Legacy Newsletter - Winter 2012

VOL. 22 NO. 3

egacy

NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR DONORS AND FRIENDS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

DONOR PROFILE: MARK AND LISA SCHWARTZ

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New Grants Support Programs In Israel

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ore than 20,000 Israelis stand to benefit from significant grants recently awarded by the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles. The grants provide $100,000 over three years to seven Israel-based nonprofit organizations, for a total of $700,000. The work of the grant recipients represents innovative efforts to advance Israeli communities, and exemplify the essence of the “Start-Up Nation.”

“These impressive organizations will leverage The Foundation’s grant awards to maximize their prospects for greater success and impact,” said Foundation President and CEO Marvin I. Schotland. “The programs provide critical support in the areas of Jewish identity and economic development and selfsufficiency among diverse constituencies to help ensure a strong Jewish future. They also reflect diversity in terms of geography, impact and funding partners.”

The recipients include Atid Bamidbar for Jewish Empowerment for Russian-Speaking Israelis in the Negev; BINA Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture for The Secular Yeshiva-Core Tracks; Dan Academic Center for Yahad La-Hi Tech; Ein Prat for Elul; Gvahim for the Career Development Program; Hamidrasha for Makom; and Karev Initiatives in Education for The Jewish Lens. (See pages 2 and 3 for more information about our 2012 Israel Grants.) These grants bring the total amount The Foundation has awarded since 2006 through its Israel Grants program to nearly $5 million.

L STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION

WINTER 2012

Israel Consul General David Siegel and Eli Groner, Israel’s Minister of Economic Affairs to the U.S., recently spoke to The Foundation about Israel as a“Start-Up Nation” and how The Foundation’s recent Israel Grants are vital to the country’s future. (L-R) Marvin Schotland, Foundation President and CEO; Selwyn Gerber, The Foundation’s Israel Grants Committee Chair; Eli Groner, Israel’s Minister of Economic Affairs to the U.S.; David Siegel, Israel’s Consul General to the Southwest; and Foundation Chair Lorin Fife.

A Glance At What’s Inside:

ISRAEL GRANTS

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The Foundation’s $100,000 Emergency Grant To Israel The Jewish Community Foundation provided a $100,000 Emergency Grant to the Los Angeles Jewish Federation for the Israel Terror Relief Fund. This new fund was created to support the more than one million residents of Southern Israel and offer aid to the most vulnerable Israelis during the Gaza conflict.

Spearheaded by the Jewish Federations of North America, it provides Israel with $5 million in immediate assistance.

To support the Israel Terror Relief Fund, you can make a direct online credit card donation at www.jewishla.org.

You can also find a link on the top right corner of The Foundation’s home page at www.jewishfoundationla.org.

To support this effort through your fund at The Foundation, please contact Heather Baroff, Donor Relations Manager, at hbaroff@jewishfoundationla.org or (323) 761-8734.

On behalf of the State of Israel, I commend The Foundation for its vision and the vital work it does in Israel to secure the future of the Jewish people and help its communities grow and prosper.”

— Israel Consul General David Siegel

FROM THE DESK OF

Marvin I. Schotland PRESIDENT & CEO, JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Investing Philanthropically in the “Start-Up Nation” With 27,000 nonprofits in Israel and a half-million people working in the sector, it’s quite challenging to determine which organizations to support.

That’s why we approach our Israel Grants as strategic investments. Each grant we make in Israel has the upside potential for significant return, and conversely, the risk of not fulfilling its potential. Like any good investment, one needs to conduct rigorous due diligence to ensure prudent, well-informed choices.

Speaking of due diligence, special thanks goes to the very talented chair of our Israel Grants Committee, Selwyn Gerber. He traveled to Israel to interview all the grantee candidates, question their leaders, review their budgets and vet the organizations as thoroughly as possible. His insights—along with those of every dedicated member of our Israel Grants Committee—afforded us the ability to make our Israel Grant decisions and select the seven recipients with confidence.

