Smotrich Family Foundation Early Childhood "What If" Grants

The Smotrich Family Foundation Grant 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.   “What If” grant recipients are awarded $1500 to implement a special project within their school where they imagined “What if…they had $1500 to imagine the project of their dreams?”. This year there were two "What If" grant recipients.

2024 Winners

Temple Judea ECC will be using their “What If” grant funds to create a “What If Room.” The “What If Room” will be a space for children to delve deeply into one creative theme at a time. Using a combination of new, recycled, and loose parts, children will express their inner builders, makers, creators, and explorers. In the first year, the “What If Room” will showcase 4 themes: Cardboard City, Builders Paradise, Magic of Light, and Experimenting with Paint.

Yeshiva Ketana Preschool will be using their “What If” grant funds to create an outdoor nature based sensory gym to provide an effective and supportive therapy environment for OTs to work one-on-one with students. It will also be used by school staff, after specialized training with an OT, to support children struggling with inattention, impulsivity, organizing, self-control, and self-regulation.