Event honorary co-chairs Ron and Susie Goldsmith, featured speaker Adina Schwartz of 21/64, and honorary co-chair Michelle Goldsmith.
Where Money Meets Meaning: A Multigenerational Discussion of Values
On June 3, Jewish Community Foundation fundholders and their families gathered at the 1900 Building for a special program titled, “Where Money Meets Meaning: A Conversation About Your Family’s Charitable Values.” Guests enjoyed brunch, refreshments and the spectacular ambiance of the event space before the program began with warm remarks by Foundation Board of Trustees President Irv Belzer and honorary co-chairs Ron and Susie Goldsmith and Michelle Goldsmith.
The event featured Adina Schwartz, a speaker and consultant working with individuals, families, and organizations on multigenerational engagement in philanthropy through the national firm 21/64. Schwartz led the group in an interactive conversation about generational perspectives and invited guests to participate in an engaging exercise using “Exploring Giving” cards, a tool created by 21/64 to assist in meaningful multigenerational discussions. Guests were able to take the cards home after the event to continue the conversation with their families.
“Our family has shared the Exploring Giving cards with our siblings and parents and have set up a time to meet via FaceTime to begin the discussion of philanthropy with the entire family,” says event attendee Karen Gerson. “Our son Gilli is going to lead these sessions and we are going to come to an agreement of where we want some funds to go as a family.”
Lauren Mattleman Hoopes, who in addition to serving as the Foundation’s executive director is also a 21/64 certified facilitator, thanked attendees and welcomed them to contact the Foundation for further assistance engaging their families in philanthropic conversations. She informed the audience that the Foundation’s staff can craft customized, creative strategies for any family’s unique circumstances.
Additional family philanthropy programming will be scheduled in 2019. For more information on how you can engage your family in charitable giving, contact the Foundation at (913) 327-8245 or by email.
a special celebration of planned giving
Foundation for Our Future, our biennial community-wide celebration of planned giving will take place on Thursday, October 11 at 5:30 pm at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center. The event will honor the generosity and foresight of donors who have made an endowed gift to a Jewish organization
or synagogue in our community.
Those who have made endowment gifts of $10,000 or more will be invited to sign the Foundation’s Endowment Book of Life, a living testament to those who have enabled our community to flourish through their commitment to tzedakah.
There’s still time to make your charitable plan! For more information please contact Josh Stein at (913) 327-8121.
teens put the “fun” in “funds” at the B’nai tzedek shuk
B’nai Tzedek participants Joe Porter, Owen Wright and Ayelet Schuster at the Shuk.
On April 24, several dozen teens, parents and grandparents gathered for the Foundation’s 12th annual B’nai Tzedek Shuk. The B’nai Tzedek program introduces Bar and Bat Mitzvah-age youth to tzedakah by offering them their own personal charitable giving accounts at the Foundation. Once a year, fundholders may grant 10% of their funds to a Jewish charity, either locally or in Israel. The B’nai Tzedek Shuk is the Foundation’s yearly youth philanthropy fair where fundholders may meet one-on-one with representatives from Jewish nonprofits and learn about the needs of the community before making their annual grants. Nearly $5,000 was donated to charity by young fundholders at the event. Since the program’s inception, B’nai Tzedek fundholders have donated more than $250,000 to Jewish organizations. For more information, contact Beatrice Fine at (913) 327-4618.
Maximizing Impact, Together
J-LEAD members Ilana Silverstein, Steven Krigel, Lara Pabst & Allison Glickman
Members of J-LEAD, the Foundation’s young adult giving circle, recently awarded $22,000 in grants to a variety of community organizations. Grant recipients included: Jewish Family Services for incontinence and feminine hygiene products for the JFS Food Pantry; Jewish Vocational Service’s Global Gardens Land Purchase; the KU Hillel and K-State Hillel Partnership; Mitzvah Garden of Kansas City’s Purple Martins and Plastic Mulch; and, the State Historical Society of Missouri for the Jewish Community Archives of Greater Kansas City.
J-LEAD (Jewish Leadership Education Action and Development) encourages Jewish adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s to join together to make a substantive impact on the Jewish community. By pooling resources together and collectively making grant decisions, J-LEAD members are able to achieve a greater good than any one member could alone. For more information, contact Josh Stein at (913) 327-8121.
philanthropy is so hot right now
Irv Belzer and Lauren Hoopes
Dear Friends,
How’s the heat treating you? Things have been “toasty” at the Foundation, with a surge in activity this quarter. Both the number of gifts received and grants processed are up dramatically compared to this time last year, with the gifts up 8% and the grants up 14%. Bequests have been especially important gifts this year and will have a far-reaching impact on many charities for years to come. If you have not yet made a legacy gift, please reach out to one of the Foundation staff to explore the many easy ways you can create one.
