NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As educational institutions across the US are opening for the 2024-2025 academic year and the need to combat hate on our nation’s campuses has become even more urgent, the Laterman Family Foundation has announced the creation of the “Laterman Family Foundation Address Hate Initiative” with the philanthropic grant of $1 million dollars to fight antisemitism on social media to promote safer, thriving Jewish academic communities across the US.
In making the announcement, the Directors of the Laterman Family Foundation said, “As we deplore antisemitism, we also oppose digital hate of any group to combat this and therefore, we have established the Laterman Family Foundation Address Hate Initiative which will be spearheaded by Joshua Laterman, a Director of the Laterman Family Foundation.”
The Directors continued, “The need for action to combat antisemitism especially among children and young adults has become crucial. The Laterman Family Foundation wants to urgently move forward to contribute to advancing this initiative and encouraging other Jewish families to follow our lead and support this effort.”
Joshua Laterman explained, “With the guidance of my parent’s legacy of supporting our Jewish communities, we will champion this important initiative with innovative thinking and solutions, along with like-minded allies and partners who will work closely in an effort to help stop and reverse the promulgation of antisemitism and hate on social media.”
According to a report by ADL, for the period from the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel through January 7, 2024 hate against Jewish teens has risen over 360%, exacerbating a worrying trend that has been increasing in recent years. This has been particularly prevalent on school campuses, leading to the bullying of Jewish children. Much of the information that advances this hate is promulgated on social media.
About the Laterman Family Foundation
Founded by Frances Iger Laterman and the late Bernard Laterman, the purpose of the Laterman Family Foundation is to support religious, charitable, scientific, literary, public education, and educational charities and institutions. The majority of the Foundation’s annual gift-giving are for the promotion of the Jewish faith, the welfare of the Jewish people, and the support of medical, educational, cultural and philanthropic organizations affiliated with Jewish institutions.
Among the numerous recurring generous gifts that the Laterman Family Foundation makes are the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education, the Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology lodged at the Hebrew University in Israel, Baruch College Fund, Wasserman Jewish Studies Center of Baruch College, CUNY, the Shoah Foundation, 92nd Street Y, and UJA Federation of New York and Mount Sinai Hospital- New York City.
Contacts
Melissa M. Krantz
Krantz and Company
917-653-6716
mkrantz@krantzandco.com
