Hidden Sparks Named One of North America’s Most Innovative Jewish Nonprofits for the 4th Year in the Ninth Annual Slingshot Guide; Also Highlighted as a Leader in the Area of Disabilities and Inclusion
(New York, NY) – October 24, 2013
We are delighted to announce that Hidden Sparks has been named one of the nation’s 50 most innovative Jewish nonprofits in Slingshot ’13-’14. Recognized for its creativity, leadership and impact across the spectrum of mainstream Jewish and special education, Hidden Sparks is honored to have been selected for this distinction for a fourth time.
Hidden Sparks is also proud to have been named one of 18 leading Jewish organizations committed to fostering inclusion of people with disabilities in the first ever Disabilities and Inclusion Supplement, one of two new supplements to the Slingshot Guide. The supplements are each focused on a specific issue area and were released today alongside the ninth annual Slingshot Guide, Slingshot 2013-14. These supplements, will help further expand the ability of the selected organizations to carry out their missions, and s expand the resources available to volunteers, activists and donors.
Selected from among hundreds of finalists reviewed by 83 professionals with expertise in grant-making and Jewish communal life, the Guide called Hidden Sparks an “Innovator in coaching teachers to work with children with learning differences.” Will Schneider, Executive Director of Slingshot, added: “The groundbreaking organizations that we highlight in the Slingshot Guide are game-changers in the realms of community engagement, social justice impact, and religious and spiritual life. The Guide is a frequently used resource for donors seeking to support organizations transforming the world in novel and interesting ways.”
About the Slingshot Guide
The Slingshot Guide, now in its ninth year, was created by a team of young funders as a guidebook to help funders of all ages diversify their giving portfolios to include the most innovative and effective organizations, programs and projects in North America. The Guide contains information about each organization’s origin, mission, strategy, impact and budget, as well as details about its unique character. The Slingshot Guide has proven to be a catalyst for next generation funding and offers a telling snapshot of shifting trends in North America’s Jewish community – and how nonprofits are meeting new needs and reaching new audiences. The book, published annually, is available in hard copy and as a free download at www.slingshotfund.org.
“Hidden Sparks is proud to be among the 18 organizations included in the new Disability and Inclusion Supplement”, said Debbie Niderberg, Executive Director of Hidden Sparks. “Since its inception, Hidden Sparks continues to aim to help children of all levels of ability succeed at school and in life. The organizations highlighted in this Slingshot supplement are breaking new ground and helping to foster opportunities for engagement for those with special needs within and beyond the Jewish community. Hidden Sparks is thankful that Slingshot, with funding from The Ruderman Family Foundation, has chosen to highlight disability and inclusion as it expands the scope of its Guide, and we are honored to be among the many innovative organizations that have benefited from the Slingshot Guide over the last nine years.”
About Hidden Sparks
The Slingshot Guide, which highlights the best of the thriving Jewish nonprofit world, selected Hidden Sparks from among hundreds of nominees, Hidden Sparks is a nonprofit whose purpose is to help children with learning differences reach their full potential. Hidden Sparks designs and supports professional development programs for Jewish day schools to help increase understanding and support for diverse learners. Our team is comprised of leading educators, learning specialists, psychologists, school administrators, and curriculum developers. Hidden Sparks offers a series of professional development programs for Jewish day schools in the tri-state region, Baltimore and Chicago. Its Hidden Sparks Without Walls program (HSWOW), is a resource for educators nationwide, and its popular HSWOW Parent Connection series is a national resource for parents. For further information about our webinars for teachers and parents, or other Hidden Sparks programs, log onto www.HiddenSparks.org.
