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JVS Scholarship Committee

You can make a difference!

A word from Co-Chairs Jonathan A. Karp and David Bolour

For over 50 years, the JVS Scholarship Program has transformed the lives of thousands of students, helping them pursue and achieve their academic and ultimately career dreams. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 1 in 4 Jews in California lives in a household with less than $50,000 in annual income. When we started our program in 1972, the state of California had just recently ended free in-state tuition for the UC system – today, the California resident estimate is more than $40,000 per year. 

The need has never been greater. As we continue down the road for the next 50 years of the JVS Scholarship Program, we must redouble our efforts to provide as many need-based scholarships to eligible students as possible.

What makes the JVS Scholarship Program one of the strongest and most long-standing JVS SoCal programs are the multigenerational groups of volunteers that dedicate their time, effort, and knowledge to help students across the Jewish community. This is a true expression of our peoplehood’s time-honored commitment to l’dor v’dor, helping from one generation to the next generation. 

The accomplishments and educational triumphs of the students we support would not be possible without those who serve on the Scholarship Committee, who each year face the challenge of allocating limited resources and selecting these bright leaders. This year we were fortunate to be able to distribute $820,000 in scholarships. 

Thanks to the Scholarship Committee’s efforts, our program benefited a total of 214 Jewish students this year. For their support, dedication, and time, we are so grateful. Since the program started in 1972, a total of $13.4 million has been awarded to over 6,000 students. Our Committee members’ devotion to the advancement of our students, who are able to provide the gift of education for the people that need it most is what makes the program successful. 

L’Shalom,

Jonathan A. Karp and David Bolour, Scholarship Committee Co-Chairs


Mission of the Scholarship Committee

The JVS Scholarship Committee serves to ensure the continuation and financial stability of the JVS Scholarship Program. Through its dedicated volunteers, along with JVS staff, the Committee is involved in every aspect of the program. This includes interviewing and selecting potential recipients, program oversight, fundraising campaigns, administering the scholarships, alumni outreach and development, and recruiting new members and donors.

The JVS Scholarship Committee is a unique policy and services committee. Our dedicated committee members are actively engaged in:

  • Setting program policy and structure
  • Hands-on participation interviewing prospective and renewal students
  • Award determination
  • Participate in one or more subcommittees:
    • Student Interviewing
    • Development
    • Alumni Development
  • Support Development/Fundraising efforts, campaigns and events
  • Pledge a minimum $1,000 “give or get” annual contributions
  • Attend four committee meetings a year

Former Chairs of the Scholarship Committee

Edgar M. Phillips, Jr.
1984 – 1987

Charles Wilson
1988 – 1990

Betty Wilson
1991 – 1992

Rhea Coskey
1993 – 1996

Marilyn Kwiker
1997 – 1998

Donna Ellman Garber
1999 – 2000

Joyce Berger
2001 – 2002

Joy Kravitz
2003 – 2005

Judy Felsenthal
2006

Rhea Coskey, Ellen Morehead Weisman, and Nancy Paul
2007

Nan Kalish Goodman and Ellen Weisman Morehead
2008 – 2010

Ellen Weisman Morehead and Marnie Bodek
2011 – 2012

Nan Kalish Goodman and Jonathan A. Karp
2013 – 2014

Jonathan A. Karp and Leland Fesenthal
2015

Leland Felsenthal and Matthew Paul
2016 – 2017

Matthew Paul and Jonathan A. Karp
2018

Matthew Paul and Alan Polsky
2019

Alan Polsky and Jonathan A. Karp
2020 – 2021

Jonathan A. Karp and David Bolour
2022 – 2023

2024 Scholarship Committee

Jonathan A. Karp, Co-Chair

David Bolour, Co-Chair

Sam Abrahamson

Laura Adler

Devin Andre

Linda Androlia

Adam Bolden

Julian Brenman

Sunny Caine

Rhea Coskey

Heather Ezer

Michael Ezer

Dr. James Factor

Debbie Fellman

Judy Felsenthal

Leland Felsenthal

Ashley Franklin

Alexandra Gagerman

Ryan Gagerman

Judith Galperson

Brian Gantwerker, MD

Donna Ellman Garber

Andrew Gindy

Nan Kalish Goodman

Jackie Gottlieb

Susan Greenberg

Salli Harris

Kevin Hayavi, MD

Barbara Herman

Carol Karp

Elizabeth Karp

David Klapper

Caro Krissman

Fred Kunik

Emma Lapin

John Lapin

Barbara R. Leanse

Pearle Rae Levey

Robert Liebesman

Brad Lundy

David Maltzman

Michael Maltzman

Jeanette Mandelbaum

Geri Morguelan

David Nikayin

Neda Nikayin

Matthew Paul

Nancy Paul

David Pelaia

Helane Pines

Adam Pivko

Alan Polsky

Sahar Pouyanrad

Rick Powell

Jordan Pynes

Pat Sills

Seth Silverman

Miriam Stein

Steven Taylor

Polly Marks Weinberg

A. Charles Wilson

Tim Wilson

Alex Winnick


Support the dreams of Jewish scholars

In today’s economy, a higher education is no longer a luxury but a necessity. A college education remains the best investment a student can make in his or her future – recent studies have shown that people with a college degree earn 98% more than people without a degree.

Circle of Honor Endowment Fund

The funds invested by Circle of Honor donors play an essential role in supporting the JVS Scholarship Program now and in the years to come. The Circle of Honor Endowment Fund is long-term investment mechanism enabling JVS to use a percentage of the total earned interest to create scholarship awards now, while reinvesting the remainder of the funds to create awards into the future.

Individuals and corporations who join the Circle of Honor, starting at the $25,000 level or above, create a permanent scholarship fund that may be named in the donor’s honor or in honor or memory of a loved one. Circle of Honor pledges may be paid over time.

Circle of Honor donors are prominently acknowledged on the JVS Wall of Honor in four categories:

Silver Circle (gifts of $25,000)
Gold Circle ($50,000)
Platinum Circle ($75,000)
Diamond Circle ($100,000 or more)

Donors are also invited to attend our annual Scholarship Awards Reception, where they have the opportunity to meet the recipient(s) of their scholarship awards.

Students face serious financial challenges in pursuing higher education:

  • Over the last decade, college-loan balances in the United States have jumped more than $833 billion to reach an all-time high of $1.4 trillion, according to a recent report by Experian.
  • The average outstanding balance is now $34,144, up 62 percent over the last 10 years. In addition, the percentage of borrowers who owe $50,000 or more has tripled over the same time period, according to a separate report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
  • A college education is now the second-largest expense an individual is likely to make in a lifetime-right after purchasing a home.
  • For recent graduates, their student loan debt also has long-term consequences and may very well shape the rest of their lives. From buying a car or a home to getting married and even having children, many millennials are putting off life’s major milestones because of their record debt.

More Information

Julia Furer
Scholarship Program Director
julia.furer@jvs-socal.org

Joyce Cele
Scholarship Program Coordinator
jcele@jvs-socal.org

Mailing Address:

JVS  Scholarship Program
6505 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90048


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