We view our Israel Grants as building a portfolio of philanthropy, just like a financial advisor would construct a portfolio emphasizing diversity of Continued on back page

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2 0 1 2 I S R A E L G R A N T R E C I P I E N T S AT A G L A N C E

The Werner and Ellen Lange Endowment Fund— A Lasting Legacy to the Community The Foundation’s Israel Grants program has grown significantly in recent years, thanks to the generosity of Werner and Ellen Lange. Established in 2003, The Werner and Ellen Lange Endowment Fund has distributed more than $3.7 million to support The Foundation’s Israel Grants. This family’s enduring commitment to supporting the Jewish community will continue to have a profound impact for decades to come.

Ellen & Warner Lange, of blessed memory, created an endowment fund that enabled The Foundation to grow its Israel Grants program in the past years.

For more information on The Foundation’s 2012 Israel Grant awards, visit: www.jewishfoundationla.org/grantsawarded.

The Foundation recently awarded $700,000 to Israel-based programs that promote Jewish identity, economic development and self-sufficiency.

ATID BAMIDBAR, for Jewish Empowerment for Russian-Speaking Israelis in the Negev ($100,000).

To provide Russian-speaking Israelis with knowledge and understanding of Jewish culture, a greater connection with native Israelis, and the tools to incorporate Judaism into their daily lives. www.bamidbar.org We look forward to a meaningful partnership with The Foundation and to positively impacting the lives of hundreds of Russian-speakers throughout the Negev.”

— Deborah Goldman Golan, Co-founder and President, Atid Bamidbar

BINA CENTER FOR JEWISH IDENTITY AND HEBREW CULTURE, for The Secular Yeshiva – Core Tracks ($100,000).

To engage pre-army, mid-service, and post-army students in the study of Jewish texts, exploration of Jewish culture and involvement in social activism. www.bina.org.il Through our grant from The Foundation, we hope to inspire young Israelis to take active responsibility for their Jewish identities, their communities and for Israeli society as a whole.”

— Eran Baruch, Executive Director, BINA

DAN ACADEMIC CENTER, for Yahad La-Hi Tech ($100,000).

To provide academic degrees, mentorship, and job placement in high-tech and information technology fields to students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. www.dan.ac.il

Your support enables talented and ambitious students from the social and geographical periphery— Israeli-Ethiopians, Israeli Arabs and Druze, ultra-orthodox, new immigrants and other sectors—to pursue academic studies in high-tech industries.”

— Professor Niv Ahituv, PhD, President, Dan Academic Center

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2 0 1 2 I S R A E L G R A N T R E C I P I E N T S AT A G L A N C E

EIN PRAT, for Elul ($100,000).

To engage Israeli young adults from across the religious spectrum through a five-week summer intensive program and year-round events that provide pluralistic Jewish educational enrichment. www.einprat.org/en

This grant will leverage the momentum and impact of Ein Prat’s growth over the past several years and strengthen the promise of Israel’s next generation.”

— Micah Goodman, Director, Ein Prat

GVAHIM, for the Career Development Program ($100,000).

To provide job training, language classes, mentorship, networking tools, and job placement to highly qualified olim (new immigrants to Israel). www.gvahim.org.il Thanks to The Foundation’s support, we will be able to provide 75 highly skilled immigrants with the support they need, so that they could help bring the ‘Start-Up Nation’ into the future.”

— Dr. Mickael Bensadoun, Executive Director, Gvahim

HAMIDRASHA, for Makom ($100,000).

To engage secular Jewish children, families, teachers, and community members in Jewish culture through customized and interconnected educational, community-building, and social justice programs. http://app.oranim.ac.il/hamidrasha

HaMidrasha’s Makom Program makes the traditions, wisdom, values and communal spirit of Judaism accessible and relevant to every Jewish Israeli.”

— Dr. Moti Zeira, CEO, HaMidrasha Educational Center for the Renewal of Jewish Life in Israel

KAREV INITIATIVES IN EDUCATION, for The Jewish Lens ($100,000).

