Tzedakah boxes reinforce giving

This holiday season, a philanthropist best known for giving out free books to children is mailing a quarter of a million tzedakah boxes to the same children-and more-to encourage and spread the spirit of generosity and giving. And the local PJ Library families will be receiving this generous gift.

Harold Grinspoon launched the project at the holiday season because it is a time when families of different faiths try to teach their children about charity, fairness and justice.

"Generosity of spirit is a learned trait, taught to children by their families and their communities and, if taught well, benefits those communities for generations," said Grinspoon, the founder of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and its flagship PJ Library program.

"These boxes are a Chanukah gift to families with young children who are already nurturing the spirit of charity, and an opportunity for those same families to spread that light into the world, for years to come," Grinspoon said.

Inside each tzedakah box are four different card games reinforcing the principles of giving to others in need. Some of their messages include, "Donate books you no longer read," "Say sorry for mistakes," and "Don't use more water than you need."

The tzedakah box project includes a robust social media campaign to spread the word about the boxes and the values they represent. Participants are encouraged to share photographs, stories and lessons using #kidsgive.

The colorful, kid-friendly tzedakah boxes are a project of PJ Library, which distributes children's books and literature focusing on Jewish stories, customs and values around the world in partnership with local Jewish organizations. More than six million books have been distributed since the program's inception in 2005. Locally, PJ Library has more than 300 participants. The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando is working to secure funding that will expand the program to reach even more children in our community.

PJ Library is a program locally funded through JFGO. The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando has been in existence for over 60 years. The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando's mission is to nurture a unified Jewish community that transcends generations and neighborhoods. We are part of a greater umbrella, the Jewish Federations of North America which represents 155 Jewish Federations and over 300 Network communities, raise and distribute more than $3 billion annually for social welfare, social services and educational needs. The Federation movement collectively is among the top 10 charities on the continent, protecting and enhancing the well-being of Jews worldwide through the values of charity, social justice and learning. To learn more about our impact locally please visit, http://www.jfgo.org.