The Women of Vision Society was proud to fund a grant that played a pivotal role in bridging the intergenerational gap for Jewish seniors at The Towers at Tower Lane. Developed in collaboration with the Southern CT Hebrew Academy and Bais Chana Academy, the "Adopt a Bubbe" program aims to foster meaningful social connections and engagement between female elementary and high school students and female residents at The Towers, promoting companionship, engagement, and learning between the two generations.
The Women of Vision Society (WOV), through their dedicated endowment fund at the Jewish Foundation, has been committed to enhancing the lives of women in the community since its inception in 1996, resulting in over $220,000 in grants to various agencies and programs in greater New Haven and in Israel.
The ‘Adopt a Bubbe’ program, funded by the Women of Vision Society, served as a perfect catalyst to bridge the gap between generations and fulfill both missions, by establishing a sustainable and impactful intergenerational initiative addressing the needs of female Jewish seniors in the community.
The program facilitates the creation of genuine connections, mentorship opportunities, and educational experiences between younger generations and Jewish seniors, and also addresses the feelings of isolation often experienced by seniors.
Education played a significant role in the program with each session focusing on a Jewish holiday or theme that was relevant to both age groups. By sharing their knowledge and experiences, the senior residents at The Towers offered wisdom and cultural insights to the younger generation, while the students shared fresh perspectives and youthful energy to each topic.
The Towers resident, Lil Liberman, was one of the program participants. “This program made me so happy. Today was one of the best days I’ve had in a long time”, she said. “There was so much warmth and love in that room. And to think that this lovely little girl is actually related to my family! We call that b’shert that we were paired together. It was a perfect afternoon!”.
WOV demonstrated their commitment to fostering lasting connections and enhancing the lives of Jewish women of all generations. This grant impacts Jewish education and Jewish seniors through community engagement, by enriching the lives of students and the senior residents at The Towers, and by promoting a stronger, more interconnected Jewish community.
To learn more about grants offered through the Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven, please visit: https://newhavenjewishfoundation.org/grants/