To enable elementary school students throughout Israel to explore their Jewish identities, values, cultures and communities through an experiential curriculum that combines the medium of photography with Jewish learning. www.karev.org.il The Jewish Lens program examines Jewish values through creative means of self-expression, and strengthens the students’ sense of Jewish identity and their connection to community. The Foundation’s support will enable us to expand the program to reach many more children over the next three years.”

— Shmuel Adler, Director, Jewish Lens Program, Israel

We congratulate our newest grant recipients!

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S TO R I E S O F T R A N S F O R M AT I O N

Our Grants. Their Journeys: Personal Stories Since 2006, The Foundation has been changing lives—and the Los Angeles Jewish community—through its Cutting Edge Grants Initiative.

This issue of Legacy presents two stories about the personal impact of The Foundation’s Cutting Edge Grants. You will meet a mother and daughter who are part of a community where the younger generation is emerging, assuming leadership

roles and bringing along their parents. Plus, you will read about the life-changing journey of a gifted singer/songwriter who, along with other young adults, is discovering new and creative ways to connect with his Jewish roots.

To learn more about The Foundation’s Cutting Edge Grants, visit www.jewishfoundationla.org/grantsawarded.

Finding a Voice in Civic Action

30 Years After Jasmin Niku (L) with her mother, Shiva. ▲

Jasmin and Shiva Niku: A Daughter and Mother Talk About Finding One’s Voice 30 Years After

In 2008, The Foundation awarded a $200,000 grant to 30 Years After, an organization focused on increasing Iranian-American Jews’ participation in American civic and political affairs and inspiring a commitment to Israel, social justice, and political action through educational events, student mentoring, and voter registration.

As an undergraduate at UCLA, Jasmin Niku was president of Bruins for Israel and served as an AIPAC intern. In 2007, Jasmin and her Iranian-Jewish contemporaries wanted to expand on the activism they had found so fulfilling in school. The result: An organization called 30 Years After.

“We all agreed that the Iranian-Jewish community was at a crossroads,” says 25-year-old Jasmin, now a corporate attorney. “We’d been successful in just about every industry we had entered and we recognized that politics was the next natural step for our community.”

Founded by young, American-born Iranian Jews, 30 Years After quickly crossed generational boundaries, and began to involve the parents of the organization’s young founders. “30 Years After was an eye-opener for the first generation of Iranian Jews living in Los Angeles. It taught us to get out and be civically engaged in the community,” says Jasmin’s mother, Shiva, who came to the United States as an 18-year-old student in 1979, following the revolution.

Today, Shiva appreciates the tools and resources that 30 Years After provides to help her make more informed decisions about political issues and candidates. Among the popular activities provided by 30 Years After are the Power Brunches featuring elected officials, community leaders and scholars in an intimate setting. The Nikus recently hosted one in their home.

Jasmin Niku (3rd from left), with (L-R) her father, Sina, sister Charlene, grandfather Dr. Roohollah Shayani of blessed memory, cousin Sam Yebri and mother Shiva at the 30 Years After conference in 2010. ▲

The entire Niku family—including three generations represented by Jasmin and her two younger sisters, her parents Shiva and Sina, as well as Shiva’s parents—has attended the 30 Years After Biennial Civic Action Conference since its inception in 2008. At the most recent conference in October, more than 1,000 participants had an opportunity to hear from political officials and candidates on the local level and California state level, as well as representatives from both presidential campaigns. “You have to have a voice,” says Shiva. “30 Years After showed us that we are a strong community, and that we can use that power to take a stand for what is important to us.”

Deeply missed at this year’s conference was Shiva’s father, Dr. Roohollah Shayani, who passed away last year. In 2009, Dr. Shayani participated in 30 Years After’s Legacy Project (www.ourlegacyproject.org), a visual history archive of Iranian Jews in America, and shared his story of life in Iran and moving to the U.S. He was interviewed by his grandchildren, including Jasmin and her cousin Sam Yebri, president of 30 Years After. Dr. Shayani’s interview, along with others of his generation, will be preserved as part of the project’s video history of Iranian Jews in America.Yet another way this enterprising and innovative group of young leaders is making a difference in their community, inspired by the generations that came before.

