The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles announced $2 million in grants to eight new local Jewish initiatives focused on innovation.

This year’s Cutting Edge Grant recipients include a program engaging Jewish teens in providing literacy and enrichment opportunities to youth from underserved communities, support for L.A. families of lone soldiers serving in the Israel Defense Forces and volunteer training for Jewish community members at a new, multifaceted social services center at Wilshire Boulevard Temple.

Andrea Sonnenberg, an attorney and co-founder and CEO of the organization, with young students who participated in Wise Readers to Leaders. Her husband Glenn (right) is involved with the organization as well. (photo courtesy of Max Gerber Photography)

The full list of recipients includes organizations Families of Lone Soldiers, Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Karsh Family Social Service Center and OneTable.

Established by the foundation in 2006, the Cutting Edge Grants are multi-year awards of up to $250,000 given to creative thinkers, social entrepreneurs, and innovative organizations to develop and implement transformative programs of high visibility and impact in the local Jewish community. These include both initiatives conceived in Los Angeles, as well as local iterations of programs piloted elsewhere. Successful applicants must demonstrate the capacity and leadership to implement their initiative, that the program is unique and sustainable, and that it offers long-term benefits to Jewish Los Angeles.

“Our new Cutting Edge Grant recipients are an inspiring group of social innovators whose vision and creative problem-solving skills are addressing critical needs in Jewish Los Angeles,” said Marvin I. Schotland, the foundation’s president and CEO. “Since the Cutting Edge Grants’ inception 12 years ago, we have awarded more than $17 million to over 90 transformative initiatives which are reimagining and shaping our local Jewish future. These efforts have touched the lives of tens of thousands across our communities, facilitated Jewish engagement throughout the city and fostered inclusion among groups who might otherwise not find their home within Jewish life.”