The Jewish Renaissance Foundation was established in 1995 as a faith-based, nonprofit corporation. Serving more than 6,000 people in Middlesex County each year, we are a leader in providing community coordination, school based services, educational programming, food and nutrition, family development, health services and training. In 2009, the JRF was designated by the NJ Department of Community Affairs www.state.nj.us/dca/, and appointed by the NJ Community Action Association www.njcaanet.org as the Community Action Agency for Middlesex County East. As such we administer a range of anti-poverty programs. Although most JRF programs continue to benefit residents throughout Middlesex County, our Community Action programs are specifically intended for qualified residents in eight designated communities: Carteret, Edison, Highland Park, Metuchen, Perth Amboy, Sayreville, South Amboy and Woodbridge.
In 2015, we were also designated as an FQHC and in 2016 we opened our JRF Community Health Center in Edison, NJ on Oak Tree Rd. An FQHC, or Federally Qualified Health Center, is a nonprofit or public community health center that fulfills certain health service criteria and receives specific government reimbursements and funding. We provide essential medical, dental and mental health services at our center with the utmost care and concern.
The JRF brings innovative ideas and culturally competent programs and services to advance the health and well-being of all people and we work to address barriers to economic self-sufficiency. JRF’s programs include, but not limited to: AmeriCorps, Comfort Partners (PSEG), Perth Amboy Alliance for Community (PAAC), Alternative Education Program (AEI), School Based Youth Services (SBYS), Youth Entrepreneurial Program (YEP), Step-Up (AUL Charter School), the Community Health Center (CHC), Emerging Leaders, the Family Assistance Center (FAC), and the Bayside Family Success Center (FSC). We make hope happen through our hard work and our amazing partnerships!
Our Mission
The Jewish Renaissance Foundation (JRF) is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization founded by individuals who feel compelled to act upon the teachings of the Jewish faith. With two federal designations: as an Anti-Poverty Agency and as a Federal Qualified Health Center, we believe as citizens in a democratic society, we must respond to the needs of our neighbors and share our talents and resources. The JRF is committed to helping individuals/families become healthier and stronger.
Our Vision
We believe in changing lives by creating hope and self-sufficiency, and we succeed by providing individuals, children and families with essential health and human services, community development and youth programs. Our life-improving services extend across all cultures and faiths, regardless of economic status.
Core Operating Values
The following core operating values influence the culture and public image of The Jewish Renaissance Foundation as an effective community-based organization serving a wide variety of individuals and families.
Committed: The JRF is wholly dedicated to going above and beyond to help our participants become self-reliant. As a team, we will go above and beyond the scope of what’s written in a job description in order to advance our agency mission.
Reliable: The JRF strives to providing harmonious uniformity among all our services, recognizes that we are all one people one heart who have a natural right to be respected. Not only are we trustworthy we are also dependable whose values do not contradict each other.
Knowledge: The JRF acknowledges that a knowledgeable staff is imperative to the quality of services being provided. Investing in hiring educated employees and providing staff with coordinated training and professional developer will support agency initiatives in attaining organizational goals. This is true for both staff and board members.
Resourceful: The JRF is able to deal skillfully and promptly with new situations, difficulties. As a team, staff looks towards each other to identify other assets either in the form of material, information and or talent.
Trust: The JRF is known to as an agency that stands for integrity and sets a standard for it, inspiring others to be always truthful and fair as principles held higher than profit and traditional goals.
Friendly: There is no greater person to whom one can turn in their time of need than a friend. The JRF recognizes this in delivery of its services to help and support individuals, families and neighborhoods.
