A Leadership Journey Rooted at Camp Tawonga

Research shows that Jewish summer camp isn’t just a cherished childhood experience — it is one of the strongest predictors of lifelong Jewish engagement. A multi-year report from the Foundation for Jewish Camp found that adults who attended Jewish overnight camp are significantly more likely to participate in Jewish life as adults, including synagogue involvement, Jewish learning, volunteering, charitable giving, and raising Jewish children. For the members of the Young Jewish Fund, a Federation giving circle for young Jewish professionals, this data was deeply motivating. Knowing that a single camp experience can set a young person on a lifelong path of Jewish connection helped affirm that investing in Tawonga scholarships wasn’t just about one summer — it was about cultivating the next generation of Jewish leaders.

Growing up, Vicki never knew the financial details behind her ability to attend camp. But after participating this year in the Young Jewish Fund and reflecting on the importance of access to Jewish experiences, she returned home and asked her mother how they had afforded the summers that meant so much to her.

“I found out that Tawonga gave us 40–50% off every year,” Vicki shared. “That’s the only reason I could come to camp. I’m only now understanding how much my mom made this happen because she knew how important it was to me.”

The realization reshaped how she viewed her own story — and her responsibility.

“At the Young Jewish Fund, I said, ‘I am a living example of why scholarships matter,’” Vicki explained. “Every camper you send to Tawonga could become someone who goes on to lead in the Jewish community. I mean… that’s literally me.”

Today, Vicki is a founding resident of Moishe House Marina in San Francisco, building a vibrant center of Jewish life for her peers. She also sits on the Impact Investing Committee at the Jewish Federation Bay Area. Her leadership — grounded in inclusivity, access, and Jewish community — is a direct extension of the foundation she built at Tawonga.

“Tawonga was the starting point for my Jewish journey,” she said. “Everything I’ve done since then — my leadership, my commitment to giving, my involvement in the Federation — it all goes back to camp.”

Her experience on the Young Jewish Fund this year was emotional and eye-opening. As she helped direct philanthropic dollars to organizations across the region, she felt increasingly called to ensure that Tawonga could remain accessible for future generations.

“This year felt really personal,” she said. “I was advocating for Tawonga the whole time. Supporting scholarships felt like giving back to the very place that shaped me.”

Vicki also expressed a strong desire for young philanthropists to understand the real impact of their giving.

“We should get to see where the money goes,” she said. “That’s part of learning philanthropy. When you give, you want to see the impact. And if people could see Tawonga’s magic, it would make them lifelong supporters.”

Her story is a powerful reminder that a scholarship today can spark the leadership of tomorrow — and that Tawonga’s model of community, identity-building, and joy creates generational ripple effects that strengthen Jewish life for decades to come.