Our June 3rd family philanthropy event facilitated by 21/64 was very successful. Multiple generations of our Foundation family came together to learn about how the life experiences of different generations impact their ideas about giving. We also explored some tools that can be used to promote and structure conversations about giving. Lauren recently completed her training and became a 21/64 Certified Family Philanthropic Advisor. She would love the opportunity to work with you and your families as you exchange ideas about giving and legacy.
We are also pleased to report that the fund-raising challenge for the B’nai Tzedek “Mother Fund” – the fund that matches family contributions to create new B’nai Tzedek accounts - has been met. A total of $145,000 has been committed by individual donors, Supporting Foundations and the Foundation’s Community Legacy Fund. These funds will sustain this outstanding program for several more years.
Finally, the Foundation is beginning an innovative and fun new series of donor engagement experiences designed and hosted by Foundation fundholders for Foundation fundholders. The series is called “Connecting Our Giving Community,” and each program is an opportunity for you to come together with other members of our Foundation Family to socialize, network, and learn from one another about smart new ways to make a philanthropic impact. Each event will be different and the hosts will bring their unique perspectives on the giving experience. Some topics include “Building Relationships Through Philanthropy” and “Taking Giving from Good to Great.” Look for a special mailer in late July that will include a calendar of these events.
Best wishes for a wonderful summer,
Irvin V. Belzer, President, and Lauren Mattleman Hoopes, Executive Director
successful first round of core grants
The Foundation’s Community Legacy Fund recently awarded $230,758 in grants to local Jewish organizations in support of its mission to fund programs and agencies that enhance and maintain the quality of Jewish life in the Greater Kansas City area. This was the first time the fund has awarded coveted “core” grants which may be used to support general operating expenses such as rent or staff salaries.
“Core support is vital to a well-functioning agency,” says Don Goldman, Executive Director and CEO of Jewish Family Services. “Things like rent, utility payments and computer systems are not always glamorous, but they help JFS run efficiently and effectively. Focusing the Community Legacy Fund grants on core support allows JFS to focus more of our individual fundraising on program support.”
Community Legacy Fund grant recipients
jewish war vets book now available
One of the exciting roles the Foundation serves is to help people take their philanthropic vision and make it a reality. Roslyn Braeman Payne approached the Foundation about partnering with a team including representatives of Jewish War Veterans Post #605 to publish a book that would honor the brave men and women from our Jewish Community who served, or are currently serving, in our Armed Forces. The book, “For those Who Served Our Country: A Tribute to Greater Kansas City’s Jewish Veterans”, is an incredible achievement and a beautiful way to honor the legacies of the nearly 5,000 veterans named in the book.
As Payne said, “I again want to express my gratitude of the Foundation. I know that this entire Tribute project was unique and my hopes have been that more folks will know about the Foundation, and the important work that it does. It is really a bridge for donors and the community.”
The book is available for purchase through the Foundation’s website. The webpage includes more information about the project as well as a preview of the book. Thanks to generous underwriting, all proceeds from the sale of the book will go into an endowment held by the Foundation to support the annual operations and activates of our local Jewish War Veterans Post #605, in perpetuity.
Experience the new jcfkc.org!
The Jewish Community Foundation’s new website has been redesigned with YOU in mind. Highlights include:
- Optimized viewing and functionality across all devices
- Improved credit card form, including the ability to schedule recurring contributions
- Enhanced platform to showcase giving stories
- Easier access to important resources, such as information about current community needs, planned giving and grant applications
New Funds
Donor Advised Funds
Charles and Esther Megerman Donor Advised Fund
Albert Silverman Donor Advised Fund
Jeanette and Sheldon Wishna Memorial Fund
Restricted Funds
Glenn and Susan Abelson Fund for Mental Health Services
Gensheimer Jewish History Fund
Goodman Goffin Fund
Jewish Vocational Services Board Restricted Fund
Melvin Landsberg Adult Education Fund (Lawrence Jewish Community)
Speak Up Foundation
Shirley White Campus Fund
