Families who paid full tuition in 2020/21 or who are new to the school, will be eligible for an interest-free loan of up to $12,000. The simplified application will be sent directly to the Centre for Jewish Education, enabling families in need to maintain anonymity from the school. Families will be asked to confirm that their financial situation has been impacted by COVID-19 and will be required to complete a promissory note. No guarantors, interview, or further personal financial information will be required. The loans will be payable at a rate of $20/month per thousand dollars borrowed.
The loan program is a groundbreaking innovation designed to recognize the commitment of families who have consistently prioritized day school education by paying full tuition, but have hit unexpected financial challenges. The program gives these families the ability to access capital easily, anonymously (to the school), without the stigma of asking for assistance, and without burdening the community’s financial infrastructure.
Because these families will continue to pay full tuition, they will continue be eligible for the full charitable receipt offered by the school for religious instruction. To date, UJA Federation has secured nearly $1.5M in capital for this program from private donors to UJA’s Emergency Campaign for Community Resilience as well as through a partnership with Jewish Free Loan Toronto. These funds will be used to capitalize the program as well as to guarantee the loans.
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 