The Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation is proud to present scholarships and grants at this year’s Annual General Meeting on June 10, featuring four distinct awards.

This year, the George Joseph Cooper Scholarship, the Norman Lesh Philanthropy Award, the Ilana and Steven Rubin Education Scholarship, and the Women’s Collective Philanthropy Program (WCPP) Grant will be awarded.

The George Joseph Cooper Scholarship

This award, valued at approximately $20,000, is given out each year to help support an Ottawa Jewish community member between the ages of 18 and 30 who has demonstrated strong leadership abilities and academic excellence, and who is interested in Jewish community work.

Named after George Cooper, the scholarship was founded as the realization of his wish to help fund the education of people in the artistic, literary, and social sciences. Programs for which the scholarship is eligible include languages, law, the arts, philosophy, and religion.

Last year’s winner, Samuel Benzaquen, demonstrated a strong commitment to the Jewish community by serving as the Jewish Law Students Association president, where he helped students facing antisemitism and advocated for the needs of Jewish students on campus. 

“This scholarship is more than just a monetary award,” said Benzaquen. “It represents a communal recognition of my contributions to the Jewish community and serves as motivation to continue standing up for justice, for Israel, and for defending against antisemitism.”

The Norman Lesh Philanthropy Award

Valued at $10,000, this award is given to those who propose an innovative and creative philanthropic or entrepreneurial endeavour that has the potential for continued benefits to Jewish Ottawa or neighbouring communities.

Named after Norman Lesh, an Ottawa-born philanthropist who dedicated his life to supporting fresh ideas that would lead to the betterment of society. 

It was last presented at the 2024 Annual General Meeting, when Makom Manitou, a Jewish cemetery project in the Laurentians, received the award. 

The Ilana and Steven Rubin Education Scholarship

This $1,800 scholarship is granted to high school students in Ontario and the Maritimes, as well as permanent residents who have been in status for at least three years, who wish to attend a post-secondary institution in Canada or Israel.

Established in 2016, the scholarship’s purpose is to help students who have obtained an average of 60 to 82 percent and have been accepted to a post-secondary school offering a minimum two-year course. Born out of the Rubins’ passion for education and academic success, the scholarship aims to give students the encouragement to pursue higher learning and become active in their communities.

Last year’s recipients, Ayla Martin and Calvin Curry, are upstanding members of their respective communities and are committed to building a better world.

“The goal of building a better society through passion and kindness is one I hold dearly, and [with this award], I will pay it forward by using my success to give back to the community,” said Curry.

The Women's Collective Philanthropy Program Grant

Designed to harness the power of collective philanthropy to nurture and maintain a systemic difference in the status of women and children, the WCPP grant aims to engage, educate, and empower women to become catalysts for social change.

Supporting initiatives that strive to expand and improve opportunities and choices in the lives of women in Jewish Ottawa, as well as funding innovative initiatives working to help women and children in the community, the grant is given to individuals and organizations that are active in building a stronger community.

Last year’s recipients were Yulia Elgin, who received the award for her Russian-speaking Women and Children Empowerment Initiative, and the Hillel Lodge Long Term Care Foundation’s Green Thumb Club Horticultural Program.

“Receiving the WCPP Grant is a meaningful recognition of this work and will allow us to expand our efforts, create more inclusive and culturally relevant experiences, and help more families feel a strong sense of belonging in our Jewish community,” said Elgin. “These gatherings not only celebrate Jewish culture and values but also help families feel more at home in Ottawa by building friendships, learning new skills, and accessing community resources.”

Each award’s applications are now open, and close on Sunday, April 26, 2026. To learn more, visit Foundation’s website by clicking here or by emailing [email protected].