Rabbi Abraham Halbfinger and Charlesview Charitable Fund Makes First Round of Grants.

The new charitable fund established by Charlesview, Inc. last spring awarded $110,000 to five local organizations in a ceremony at the Josephine A. Fiorentino Community Center on Wednesday, November 12.

Charlesview, Inc., announced its first round of grants – in the amount of $110,000 – to five local organizations that are helping to “improve and enrich the lives of children and families in the Allston-Brighton area.” The grants were made under its Rabbi Abraham Halbfinger and Charlesview Charitable Fund, established earlier this year.

The five organizations that received grants are:

Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), for its youth empowerment program;
West End House Boys Camp, for summer camp scholarships;
West End House Girls Camp, for summer camp scholarships;
Community Rowing, to expand youth fitness and its development program, “Let’s Row to Allston/Brighton”;
Nurturing Families, for a Parent Train the Trainer program in Harvard’s “The Mind Matters” curriculum, which teaches parents the skills children need to succeed.

The awards were presented by Rabbi Yonah Berman, Charlesview Board Chairman, and Etta Anderson, Charlesview Board member.

“Thank you for not just being neighbors,” Rabbi Berman said, “but for being outstanding neighbors, organizations making a difference in the lives of people in this community.”

Etta Anderson said that she is pleased to see how many people and organizations in this community are doing great things. “We are pleased to present these grants today so that we can work together, grow together and together enrich this Allston Brighton community.”

The Rabbi Abraham Halbfinger and Charlesview Charitable Fund was founded by Charlesview, Inc., in March 2014 and named in memory of the late Rabbi Abraham Halbfinger, a founding board member and spiritual leader in the Allston area for 40 years. It was inspired by the shared values and long-term collaboration among Charlesview Inc.’s managing congregations − Congregation Kadimah Toras-Moshe, St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church and Brighton Community United Methodist Church. The Fund was conceived to help organizations’ efforts to make the Allston-Brighton community a thriving neighborhood where opportunity abounds for all residents. The Fund is intended to complement other community efforts by leveraging resources for existing programs and services that help individuals and families living in Allston-Brighton.