MVP

Tikkun Olam in Action

WHAT IS MVP?

How Our Students Make a Difference

Grade 7 is the year when most of our students become B’nei Mitzvah. As "Jewish adults" they learn about their responsibilities to their community and to the world around them. The culmination of their Tikkun Olam learning (a two-year program) happens with the Mitzvah of Valuing Philanthropy (MVP) program. Through acts of tzedekah and chesed, the students learn in a hands-on way what it means to become a caring and responsible adult.

If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?

MITZVAH

Students select a mitzvah (commandment), and then research, interview and select an agency that delivers on that mitzvah. They present the mission and needs of their chosen agency to their classmates. The students work together and, as a class, decide how to allocate to every agency from their pool of funds. The year culminates in a Ceremony of Giving, as representatives from all of the chosen agencies come to VTT to receive their grants from the students.

FUNDS

Funding for the program comes from the students themselves. Each student makes a minimum donation of $250 from B’Nei Mitzvah gifts and are encouraged to fundraise for more from family, friends and others. Since its inception in 2008, VTT's Grade 7 students--with support from our generous community--have raised $279,000 to allocate to almost 300 non-profit agencies around the world, many of whom have received multi-year gifts.

See all the agencies we have funded for the last 16 years HERE

LEARN MORE

THANK YOU

VTT gratefully acknowledges the support of our entire community, especially the Irma Zack, z”l, Mitzvah of Valuing Philanthropy Endowment Fund and ZLC Financial for so generously supporting this program.

Please contact our development office if you would like to make a contribution. All donations are eligible to receive a tax receipt.

DONATE NOW

STEPS TO MVP

STEP 1

CHOOSE

Choose an ethical commandment

STEP 2

RESEARCH

Research non-profit agencies connected to your chosen ethical commandment

STEP 3

SELECT

Select one agency to investigate further

STEP 4

INTERVIEW

Set up an interview with your agency to familiarize yourself with their programs, operations, etc.

STEP 5

PRESENT

Create a 15-minute presentation to advocate for your agency to your classmates

STEP 6

RAISE FUNDS

Commit to raising a minimum of $250 towards the collective MVP fund

STEP 7

CLASS ALLOCATIONS

Participate in classroom budget and allocations committee to determine disbursements to all student-selected agencies

STEP 8

CEREMONY OF GIVING

Present agencies with their allocation cheque at the Ceremony of Giving in June

MVP By the Numbers

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