Camp Wise LA Receives Funding to Advance Mental Health (2023-2025)

Foundation for Jewish Camp recently selected Camp Wise LA to participate in a ground-breaking initiative to enhance the mental, emotional, spiritual, and social health (MESSH) of its camp community. The third cohort of the Yedid Nefesh initiative will receive extensive financial and educational resources as well as access to a community of over nearly 100 Jewish day and overnight camps across North America that are taking a multi-faceted approach to mental health.

As part of the third cohort of Foundation for Jewish Camp’s (FJC’s) Yedid Nefesh program, Camp Wise LA will receive direct funding to be used to hire a qualified mental health professional, provide enhanced counselor training, establish proactive wellness activity areas, and develop tools to destigmatize mental health in their broader community. Camp Wise LA’s participation is specifically funded by The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, with additional funding to support FJC running the Yedid Nefesh initiative generously funded by The Marcus Foundation.

“By investing in embedded and sustainable MESSH support systems, Camp Wise LA is creating a healthy space for campers and young staff to engage in self-discovery, strengthen their sense of resiliency, and flex interpersonal skills - all while benefiting from the sense of belonging and Jewish community that they are known for,” says Jill Goldstein Smith, senior program manager and Yedid Nefesh project lead at FJC.

About Foundation for Jewish Camp

Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) fosters excellence and accelerates innovation at Jewish camps across North America by developing adaptive talent, deepening immersive learning experiences, and driving field growth. FJC supports camps in their effort to provide a lifelong connection to Judaism and elevates Jewish camp on the cultural and philanthropic agenda. For more information, visit www.jewishcamp.org.