. Life & Legacy - Supporting a strong Jewish tomorrow Foundation Happenings
By Robert Nomberg president & ceo richmond jewish foundation
T
hank you to the 375 local donors who, over the last four years, have promised to create 529 legacy gifts to support our Richmond Jewish community. These future gifts are estimated to provide an additional $20 million in endowments for Jewish Richmond. These generous commitments are part of a collaborative nation-wide endowment building effort, the goal of which is to provide future financial stability in our community. Our local LIFE & LEGACY partnership includes 10 Jewish organizations and congregations – Chabad of Virginia, Congregation Beth Ahabah, Congregation Or Ami, Congregation Or Atid, Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, Jewish Family Services, Keneseth Beth Israel, Rudlin Torah Academy, Temple Beth-El and Weinstein JCC – along with Richmond Jewish Foundation and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. During the past four years, these partners have been provided with training, support, and monetary incentives to develop and grow their legacy programs. “Participation in the community-wide LIFE & LEGACY program provided the
foundation and training necessary to integrate legacy giving into the philanthropic culture at the Weinstein JCC. It inspired our staff and volunteers to think long-term and to dedicate the time and resources necessary to ensure the successful future of the Center,” said Chris Greenberg, LIFE & LEGACY Chair, Weinstein JCC. She continued, “We are grateful to the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and Richmond Jewish Foundation for bringing the LIFE & LEGACY program to our Richmond community - a program that has helped us to engage 50+ new legacy donors that represent more than $2 million in projected gifts for the Weinstein JCC, as well as funding for our annual operating budget from newly established endowed funds.” In less than 8 years, the national LIFE & LEGACY program has motivated more than 17,000 donors in 63 communities across North America, including in Richmond, to commit more than a billion dollars in current and after-lifetime assets to the Jewish organizations which shaped their lives. In challenging times like these, endowments provide organizations with the financial stability to meet evolving needs. Legacy commitments ensure that organizations that are providing impactful programs and services during both calm and turbulent times have the necessary resources to adapt. “The cooperation and collaboration fostered by LIFE & LEGACY as local organizations work to a shared goal of endowment building is especially critical now,” said Arlene D.
Wolf Family
Continued from page 13
Younger brother Matt lives in San Francisco and works at Facebook where he builds tools that allow small businesses to be more effective and efficient. Prior to Facebook he worked at Stubhub, where he won several awards and is listed on 4 U.S. Patents. Before working in tech, Matt attended James Madison University on a Merit Scholarship where he was president of Hillel from 20062008. He also won the Teamwork Award and placed 3rd of 140 teams in the 2009 JMU Business Plan Competition. After graduation Matt served as chairman of the Board for JNet (a Jewish young professionals’ network) in Northern VA.
.
Schiff, national director, LIFE & LEGACY. “Even in the midst of so much disruption and uncertainty, we continue to empower many generous and committed individuals and families to give back to the Jewish organizations that have played and are playing an important role in their lives.” The commitments made by Richmond’s legacy donors over the past four years are just the beginning of a community-wide effort to ensure a strong Jewish tomorrow Over the last year, our partners diligently focused on engaging with donors to legally formalize their initial commitments. Despite the recent challenges of in-person connections, almost 70% of our local commitments have been legally formalized by these donors working with Richmond Jewish Foundation and their attorney, accountant, insurance agent or wealth advisor. The fifth year of our LIFE & LEGACY program kicked off last month and will focus on sustainability. RJF will continue to provide guidance, training and incentives for participating organizations and congregations to further integrate legacy giving into their institutions and create a long-term culture of philanthropy. RJF is proud and honored to partner
The third talented child, daughter Rebecca, has served in the Navy for 14 years. She graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy and has a master’s degree in Physical Oceanography. She is a Surface Warfare Officer, meaning she serves on warships. Early on, Rebecca became the Jewish Lay Leader for a crew of about 1,000 sailors. She says, “There are not enough Chaplains in the Navy to have one on every ship nor enough Chaplains to represent the multitudes of faith that make up our armed services.” Therefore, the Navy relies on lay leaders to help accommodate the religious practices of various faith groups. Serving on the USS FORREST SHERMAN, Rebecca completed a deployment to the Middle East where they
22| the Reflector| October 2020 5781 Tishrei/Cheshvan
were assigned to conduct counter piracy operations in the Gulf of Oman. Her next tour landed her in Afghanistan. Rebecca is proud that “in addition to my day job, I also became the Jewish Lay Leader and supported members of the Jewish faith on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Sharana.” They held Friday night services, observed Passover and the High Holidays, and celebrated Chanukah. “Even if just for an hour or so each week-spending time with fellow Jews offered a great sense of community,” she recalls. In addition to serving as the Officer In Charge, Rebecca was also the Jewish Lay Leader onboard USNS Mercy. “We held weekly Shabbat services while the ship
with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation on this vitally important Jewish endowment building initiative. Through LIFE & LEGACY, our local Jewish organizations have collectively been awarded almost $230,000 in unrestricted incentive grants for successfully participating in the program and meeting their annual goals. “Providing Jewish organizations with a strategy to help secure their long-term financial goals is absolutely vital, especially now in the middle of an economic crisis,” said Harold Grinspoon, founder of HGF. “Supporting our Jewish institutions is critical to ensuring future generations are able to enjoy our rich culture and heritage. I am thrilled that LIFE & LEGACY is motivating donors to make legacy commitments that will sustain vibrant Jewish communities for years to come.” To learn how you can be part of securing Richmond’s Jewish future, email RJF Legacy Director Lauren Plotkin at lauren@rjfoundation.org or call (804) 5458624.
was underway while transiting between countries along the Pacific Rim. We had a small group of regular attendees to include young Army Soldiers to more senior Naval Officers,” she says. Recently she spent three years stationed in Bahrain as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer on the USS GLADIATOR. “It is an incredible feeling to get to do something you dreamed of, worked toward, and studied for years,” she says with pride. “I am truly blessed to have been able to work alongside … hands down the hardest working Sailors I have ever met in the US Navy.” In addition to serving on the USS Wolf Family More on next page www.JewishRichmond.org
