Young Judaea
Resources for Tuition Assistance
For the most up-to-date information on Tuition Assistance, please read the corresponding article on our Knowledge Base.
Local Synagogues
Many congregations are strong supporters of children attending Jewish summer camp. Each congregation has its own scholarship process. Contact your Congregation, Rabbi, Brotherhood or Sisterhood President, or Youth Group Director to learn about deadlines and how to apply. Many have a specific budget for scholarship, so ask early. Keep in mind, you may be able to get scholarship dollars from more than one source in your congregation as they often have separate budgets.
Jewish Children’s Regional Service
JCRS is a foundation based in New Orleans that gives generously to CYJ campers. Scholarships are available to campers who are entering 3rd to 12th grade as of August 31, 2017, in Alabama, Arkansas, Lousiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.
Jewish Federations
Jewish Federations are strong supporters of Jewish summer camps. Each city’s Federation has different funding available and different process for its scholarship application. Your city’s Board of Jewish Education, Jewish Family Service or other community resources might also have funds available – contact your local Federation to find out what is available for you.
Hebrew Free Loan Associations
Built on the Torah’s principle of offering loans to our fellow Jews without interest, HFLAs can be found in most cities with a Jewish community, including the four major cities in Texas. They offer loans interest-free, ranging from $500 to $1500, helping families fund experiences for Jewish youth. Contact your local association for more details.
One Happy Camper
The One Happy Camper program provides $1000 grants to first-time campers in a 3-week program who do not currently attend a Jewish Day School. Campers who have attended shorter programs (e.g., Mini Ofarim) are eligible for this grant when they graduate to the 3-week program. This grant is coordinated by the Foundation for Jewish Camps and funded by local program providers, including local Jewish Federations. It is NOT available in every city, so please go to the One Happy Camper website and walk through the eligibility inquiry to find out if your camper is eligible. Apply quickly – the grants will run out!
PJ Goes to Camp
If your camper is not in a One Happy Camper city, PJ Goes to Camp may be another grant option. If you child is an alum/na of PJ Library or has a sibling who is a member, he/she may be eligible. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation partners with Foundation for Jewish Camp to offer these grants to campers not living in One Happy Camper cities. The requirements for this grant are the same as One Happy Camper. PJ Goes to Camp also has a limited lottery for grants to kids currently enrolled in Jewish Day Schools. Apply quickly – these grants will also run out!
CYJ Scholarship Fund
The CYJ Scholarship Fund is another source for tuition assistance. The funds available are limited, so it is imperative that you apply to all possible resources to maximize the assistance your family receives. We will review applications between January and April, and we cannot guarantee funding for applications that come in after that time. We will consider those on a first come, first served basis as long as funding is still available.
Tuition Assistance Resource Guide
Please read our CYJ Tuition Assistance Guide to help you navigate the process. It contains all of the information you see here, plus information by city of suggested organizations for aid, including contact names, websites, and deadlines.
All information received from families regarding scholarship is kept confidential. Please let us know if you have any questions or need any help navigating the Tuition Aid process. Call us at the CYJ office at 713-723-8354, or email us at [email protected].