Congratulations 2025 Recipients of BJE’s Early Childhood Awards & Grants!
On March10, 2025, at BJE’s Bebe Feuerstein Simon Early Childhood Institute, special announcements were made of this year’s recipients of the annual Simha and Sara Lainer Distinguished Educator Awards and the Smotrich Family Foundation “What If” Grants. These prestigious awards are presented annually at the conference, and in addition to the financial award, recipients enjoy the opportunity to be lauded in front of their peers.
Simha and Sara Lainer Distinguished Educator Awards
The Lainer family is renowned for its philanthropic, intellectual, and cultural endeavors benefitting Jewish life through Jewish education and learning. To highlight the critical role that educators at Jewish schools play in our children’s lives and in perpetuating Jewish traditions and values, the Lainer family created “Distinguished Educator Awards” for early childhood educators. Cash awards of $2,500 each are presented annually to three exemplary educators from BJE-affiliated early childhood centers who have been teaching at least seven years in a BJE-affiliated school. This year's winners are Debbie Abeles from Pressman Academy of Temple Beth Am ECC, Joi Burns of Temple Adat Elohim ECC, and Cheryl Winiarz of Wilshire Boulevard Temple ECCs.
Click here to view more about these exceptional educators!
Smotrich Family Foundation “What If” Grant
Smotrich Family Foundation “What If” Grant recipients are awarded $1,500 to implement a special project within their school where they imagined “What if…they had $1,500 for the project of their dreams?”
The Smotrich Family Foundation Award was established by brothers Marvin and Thomas Smotrich, in memory of their parents, the late Bee and Sam Smotrich, who embodied exceptional commitment to Jewish life, love of Jewish learning and devotion to the education of children.
Click here to read more about Kadima Day School and Tashbar Sephardic Yeshiva Ketana, this year's winners of the "What If" Grant.
For more information about the “What If” grant program or the Lainer Distinguished Educator Awards, please contact Carly Rosenstein, BJE Director of the Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Education.
