Community engagement is at the heart of BW's Jacket Philanthropy Program

They spent weeks in strategic preparation. Honed their speaking skills and carefully articulated a strong case for their "client." The impressive result was an outstanding learning experience for 26 students in the Jacket Philanthropy Program.

The Jacket Philanthropy Program is an umbrella program that melds learning with service and philanthropy. This fall, two courses — an English grant-writing class and environmental ethics — were part of JPP.

Students in the courses were divided into teams and paired with community partners. In addition to providing direct service to their organizations, students prepared grant proposals and engaged in a group decision-making process to award thousands of dollars in funding* to the most compelling grant proposals.

'One of a kind' learning opportunity

EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute was one of the community partners participating in the fall JPP program. The Institute, which includes an award-winning French restaurant and other facilities, is a nonprofit organization that offers formerly incarcerated adults training and hands-on work experience in the culinary and hospitality industries.

Audrey Hockins '27 of Carmel, Indiana, was part of a four-member BW student team that worked on behalf of the Institute. The opportunity helped her build valuable skills in teamwork, communication, critical thinking and project management.

"In addition to the grant, we contributed more than 20 hours of in-person volunteer work at the EDWINS Family Center and Rehabilitation offices. Our responsibilities ranged from data entry and organizing materials to assembling promotional resources and supporting day-to-day operations," said the arts management & entrepreneurship major.

"Being able to volunteer on-site and become close with the staff at EDWINS was an unforgettable experience. To them, the individuals who come through their program are not just students who were previously incarcerated. The staff keep every letter written to them by their students and handwrite letters back to them to show support," noted Hockins.

"Knowing that I, a student in college, can be a part of such a renowned and philanthropic organization through the Jacket Philanthropy Program fills my heart with such gratitude," she emphasized.

"This course is one of a kind. I am excited to carry the skills I gained from my English JPP course into future professional experiences, and I am truly thankful to everyone who played a role in this project," she added with heartfelt reflection.

'Wonderfully enriching' experience

Also part of JPP this fall was an environmental ethics course taught by Dr. Kelly Coble, who is a professor in the department of philosophy and religion at BW.

"In my class, four student teams collaborated with four community partners. Students completed at least 15 service hours each in support of their organizations, in addition to strategizing ways to make a compelling case for funding," explained Coble.

"At the end of the semester, there is an awards ceremony, which features formal presentations by the student teams about their community partners and the work they do. This is an important event for recognizing both the students and the Greater Cleveland organizations," said Coble.

At a culminating ceremony, students reflect on their service experiences and learn which organizations receive funding. It can be an emotional time for students as they advocate for their nonprofit organization.

For Lemon Bischoff '26, a creative writing major from San Luis Obispo, California, JPP was personally and professionally fulfilling. "This course was wonderfully enriching. Being a part of a huge national organization like The Sierra Club was absolutely surreal, and while I definitely gained career experience through my volunteer hours, I also got to immerse myself in environmental activism."

In addition to EDWINS and the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Sierra Club, other community partners included: OhioGuidestone, The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, The Cuyahoga County Soil and Water Conservation District, Pregnant with Possibilities Resource Center and Bloom Learning Center.

Nurturing a new generation of philanthropists

JPP is an academic service-learning program supported through the David & Frances Brain Center for Community Engagement. The program aims to nurture a new generation of philanthropists through grantmaking and community service. It is open to students of any major and class year.

Now in its 16th year, JPP has had tremendous community impact to date — benefitting 50+ nonprofit organizations, engaging approximately 1,300 BW students in 20,420 service hours and awarding $356,000 in grant funding.*

*JPP grant funding is made possible through the generous support of external donors.