JCF Thanks Future-Focused Donors at Life & Legacy Event

Pictured before the film screening of Tatami (l-r): JCF Executive Director David Snyder, Tatami film representative Tamar Simon, JCF Life & Legacy Committee Chair Jodi Levine, expert guest speakers Marjan Greenblatt and Lou Moyerman, and JCF President Andi Levin.

To thank and celebrate individuals who have established an endowment fund with the Jewish Community Foundation, Inc. or who have committed to a legacy gift benefiting the South Jersey Jewish community, the JCF hosted a Legacy Thank You Event on Tuesday, May 26 in the evening.

The program highlighted this community's continued participation in the Life & Legacy initiative of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, which has resulted in over 900 legacy gift commitments to benefit over 20 Jewish organizations that serve SNJ. An estimated $23+ million has been secured to date via these after-lifetime commitments that will help grow endowment funds, a fantastic accomplishment that will benefit many future generations.

JCRC Executive Director speaks during the dinner portion of the program

JCF Life & Legacy Committee Chair Jodi Levine (at podium) asks all legacy donors to rise and be recognized amongst the crowd of filmgoers

The event started with a casual dinner reception that included a welcome speech by JCF Life & Legacy Committee Chairperson Jodi Levine, followed by remarks about creating a Jewish legacy from guest speaker Jewish Community Relations Council Executive Director Sabrina Spector, and concluded with comments by JCF Executive Director David Snyder.

In thanking the donors in attendance, Spector shared that she started working with the JCF about two decades ago and had no idea what endowment funds were at the time, let alone how to promote the concept of them to prospective donors, as her job entailed.

As her career progressed as she eventually worked at the Katz JCC and now at the JCRC, she sees firsthand the importance of endowment fund income every year to benefit the Jewish community, noting that JCRC's BookMates secured a vital, sustaining endowment fund thanks to donors Judith Nadell and John Langan. Simultaneously Life & Legacy enhances the fact that anybody can greatly benefit the future with a gift in any amount, which, as Spector noted, can add up to be as impactful as one large gift when many people participate. She also spoke about how important it is to her, personally, to see endowment funds benefit her children and their generation currently.

Nearly 50 guests attended and enjoyed light bites and treats from Soups and Sweets of Jewish Family & Children's Service.

Following the first portion of the program, attendees were invited to attend a screening of the film Tatami, as hosted by the Katz JCC as part of its annual Jewish Film Festival. Jodi Levine offered a memorable message about leaving a legacy, sharing how Miriam and Shelly Faktorow (of blessed memory) created an endowment fund to ensure that the Jewish Film Festival could continue to benefit future generations annually in the same way that they enjoyed it every year during their lifetimes. Following in the Faktorows' footsteps, Michelle Susson, who introduced the film, noted that Jodi and her husband, Neil, established a PJ Library endowment fund with the JCF two years ago to ensure that PJ Library books continue to be delivered to local Jewish families for many decades on end.

To conclude the evening, David Snyder moderated a panel featuring expert speakers Marjan Greenblatt and Lou Moyerman to discuss the film's content as well as the importance of this film being the first partnership of its kind co-directed by an Iranian filmmaker and an Israeli filmmaker. Also in attendance was Tamar Simon who represents the film.

Originally scheduled for March, the event had to be postponed due to an extensive power outage on the day of, but fortunately no such obstacle was in store the second time around.

Thank you all of the donors who attended this Life & Legacy event, we appreciate your rolling with the punches, and we appreciate your support of our community's future!