For over fifty years, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) - Nashville has offered interest-free loans to worthy students who are pursuing their own higher education through our Scholarship Loan program.
Around 1910, NCJW Nashville formed the “Scholarship Memorial Fund,” with the purpose of helping the children of the Bertha Fensterwald House attend college. Later, the fund pivoted to helping students attend college during the Great Depression and World War II.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, Scholarship Loan, as it has been known for the past 50 years, will award loans of up to $4000 per year annually to 15 Middle Tennessee students pursuing higher education at the school and academic path of their choice. These loans were based on eligibility regardless of background.
These 14 students, 10 of whom are new applicants, come from a variety of backgrounds. They are seeking degrees ranging from associates- to doctoral-level and will be using the loans to cover such needs as tuition, books, room and board, and childcare.
The impact of a Scholarship Loan is wide-ranging. “NCJW’s Scholarship Loan opened up many opportunities for me in college, including the chance to study abroad,” shares a former recipient. “Thanks to the NCJW’s generosity, I was able to finance these opportunities and deepen my knowledge about topics I’m passionate about.”
The project receives its funding from repayments of loans by past recipients. The applications are reviewed anonymously and confidentially. The loans are granted and administered through the Scholarship Loan Committee and are offered to qualified applicants as a loan of last resort.
For the past three years, the committee has been chaired by Freya Sachs. We are so grateful for the vision and expertise she brought to this program and are looking forward to the leadership brought by 2025-2026 Scholarship Loan co-chairs, Marci Kleinrock and Amy Smith.
The impact of an interest-free loan in the age of rising costs of college goes a long way. Another former recipient shares, “My interest-free loan courtesy of NCJW Nashville allowed me to cover some living expenses while in college. This was a huge relief given the high cost of college at the time, which has only compounded over time. I am grateful for this wonderful service benefiting our community.”
Those wishing to support the work of NCJW Nashville are encouraged to reach out to Jennifer Hoffman, Executive Director, at nashvillencjw@gmail.com or make a donation on our website at www.ncjwnashville.org/donate. NCJW Nashville thanks our community for their continued support!
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