To learn more about 30 Years After, visit www.30yearsafter.org.

You have to have a voice. 30 Years After showed us that we are a strong community, and that we can use that power to take a stand for what is important to us.” — Shiva Niku

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S TO R I E S O F T R A N S F O R M AT I O N

of Transformation Made Possible through Cutting Edge Grants A Special House, a Moving Film and a Life-Changing Journey

Moishe House

A Shabbat dinner at Moishe House West LA in August 2012. ▲

The Foundation awarded a $200,000 Cutting Edge Grant in 2011 to Moishe House to encourage thousands of young adults to live actively Jewish lives, by engaging them in more than 200 peergenerated events hosted by residents at three Moishe Houses.

While touring the country as a singer/songwriter, Martin Storrow visited several Moishe Houses in the western United States, and immediately felt that he was part of a community. “On the one hand it feels fraternal; you can go anywhere and you will be welcomed,” he says. “On the other hand, it’s not exclusive.”

Founded in 2006, Moishe House provides meaningful Jewish experiences for young adults by supporting leaders in their 20’s as they create vibrant home-based Jewish communities. The organization currently operates 46 Moishe Houses in the United States.

Martin eventually settled in Los Angeles and became a regular at events held at Moishe House Los Angeles. When a Cutting Edge Grant from The Foundation made it possible for Moishe House to open a residence in West Los Angeles, Martin knew he had to move in.

Raised in San Diego by parents who explored various denominations of Judaism, Martin appreciates Moishe House’s non-directive, flexible approach to community building. “A lot of programs directed at Jews in their 20s try really hard to be cool,” says Martin. “Moishe House is the opposite of that. It gives us the autonomy to create whatever kind of Jewish community is unique to us.”

Inspired by his experiences with Moishe House, musician Martin Storrow (R) traveled to Addis Ababa, and later chaired a joint Moishe House-JDC fundraiser to provide medical care for Ethiopian patients in need. ▲

experience that I will never forget was going to Dr. Hodes’ house for a warm and lively Shabbat dinner with several patients, adopted children, and various guests from around the world.” After Shabbat dinner, Martin played guitar and the group spent hours sharing American and Ethiopian songs and dancing together. Upon returning home, Martin chaired a joint Moishe House-JDC fundraiser so that one of Dr. Hodes’ young patients could get life-saving spinal surgery. Martin is happy to report that the boy had the surgery and is doing well.

Through Moishe House, Martin has not only connected more deeply with his own Jewish roots, but with his music. He is incorporating Jewish themes in his songwriting, and is leading the music at Moishe House retreats.

“Moishe House has reminded me that we can each take an active role in shaping our relationship to Judaism,” Martin concluded. “From a personal perspective and as a community, our Jewish experience is what we make it.”

To learn more about Moishe House, visit www.moishehouse.org.

Since Martin moved in, the West Los Angeles Moishe House has held a wide range of events, including Shabbat dinners, yoga on the beach, a visit to the Getty Museum, a “PurimPalooza” and an outing to one of Martin’s concerts.

For Martin, the most life-changing Moishe House event was a screening of the documentary, “Making the Crooked Straight” about the work of Dr. Rick Hodes, the Medical Director in Ethiopia for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). Inspired by the film, Martin traveled to Ethiopia on a JDC-sponsored trip, paid for by a scholarship from Moishe House.

