THE CEMETERY PRESERVATION CAMPAIGN
“Our father, a financial planner,
ensure the stability of agencies helped
like the Federation, JFSA, Montefiore, and Park Synagogue as they helped provide ever increasing programs and safe spaces for the vulnerable in our community. We are proud to be their children and hope that we have been a credit to them in continuing to ensure the family legacy.” Bonnie Marks and Carol Paull
In 2015, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland set out to raise $3.5 million to support local Jewish cemeteries that could no longer sustain themselves properly. There was an immediate need for funding to ensure the dignified maintenance of our Jewish cemeteries, as many of them were plagued with overgrown trees and grass, missing fences, and overturned headstones. Because of the generosity of our community, we were able to reach our fundraising goal which allows our community to honor and safeguard the dignity of those buried in Jewish cemeteries throughout Greater Cleveland. This support has ensured that 15,000+ graves under the management of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Commission on Cemetery Preservation will be cared for in perpetuity. The full-time Cemetery Operations Manager oversees the properties and has made necessary physical improvements, identified and marked graves, added signage and increased security. Our deepest gratitude to those who made this possible.
They describe the process of establishing the endowment as “very simple.” Creating the gift was “literally two or three conversations.” The first meeting was about setting the priorities. The next was about how it would work, and the third meeting was signing the paperwork. Carol shared that she was surprised that “something that is so fulfilling is so simple. It’s easy, it’s fun, and it’s important.” The sisters are filled with pride when they think about their gift and how it honors their mother and father and keeps their connection to them. In fact, they named it the Eudese and Elmer I. Paull Memorial Endowment Fund. When asked about their gift, Bonnie said, “It is our pleasure and our privilege.” Carol added, “It’s a core value – it’s part of our core.”
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