Ruderman Family Foundation 10Th Anniversary Booklet
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2150 Washington Street, Suite 225 Newton, MA 02462 rudermanfoundation.org Our to Inclusion, Innovation, and Leadership from the President The Ruderman Family Foundation believes that inclusion and understanding of all people is If I asked you to identify the largest minority group in the U.S., few people essential to a fair and flourishing community. would know that it’s people with disabilities. Even fewer would know that this minority group makes up an entire fifth of our country’s population. Guided by our Jewish values, we support The fact is that people with disabilities are among the most segregated and neglected people in our midst, with their civil rights constantly violated. impactful programs, innovative partnerships, We at the Ruderman Family Foundation seek to create a society where people with disabilities are fully included and and a dynamic approach to philanthropy in our welcomed to participate in all areas of life. When we say all areas of life, we really mean it. We I hope you enjoy this visual work on projects that enable inclusion in employment, overview of some of these core areas of interest: advocating for and education, housing, worship, and self-determination— seminal projects we’ve just to name a few. This publication introduces you to worked on over the last ten one project in each of these areas to give you a glimpse years. We are always seek - advancing the inclusion of people with disabilities; of how our visionary partnerships are making our ing allies in our work to community a model of inclusion. make society fully inclusive for everyone— and we’d be In order to further strengthen our community, our fostering a more nuanced understanding of the happy to connect with you mission also has a second focus: instilling a desire and on the Ruderman Family commitment among a critical mass of Israeli leaders to Foundation’s website strengthen the relationship between Israel and the American Jewish community among Israeli (www.rudermanfounda - American Jewish community. tion.org), Facebook page, This brochure showcases some of the successes we and on Twitter at leaders; and modeling the practice of strategic have achieved through cutting edge philanthropic @RudermanFdn. practice, using highly focused and strategic approaches, and by harnessing the powerful influence of media— Yours, philanthropy worldwide. especially social media—to further inclusion advocacy and create an impact that reaches beyond any specific project. Jay Ruderman @jayruderman 1 is a Civil Right The JouRney of a PhilanThRoPic family ViSionaRy leadeRShiP an eVolVing JouRney The Rudermans followed the pattern of many philanthropic major gift to local Jewish day schools. When they learned Mort tapped his oldest son, attorney Jay Ruderman, to lead Today the Ruderman Family Foundation is a leading voice families—starting with generous check-writing at the about the absence of children with disabilities in their the Foundation. Jay’s experience with civil rights issues for disability rights, an innovator in strategic approaches to kitchen table and quickly moving into strategic investment. classrooms, the family felt this systematic exclusion was enabled him immediately to understand the disability com - philanthropy, and a partner for Israeli leaders who are gaining Founder and successful businessman, Morton E. Ruderman, an affront to their Jewish values. They agreed to focus on munity as a socially, economically, and politically excluded a vital understanding of the American Jewish community. had long been giving back to the Jewish community in correcting this injustice and from the beginning understood and segregated class. This is the assumption from which he This unique family foundation is successfully changing societal Boston. More than a decade ago Mort decided to make a their commitment to the inclusion of children and adults leads the Foundation and the fundamental perspective we attitudes and advocating for the fullest and fairest use of each with disabilities as a social justice imperative. hold today: disability rights are civil rights. person’s potential. “When my family first ventured into addressing disability issues with our philanthropy, we had a strong commitment to social justice but little personal knowledge or expertise in the field. Over the years we have learned a tremendous amount from professionals, our staff, parents of children with disabilities and most importantly, individuals with disabilities.” Sharon Shapiro The Ruderman family (from left to right) : Jay Ruderman, Shira Ruderman, Todd Ruderman, Marcia Ruderman, The Sharon Shapiro Nearly Foundation 12.5 % 28% has invested 1 in 5 of Americans of Americans people without disabilities with disabilities $ 32.5 M “Everyone deserves a fair shot in life—that was a bedrock value worldwide have in disability live in poverty live in poverty of my father.” a disability. inclusion since Jay Ruderman 2007 2 3 “The Foundation has ‘beautifully branded’ itself as both a leading philanthropy in this arena, and A for Public Advocacy as an advocate and thought leader: according to multiple reports, ‘Ruderman Family Foundation’ and ‘inclusion’ have become nearly synonymous among leaders of U.S. Jewish philanthropies and The Ruderman Family Foundation seeks to serve as a champion of disability larger institutions, across the country.” inclusion through active use of both traditional media and social media. We 2015 impact evaluation of the foundation by community matters publicize all of our programs broadly, using our resources to inspire and implore others to take responsibility for inclusion in their local institutions and commu - nities. External evaluators report that the Ruderman name is inextricably linked to the message of disability inclusion in the Jewish community and beyond. The Foundation Jay Ruderman The Foundation has been cited has gained over published nearly In the last in over 5 years: 16,000 100 Twitter followers Op-Eds 2000 press articles donald Trump criticized after he appears to mock Reporter Serge Kovaleski —NBC NighTly NEWS (video)—November 26, 2015 “It is unacceptable for a child to mock another child’s disability on the playground, never mind a presidential candidate mocking someone’s disability.” Jay Ruderman Ruderman foundation pushes for bottom-up inclusion move - ment for people with disabilities —ThE JERUSalEm POST — November 4, 2015 “What we are trying to do is build a movement from the bottom up. That’s the whole idea behind the summit.” Jay Ruderman Twenty-five years since the ada, focus must be on employment by Tom Harkin and Jay Ruderman ThE BOSTON glOBE —October 31, 2015 “For the next 25 years of the ADA to improve employment and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities we will need a commitment on the part of employers, elected officials, and the broader public much like the efforts that were made to pass and implement the ADA.” Stop enabling donors’ outsized influence on Jewish life ThE FORWaRd —October 22, 2015, by Jay Ruderman “It’s understandable that wealthy people have a voice — even a disproportionate voice — in organizational life. The problem arises when that voice drowns out everyone else’s, completely obscuring the democratic ethos of Jewish civic life.” among the publications in which the Ruderman family foundation has been featured are: 4 5 The Right to Employment The % Foundation As the U.S. economy continues to recover and unemploy - 19 % 68 has invested over ment falls, it is important to remember that people with FEATURE STORY: of people with of people without disabilities still face major barriers to work. Only one in disabilities in the US disabilities in the $ 4M five are participating in the labor market because many, TRanSiTion To WoRK iS good foR are employed US are employed in employment frustrated by workplaces that are unwelcoming, have simply BuSineSS programs given up their job searches. People with disabilities want to work, and given the opportunity, are among the most “It’s great for business,” says Prime Motor Group, committed and dedicated employees. The Ruderman Family CEO David Rosenberg, and we could not agree more. Foundation participates in several employment initiatives Introduced to Transitions through his involvement and one of our favorites is showcased here. with CJP, at first Rosenberg thought he was doing a mitzvah (act of charity) by providing a job to someone The Foundation’s flagship workplace initiative is Transitions with a disability. After hiring his first Transitions to Work, a partnership with Combined Jewish Philanthro - graduate, Isaac, his perspective changed. “Isaac has pies (CIPO), Jewish Vocational Services (JVS), and Boston- been with us for three years. I witness his commit - area employers. Through its comprehensive approach, ment, his diligence, his joy in being able to have a Transitions raises the business community’s awareness job and provide for himself. After a very short time I about inclusive hiring practices while providing well-trained realized that I wished everyone had his attitude, and candidates for employment. For Transitions graduates, the that he improves the environment at the store.” So customized training program develops job-specific skills far Rosenberg has hired Transitions graduates at leading to placements that provide earnings and a sense of three of his 25 dealerships. purpose. As a side benefit, their enthusiastic presence often improves morale in the whole company. “i can’t say enough good things about this program and “Our staff