“We toured Dr. Hodes’ clinic, helping to administer de-worming medicine to villagers and students in a remote town,” says Martin. “One

Moishe House West LA. plans a wide range of events including Shabbat dinners, yoga on the beach, visits to the Getty museum, a “PurimPalooza,” and an outing to one of Martin’s concerts. ▲

Moishe House gives us the autonomy to create whatever kind of Jewish community is unique to us.” — Martin Storrow

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DESIGNING PHILANTHROPIC SOLUTIONS FOR YOU

Year-End Strategies to Consider

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ear-end planning is perhaps a bigger challenge this year than in past years because unless Congress acts, individuals will face higher tax rates next year on their income, including capital gains and dividends, and estate tax rates will be higher as well. In 2013, certain itemized deductions, including charitable deductions, may be limited or phased out for higher income taxpayers.You may benefit, therefore, from a larger charitable deduction this year (in 2012 versus 2013). Opportunities for income and estate tax planning are still varied and should be reviewed with your professional advisors for their potential and benefit in 2012 and 2013. Tax and interest rates are quite low currently and prompt individuals to analyze their overall financial picture.

Thinking About Selling Assets?

You may wish to consider selling assets that are likely to yield large gains before year-end, with due regard for market conditions. This year, long term capital gains are taxed at a maximum rate of 15%, but the rate could well be higher next year.

Establishing a Donor Advised Fund Charitable contributions are worthy of close consideration.

Charitable contributions can both reduce tax liability while at the same time, pass needed dollars to charitable organizations in these uncertain economic times when they can use it most. To avoid capital gains, you may wish to consider giving appreciated property to charity (as opposed to selling the property, recognizing the gain and contributing cash to charity). If you believe interest rates are likely to rise in the future, now may be an opportune time for giving fixed income assets to charity at their higher valuations, which may have additional benefits if done as part of an asset reallocation strategy.

One way to amplify giving is to compile multiple years’ worth of giving into 2012, or consider replacing annual gifts with a substantial donation to a donor advised fund (the minimum amount to establish a Foundation donor advised fund is $5,000).

Donor advised funds can allow you to receive an immediate charitable income tax deduction (at the maximum amount allowed for gifts to public charities) while affording you time to decide on the ultimate charitable beneficiaries.

The Future of Gift Tax, Estate Tax and Generation Skipping Transfer Tax The future of the gift tax, estate tax and generation skipping transfer tax continues to be uncertain. While Congress is likely to take some action in the future, we do not know when, and/or how they will seek to soften the unfavorable impact of the scheduled changes in the tax laws. For those seeking to make significant tax-free gifts, individuals should consider the opportunity to transfer assets this year to children, grandchildren or other beneficiaries free of gift tax.

This year, the amount that an individual can give without incurring gift tax is $5,120,000 (reduced by any exemption used in prior years). This is the highest gift tax exemption ever. That exemption will drop to $1,000,000 effective January 1, 2013 unless Congress passes a new law and the President signs it. Also scheduled to change is the exemption from the generation-skipping transfer tax, which is $5,120,000 this year and scheduled to decrease to $1,430,000 next year. The maximum transfer tax rate will also increase from 35% this year to 55% next year (and with an extra 5% surcharge for a portion of larger estates).

While it is entirely possible that the current exemptions and tax rates will be reinstated next year, there is no assurance of this, nor of what, if any, changes any new law might bring. Individuals with sufficient assets might wish therefore to consider taking advantage of the current opportunity to make large gifts free of gift tax. It is possible that a tax at death on lifetime gifts made which turn out to be in excess of the estate tax exemption amount in effect at the time of death could occur, however, many feel this is unlikely at this time. Even if such were the case, making a large lifetime gift this year would allow any post-gift appreciation in the value of, and income generated by, the gifted assets to remain outside the taxable estate of the donor.

A Fund For $5K

(L-R) The Foundation’s Development Team: Baruch Littman, Dan Rothblatt, and Elliot Kristal.

Did you know that you can now establish a Donor Advised Fund at The Foundation with only $5,000?

For more information about the variety of charitable options, call us at (323) 761-8704.

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Planned Giving Alternatives: Charitable Trusts Planned giving alternatives such as charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities are also good choices.

There are a few giving strategies that take advantage of the low interest rates right now. A charitable lead trust is a planning vehicle in which the trust pays income to a charity for a period of years or lifetimes and can be an attractive way to provide a current charitable gift as well as to transfer property to family members with minimal federal transfer taxes. Grantor retained annuity trusts allow individuals to transfer appreciating assets to others and retain an annuity for a minimum number of years. Properly structured, the grantor retained annuity trust lets you move future appreciation of an asset to another person free of gift tax.

