Giving Stories

For more giving stories visit our Book of Life

		Lynn and Andy Kaufman have been active and generous members of the community for years.  They were thrilled to be able to take advantage of the benefits offered by the charitable IRA rollover provision. Andy says, "Using your IRA to make charitable contributions is a unique opportunity.  Lynn and I made several major gifts from our IRA this year, including one to Village Shalom.  In fact, having the ability to use our IRA rather than current assets allowed us to make substantially larger contributions than we normally would have made."

		Adele Levi “I feel really good about having a Donor Advised Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation. It is a win-win situation. I receive tax benefits and enjoy a streamlined giving process, while the money stays in our community and supports our vital Jewish organizations. The Foundation staff is talented and knowledgeable and keeps me well informed about effective ways to give.”

		Eddie Feinstein “When you live in poverty, access to a quality education is your ticket to a brighter future. Thanks to the Change the Truth Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation, 25 orphans of St. Mary Kevin Orphanage in Uganda are now attending secondary and professional schools. They have all the resources they need to succeed. For Alfonse and the other children, Change the Truth, provides food, shelter, medical care and lots and lots of love. Helping these kids is just one of the many ways the Jewish Community Foundation has helped us fulfill our Jewish values.”

		Alana Muller & Marc Hammer “As a family, we believe it is critically important to always support the Jewish community financially and in a volunteer capacity. Through the Jewish Community Foundation we have made plans to endow our annual support of those organizations in the Jewish community that are most important to us. We are building a lasting legacy for our community, and are actively introducing our son not only to the value of engagement in and support of our Jewish community, but to the joy and satisfaction one feels in return.”

		Gerean Rudnick "I was taught by my mother that giving of myself in actions or money would be the most gratifying thing I could do...and that from giving, I would receive more blessings than I could ever imagine. She was right! So this has become a way of life for me. Giving through the JCF has enabled me to save and disperse gifts in a structured, safe and secure way during my lifetime. I have chosen the Jewish Community Foundation to carry out my charitable plans after I’m gone, as well. I am confident they will protect and preserve the funds I have entrusted them with and will carry on the legacy of giving my mom passed on to me."

		Tracy & Alan Shafton “Opening a Donor Advised Fund was an important step for our family’s charitable giving. We love the convenience of using our fund to make grants to a multitude of Jewish and non-Jewish organizations. Supporting our community through the Jewish Community Foundation is very important to us.”

		Jeff Alpert & George Lieberman “We have found the contribution of real estate as a means of charitable giving allows us to maximize the value of our gift. Appreciated real estate assets can be contributed for their full market value while minimizing the negative effect of capital gain taxes. This has allowed us to support our community in a meaningful way that can be greater than a gift of cash.”

		Donna & Ward Katz “Throughout our lives we have been involved in the Jewish community of Kansas City and in support of Israel. We want to be certain that these commitments to the community continue beyond our lives...a legacy we have inherited from our parents and grandparents."

		Jamie & Bush Helzberg “Our Donor Advised Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation takes the hassle out of charitable giving. The Foundation provides great information and creative ideas which help us refine our philanthropic priorities and turn our charitable visions into action.”

Dr. William Edelman "Donating appreciated stock to establish a Charitable Gift Annuity was a win-win proposition. I was able to enjoy a tax deduction, I am now receiving income from securities that were not previously paying dividends, these assets are now out of my estate and I'm doing a good thing for our community."

		Marcia Karbank “Being a part of the Jewish Community Foundation is a way for me to honor my parents’ lifelong dedication to philanthropy. Through our Donor Advised Fund Joe and I are carrying on our family’s tradition of giving within both the Jewish and secular community and creating a legacy for many more generations to come!”

		Carolyn & Stanley Goldman have been blessed with a good life. Both grew up during the depression and appreciate the abundance they have enjoyed. They came to the Foundation searching for ways to make a real difference in the lives of those close to home who have fallen on hard times. “We feel it is our obligation to look beyond ourselves and share with others who are not as fortunate as we are. As the world becomes more complicated, and people are living longer, needs are changing and new challenges are arising. We want to help.” The Foundation introduced the Goldmans to Jewish Family Services who manages all of the safety net services in the Kansas City Jewish community. Now, through their Donor Advised Fund, they are proud to be able to “help dignify the lives of families in our own community who are in greatest need.”

		Sam Goller "Having a Donor Advised Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation greatly simplifies my giving. It allows me to make personal contributions and distributions to the community through a single source.”

Lon Lowenstein "The Lowenstein Family Supporting Foundation allows our family to benefit from the knowledge of committed community volunteers to make our philanthropy more effective. The expertise of our community trustees has been and remains an invaluable source of knowledge and experience for our family’s philanthropy."

		Corey & Jered Nussbaum "When we moved back to Kansas City three years ago, we were looking for impactful ways to become involved in the Jewish community.  During our first week back in Kansas City, we attended a J-LEAD event and knew we had found a unique organization. Although we had both grown up in Kansas City, that night we met a lot of new people with similar priorities and it gave us an immediate connection to the community. We value J-LEAD because we know our funding decisions make impacts in the community. While J-LEAD gives us an opportunity to pool our funds and make a broader impact, it also challenges us to make difficult decisions because the need is always greater than the funds available. We feel this experience has better prepared us for future roles within the community and allows us to do our part in making a difference in the Kansas City Jewish community."