YoPhI Teen Board to be Renamed for Lou and Sybil Mervis

The Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis has received a $100,000 donation from the Mervis family to support the Youth Philanthropy Indy (YoPhI) Teen Board program. To recognize their generous contribution, the program has been renamed the Lou and Sybil Mervis YoPhI Teen Board program.
The YoPhI Teen Board provides an opportunity for participants to learn about the role of philanthropy in society through grantmaking, while also practicing the Jewish value of tzedakah, righteous giving. Board members, who are all 11th and 12th graders, build consensus on shared values, consider grant applications from organizations that practice those values and provide grants to a selection of those organizations.
Sybil Mervis is one of the main reasons the YoPhl Teen Board is here today. She has been and continues to be the Federation’s biggest advocate for the youth as she was involved in starting the program as a founding Advisory Council member. Mervis said she and her family believe in taking care of one another. They understand the importance of giving throughout the Jewish community and continue to show their love and support by giving their time and treasure to the Federation and YoPhl Teen Board. 
“I am delighted the Federation found a program that would help teens learn about charitable giving,” Mervis said. “Teen programming is an important aspect of continuing the involvement of our youth in Jewish activities past their Bar/Bat Mitzvot. I also have 12 grandchildren; some of them are participating in the YoPhI program.” 
David Heilbron, Director of Youth Philanthropy and Connection said the Mervis gift sets up a lasting program in the community that engages young people in the power of philanthropic giving and trains them to be the next generation of leaders. 
“We were not only able to start a teen philanthropy program but to create one that has grown and thrived in only 3 years,” Heilbron said. “The Mervis family contribution will allow us to continue growing the YoPhI Teen Board program – engaging more participants in a deeper and more rich philanthropic experience – and building an ever-growing cohort of young people looking to make a difference in our Jewish community.”
Visit https://www.jewishindianapolis.org/yophi-teen-board to learn more about YoPhl Teen Board or contact David Heilbron at dheilbron@jfgi.org.