Please note: This article is not intended as specific tax advice.

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LEAVING A LEGACY

Entrepreneurial Spirit Finds Trusted Partner in The Foundation Donor Profile: Mark and Lisa Schwartz

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ver the years, Mark N. Schwartz, an entrepreneur, has been involved in the Los Angeles Jewish community and with the Jewish Community Foundation. He and his wife, Lisa, a Commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills Health and Safety Commission, and two stepchildren, Kirsten and Kyle Kay, are actively involved in numerous philanthropic pursuits and endeavors.

In 1995, Mark co-founded Bodega Latina Corporation, which now operates 48 Latino-oriented grocery stores in California, Arizona and Nevada. He also helped to launch a 3-D software company and served as CEO of Hypertension Diagnostics, Inc., and is involved in various other business ventures, as well. Through the Harvard Business School Angels of Southern California which Mark chairs, he is an active angel investor and mentor to entrepreneurs.

Partners in Philanthropy

The Schwartz family—Mark (R) and Lisa Schwartz with their children (L) Kyle and Kirsten Kay—at the dedication of the family’s gift to the New Emanuel Campaign at Temple Emanuel in 2011. ▲

Background and Philanthropic Interests Mark graduated from Claremont McKenna College and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. He serves on the Board of Directors of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, is a former trustee of The Foundation, and currently serves on The Foundation’s Advisory Board. Mark is also a graduate of the Wexner Heritage Foundation Fellowship program, which he credits with introducing him to many of his close friends and business associates.

In addition to Temple Emanuel, Mark supports The Jewish Federation, Friends of Israel Defense Forces, and three organizations in which his wife, Lisa, is actively involved: New Directions, serving homeless military veterans; Dream Street Foundation, a free camping program for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses; and Every 15 Minutes, which educates high school students on the consequences of drinking alcohol and texting while driving.

Mark joined The Foundation’s Grants Committee in 1999. “I was impressed with The Foundation’s leadership, and I liked the fact that it functioned similar to a Jewish venture capital fund. We asked grantseekers the same kind of questions I would ask of a startup, because these were new, innovative community programs.”

Mark opened a Donor Advised Fund in 2005 and is a fan of The Foundation’s Donor Services Online, which enables him to make grants and manage his funds 24/7. “It’s an incredibly efficient online service,” he said, “comparable to the online services of a bank or securities firm.” In 2010, he engineered a complicated liquidity event for his Bodega Latina investors that resulted in a significant windfall. Mark worked with The Foundation while he structured a multi-year buyout of the privately held company, enabling him to donate assets into his Donor Advised Fund that amounted to significantly more than his original investment. By transferring his appreciated stock, Mark was able to capture the highest valuation for charitable purposes and avoid capital gains tax.

Giving Back Mark and Lisa are instilling philanthropic values in the next generation.

Kyle has taught a baseball clinic and Kirsten also volunteered at the Dream Street Foundation summer camp, where Lisa also volunteers. “Lisa and I believe that philanthropy has to be more than simply writing a check or making a grant with three clicks on The Foundation’s donor webpage,” said Mark. “We seek to be philanthropic activists, volunteering time as well as contributing money. We hope that by seeing their parents give back, Kirsten and Kyle will also make philanthropy one of their important values.”

A Foundation Built on Trust

From Investment Banker to Entrepreneur Mark first caught the entrepreneurial spark when, as an investment banker, he helped to secure the first round of institutional financing for Starbucks Coffee and served on its Board of Directors. “That was a defining moment in my career,” he recalled. “Some sophisticated business leaders and venture capitalists were on the board, and I learned by listening to them.”

— Mark N. Schwartz

(T) Mike Januzik, Foundation CFO, and (B) Baruch Littman,Vice President of Development. ▲

Lisa and I believe that philanthropy has to be more than simply writing a check or making a grant with three clicks on The Foundation’s donor webpage. We seek to be philanthropic activists.”

