Source: Harold Greenspoon Foundation
Over 2,400 Spanish-speaking Jewish children will be reading age-appropriate books in their native language this month, thanks to the expansion of the PJ Library program into Mexico.
PJ Library is a free Jewish children's book program conceived and implemented by the Agawam, Mass.-based Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Through monthly mailings, it delivers the gift of free books and music to more than 100,000 children throughout North America.
The expansion of PJ Library into Mexico represents the first Spanish-language implementation of the program. Run by Universidad Hebraica, an institution training Jewish schoolteachers throughout Latin America, the Mexican implementation of PJ Library will be largely school-based.
It will distribute Spanish-language PJ Library books to over 2,400 Mexican children (ages 2-7) attending one of eight Jewish day schools in Mexico City or programs at the main JCC/sports center there. The program will also be available to Jewish children in Monterrey.
The $300,000 annual program was made possible through a challenge grant provided by Jewish Mexican-American philanthropist Daniel Jusidman. Two anonymous community donors and participating schools matched that grant to round out funding.
With 12 PJ Library books translated, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation is working to develop Jewish children's book programs in other Latin American countries as well. At this time, Spanish-language PJ Library books are not available in the United States.