susan and her daugher jacqueline
a gift for the future by susan abramowitz
Susan talks about her connection to CHW, the impact of philanthropy on her personal life, and why there's no better time than now to leave a legacy gift.
Making the decision to leave a legacy gift is a journey. For some it’s a no-brainer. For others, like me, it may take longer than you’d expect. That’s because you may find that you need to think deeply about all the ways you want to leave your mark. After I graduated from university, when I was 23 years old, I went to Israel to do an Ulpan and travel. It was a formative experience and when I got back to Canada nine months later, I was determined to join an organization that raises money for Israel. I was invited to a CHW chapter meeting and the rest is history. CHW was exactly what I was looking for. At the outset it was because the chapter structure allowed us to be creative about the way we raised funds, and then, the more I got to know the projects, it became about the love I feel for CHW Netanya Technological High School and CHW Hadassim Children and Youth Village. 38
ORAH Magazine Fall 2021
Ultimately, for me, joining the Legacy Circle is about the values I want to pass on to the next generation. Leaving a legacy is a teachable moment because I also believe that an important part of this process will include a discussion with my children, at the appropriate time, about why I have chosen this specific organization. As a young mother working full time, I was very involved with CHW. It is so important to me that I pass this on to my children. My kids know me as someone who raises money for Israel and takes on fundraising challenges. It’s part of the fabric of who I am, and it’s integral to my relationships. CHW is on my list because it is such an important part of my adult life. Over the course of the pandemic, I gave serious thought to which organizations I would include in my will. And leaving a legacy now, in my 50’s is not too early. It’s exactly the right moment.