“The Foundation has handled virtually every type of financial transaction for us,” said Mark. “Foundation CFO Mike Januzik did an outstanding job of handling the logistics of our complicated Bodega Latina buyback and charitable transactions. Additionally, one of my tax-planning strategies is to transfer shares of Starbucks stock to our charitable fund when the stock has a run up in price.

Mike has streamlined the process to make it very efficient and cost effective, minimizing any brokerage fees. And Baruch Littman, The Foundation’s Vice President of Development, can go toe-to-toe with the most sophisticated industry tax experts.”

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PA I D LOS ANGELES, CA PERMIT NO. 1805

6505 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1200 Los Angeles, CA 90048

IN THIS ISSUE ▲

– Announcing our 2012 Israel Grants – Our Grants. Their Journeys: Personal Stories of Transformation – Year-End Strategies to Consider – Donor Profile: Mark and Lisa Schwartz

8 From the Desk of Marvin I. Schotland Continued from page 1

In late November, after our Israel Grants process had concluded and $700,000 was awarded to the seven recipients, The Foundation provided an additional $100,000 grant to support the urgent needs of Israel due to the Gaza conflict. This special $100,000 grant was made to the Jewish Federation for its Israel Terror Relief Fund. To support this vital fund, please see the corresponding short article on our cover page.

VOLUME 22 NO. 3 WINTER 2012

If we can assist with your year-end planning, please call us at (323) 761-8704.

Chair

Lorin M. Fife President and CEO

Marvin I. Schotland Vice Presidents

e g a c y

AT PRESS TIME:

Wishing you and your family a joyous Chanukah!

Kenneth A. August Leah M. Bishop Anthony Chanin Max Factor, III William R. Feiler Bertrand I. Ginsberg Harold J. Masor Scott H. Richland Alan Stern Senior Vice President, Philanthropic Services

Dan Rothblatt CFO/Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration

Michael J. Januzik Vice President, Charitable Gift Planning

Elliot B. Kristal

TEL.

(323) 761-8700 (323) 761-8720 TOLL-FREE (877) ENDOW-NOW (877-363-6966) www.jewishfoundationla.org FAX

Please send your comments and suggestions to the editor.

Editor: Lewis Groner Managing Editor: Bonnie Samotin Zev Design: Maxine Mueller Contributing Writer: Janet Sanders

Vice President, Development

Baruch S. Littman

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companies by product line, industry and location. That’s why our seven Israel Grants cover a broad range of geographies, including the Negev, Petah Tikva, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa, as well as schools throughout the country. They also include a melting pot of populations: Russians, Ethiopians, new immigrants, secular families, young adults, schoolchildren and more. We cover a spectrum of interest areas, like job training and placement, high-tech education, teaching young students about Jewish identity, and encouraging more pluralism.

Recently, we hosted Israel’s Consul General to the Southwest, David Siegel, and Israel’s Minister of Economic Affairs to the U.S., Eli Groner, at an event focused on Israel as a “Start-Up Nation” and our new Israel Grants. During his remarks, Minister Groner referred to us as the “Start-Up Foundation.” It’s a novel description and the more I considered it, the more I realized that phrase speaks to the core of what The Foundation is and how we go about making strategic investments in philanthropy.

As the “Start-Up Nation,” Israel is among the most innovative societies on Earth. Israeli nonprofits are likewise; they’re trained to think outside the box, be flexible and nimble, and constantly improvise. Which is why we at The Foundation have learned to be more innovative and creative in our approach to investing in the most promising Israeli nonprofits. Stay tuned as we hopefully watch our Israel Grants’ investment portfolio grow steadily and flourish in the years to come.

Vice President, Center for Designed Philanthropy

Amelia Xann Secretary

Legacy is published to provide news and information about The Foundation to donors and friends.

Selwyn Gerber Treasurer

Lawrence Rauch

© 2012 Jewish Community Foundation.

No portion of this publication may be reproduced or used without permission.

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