Photo By Jacek Gancarz
“Jewish values. Female voices.”
Those two phrases from Herizon’s website express the heart of the West Palm Beach-based nonprofit, which works for social change for women and girls based on the Jewish values of Tzedakah (meaning “righteousness” in Hebrew and commonly used to signify charity), Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) and Gemillut Chassadim (Acts of Loving Kindness).
Led since 2019 by CEO Jennifer Kryshka, 42, a feminist who has been working in the Jewish community for over 17 years, Herizon annually awards two-year grants of $10,000 to $25,000 to about 10 nonprofits that work for equity, justice and empowerment for women and girls in employment, housing, affordable childcare, reproductive rights and other areas.
For example, Herizon awarded a grant to the Milagro Center’s Girls Go Build program, a hands-on learning project that prepares at-risk, economically challenged Palm Beach County middle school and high school girls for careers in the construction industry, where women are only 9% of the workforce.
Herizon also supports the Women’s Foundation of Florida’s legislative efforts in Tallahassee. “We’re usually funding around 15 to 20 organizations at a time,” Kryshka notes.
Up to half of the grants support programs for women and girls in Israel, but the charities still must have a Florida presence. “Our members are primarily interested in doing things to make improvements in Palm Beach County and Florida overall,” Kryshka notes.
This year, in particular, Herizon is backing projects that help women and girls whose fragile lives were upended by the pandemic. “Covid exacerbated a lot of existing issues — leaving jobs to be primary caretakers and issues with childcare — so the membership decided that housing, affordable childcare and abortion access would be the key focus,” Kryshka says.
Herizon aims to raise at least $400,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30. It’s holding its annual fundraising luncheon (and 20th anniversary celebration) on March 8 at the Kravis Center’s Cohen Pavilion. Originally founded in 2002 as the Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches, the name change took place in August 2022.
Through its No Small Change and Young Leaders Society programs, Herizon also teaches leadership skills and the value of strategic giving.
“Philanthropic leadership is something we encourage,” Kryshka says.
For information, call 561-275-2200 or visit joinherizon.org.