Welcome! The Jonah Maccabee Foundation was founded not too long after our son and brother, Jonah Maccabee Dreskin, died at the age of 19. He was away at college and his death remains a mystery to this day. Missing him terribly but wanting to remember what was wonderful about his life rather than what went horribly wrong, our family created this project in order to remember and celebrate the things we loved and cherished most about Jonah.
Please come in and look around. You’ll soon find that we provide grants to organizations that are doing some of the the things that Jonah loved most: the arts, social justice, and Jewish life. If you’re inspired by any of this, you are most cordially invited to make your own gift.
Also, soon after Jonah died, Billy began writing letters to Jonah. Some of these are filled with memories of Jonah’s life. Others respond to things happening in the world around us that bring Jonah to mind. You’re welcome to spend some time getting to know Jonah and sharing in his father’s journey of remembrance and tribute.
Also, we’ve opened Jonah’s Trading Post which is filled with music that Billy and Ellen and some of their friends have created through the years. Everything there (audio recordings, as well as sheet music) is available for a donation of any size to the Foundation. We hope you find something you love.
Lastly, please enjoy the 4-minute video we’ve posted here. It features words from just a few of our grant recipients. We hope you will gain a greater understanding of where your donations go and what we are all about.
May the road ahead find us joining hands to bring our very best gifts to all whom we meet along the way.
Very sincerely,
Ellen, Billy, Katie and Aiden Dreskin
The Jonah Maccabee Foundation — “Turning love into action”
A Message from Some of Our Grant Recipients (4 min)
Arts
The Jonah Maccabee Dreskin Arts Fund offering young people dynamic learning experiences in visual and/or performance arts.
Social Justice
The Jonah Maccabee Dreskin Social Justice Fund making the world a better home for young people in need.
Jewish Life
The Jonah Maccabee Dreskin Jewish Life Fund offering young people compelling opportunities to deepen their passion for Jewish living.
The Year We Began Our Work
Campaigns to Raise Funds
Donations Received
Grants Awarded
Meet Some of Our Grant Recipients
Play Group Theatre Arts Fund
“Preparing kids for every stage in life,” PGT understands that rather than the show what’s most important when kids do theatre is learning collaboration, sharpening listening skills, embracing creativity, and treating one another with honor. Located in White Plains, NY, PGT is a safe place where young people can spend portions of their teenage lives being challenged, accepted, respected, and loved, a much-needed place where kids can safely do the hard work of growing into young adulthood. And yes, it puts on shows too.
BlackLine Social Justice Fund
A 24-hour hotline geared towards the Black, Black LGBTQI, Brown, Native and Muslim community, BlackLine provides an anonymous and confidential avenue to report negative, physical, and inappropriate contact with police and vigilantes. BlackLine also provides immediate crisis counseling to those who are upset, need to talk with someone immediately, or are in distress.
First Nations Development Institute Social Justice Fund
The Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund of the First Nations Development Institute, is helping Native American families in California, New Mexico, the Pacific Northwest, New York, Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and other Covid-19 hotspots, to get through these difficult times.
6 Points Creative Arts Academy Jewish Life Fund
A summer camp program sponsored by the Union for Reform Judaism, which strives to create holistic, meaningful experiences for young artists in a living laboratory for learning and performing. The camp is housed at the Westtown School, a Quaker Boarding School on 600 acres located just 25 miles west of Philadelphia. Jonah adored the arts. He loved Jewish life. And summer camp was the only place to look for him in July and August.