibrary.png

PJ Library

News

FEBRUARY 4, 2021

PJ Library New York Engagement Grants Awarded

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation is excited to present the 2021-2022 cohort of PJ Library New York Engagement Grant recipients. The investment in nine partners will help us continue to GROW BOLDLY in New York City, Long Island and Westchester by identifying and engaging families new to PJ Library who are not yet actively participating in Jewish life in their local community.

th-placeholder-hgf.png

Keren Grinspoon Israel

News

NOVEMBER 24, 2020

Keren Grinspoon Israel Announces New Executive Director

Keren Grinspoon Israel (KGI) announced today that it has selected Andrea Arbel as its new executive director, following Galina Vromen’s retirement after 18 years with KGI and the U.S.-based Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF).

th-placeholder-hgf.png

Keren Grinspoon Israel

News

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

U.S. Library of Congress Honors Literacy Programs in Israel

The Library of Congress has announced that Keren Grinspoon Israel (KGI, the Grinspoon Israel Foundation) has been selected as a 2020 Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program Best Practice Honoree. 

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

MAY 19, 2020

Local Farmer Awards Marks Sixth Year and 70 New Infrastructure Projects

At an essential time for local farmers, a group of community philanthropic leaders and businesses have come together to fund the Local Farmer Awards for the sixth year in a row.

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

MAY 7, 2020

Pioneer Valley College Students Recognized for Entrepreneurial Spirit

86 students from 14 local colleges and universities recently received awards for their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit (This represents 55 unique businesses and business concepts.)

th-placeholder-hgf.png

HGF

News

MARCH 30, 2020

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation to Give $10 Million in Emergency Grants to Non-Profit Jewish Summer Camps in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation today announced $10 million in new emergency grant funding to support the non-profit Jewish summer overnight camps that participate in the foundation’s JCamp 180® program.

author-photo-winnie-sandler-grinspoon.png

HGF

Perspectives

MARCH 19, 2020

"A community is too heavy to carry alone."

If ever there was a time to serve our communities, it is now. I write to share an update on some of the immediate steps we are taking at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation in light of COVID-19.

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

MAY 7, 2019

Local Farmer Awards Marks 5 Years and over Half a Million Dollars Granted for Farm Infrastructure Projects

Celebrating its 5th year, the Local Farmer Awards are funded by a group of philanthropic leaders and businesses, the Local Farm Awards recently gave $142,500 in amounts up to $2500 to 62 farmers in Western Massachusetts and Eastern New York for materials and equipment to make infrastructure improvements.

excellence-in-teaching-award-2018-02.jpg

HGCF

News

MAY 14, 2018

2018 Excellence in Teaching Awards Program Honors 113 in 3 Banquet Programs

The third and last spring banquet honoring a total of 113 teachers in Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden Counties was held on May 10th at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

MAY 2, 2018

Three Winners of Elevator Pitch Competition and Best Entrepreneurial Exhibitors Announced

In front of a crowd of 450 guests including college presidents, faculty, entrepreneurs, and students, three students were selected as the winners of the 15th annual Live Elevator Pitch Competition last night at Grinspoon Entrepreneurship Initiative Annual Banquet.

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

APRIL 27, 2018

Local Farmer Awards Give $135,000 to 59 Farmers in Western Massachusetts

This month, the Local Farmer Awards, funded by a group of philanthropic leaders and businesses, gave $135,000 in awards to 59 farmers operating in Western Massachusetts to fund infrastructure improvements on their farms.

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

NOVEMBER 29, 2017

Grinspoon Foundation honoring local farmers at awards ceremony

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation honored western Massachusetts farmers for the third year running Wednesday night. Forty-nine local farms each received $2,500 grants to support local agriculture.

Read On

Source: WWLP

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

NOVEMBER 7, 2017

Over 500 Pioneer Valley College Students Attended the November 3rd Entrepreneurship Conference in Springfield

The 13th annual Grinspoon, Garvey & Young Entrepreneurship Conference was held on Friday, November 3 at the MassMutual Center and was by all accounts a great success.

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

MAY 8, 2017

Local Farmer Awards Give $116,000 to Local Farmers

Now in its 3rd year, the Local Farmer Awards program is helping farmers welcome the growing season with funds to make infrastructure improvements to expand their businesses.

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

APRIL 14, 2017

Local Banks to Sponsor Live Collegiate Elevator Pitch Competition

Six local community banks will sponsor a live elevator pitch competition at the fourteenth annual Awards Banquet for the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation's Collegiate Entrepreneurship Initiative.

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

MAY 20, 2016

Second Year of Local Farmer Awards Received by 47 Farmers

Recognizing that farming is essential to our community, Local Farmer Award partners, the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation and Big Y awarded 47 local farmers from the Berkshires to the Pioneer Valley $2,500 to make physical infrastructure improvements to their farms.

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

MAY 2, 2016

“Sergeant Shower” Wins Elevator Pitch Competition and Best Entrepreneurial Exhibitors Announced

Jonathan LaFrance, an MBA student from Bay Path University took first place at last night's business competition pitching Sergeant Shower, a biodegradable 2-sided single-use all-in-one shampoo and body wash cloth mitt.

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

MAY 2, 2016

Local Banks to Sponsor Competition for "Best Pitch in the Valley"

Six local community banks will sponsor a live elevator pitch competition at the thirteenth annual Awards Banquet for the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation's Entrepreneurship Initiative.

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

JUNE 15, 2015

Grinspoon Foundation Honors Outstanding Educators

Over a hundred well-wishers attended the Educators' Gala at Temple Beth El in Springfield on May 28, at which four outstanding teachers in our region received Awards for Excellence in Jewish Education from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.

th-placeholder-hgf.png

HGF

News

JUNE 2, 2015

Ten More Families Commit Majority of Wealth to Philanthropy

Today the Giving Pledge announced the addition of ten new individuals and families to the pledge since May 2014, bringing the current total of signatories to 137.

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

APRIL 27, 2015

Elevator Pitch and Alumni Award Winner Announced

Laura Whiteley, a Holyoke Community College took first place at last night's business competition pitching a small wallet with the ability to protect itself with thumb print recognition and tracking capabilities.

author-photo-winnie-sandler-grinspoon.png

HGF

News

JULY 29, 2014

Board Appointment of Winifred Sandler Grinspoon

Winifred Sandler Grinspoon has been appointed President of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, a non-profit organization that support programs that enhance the vibrancy of Jewish life, primarily in North America and Israel.

th-placeholder-hgf.png

PJ Library

News

JANUARY 7, 2014

New Study Shows American Jews Are Embracing “DIY Judaism”

Findings from the largest known study of North American families raising Jewish children pose a provocative question: Could DIY Judaism be the answer to concerns about declining Jewish identity and engagement?

th-placeholder-hgcf.png

HGCF

News

JANUARY 1, 0001

Community Banks to Sponsor Annual Pitch Competition at 15th Annual Entrepreneurship Banquet

The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Initiative will mark its 15th year with an evening of exhibits, contests and celebration at the Log Cabin in Holyoke on April 25, 2018