Social venture grantmaking in Israel
Raising kids to be more philanthropic
Empowering a generation of visionaries
PHILANTHROPY THROUGH A
November 2013 • Volume 2
Today’s Faces of Jewish Leadership How passionate leaders, representing all ages and backgrounds, are improving our community for the future.
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties 121 Steuart Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 | 415.777.0411 | jewishfed.org
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Dear Friends, We are truly blessed to be a part of the Bay Area’s wonderful Jewish community. Because of the ongoing support we receive, our Federation is able to harness the power of communal giving, infuse philanthropy with meaning, and ensure Jewish connection and continuity. Your support funds a varied network of programs that engage people of all ages and backgrounds. It provides important services and thought-provoking programming; convenes opinion leaders and philanthropic experts who offer insights into subjects close to our hearts; and, inspires innovative organizations to create opportunities for our community to experience the richness of Jewish tradition, culture and life. This year, our Federation is continuing to evolve and innovate in exciting new ways, adapting to the changing needs of our diverse and dynamic Bay Area Jewish community. We are particularly excited to embark on new paths this year, including: cultivating LGBTQ Jewish leadership; enhancing giving opportunities for our Donor Advised Funds; continuing to engage the next generation in philanthropy through trips, fellowships, peer networks, and our truly pioneering Impact Grants Initiatives — venture philanthropy in sectors where impact is needed; increasing awareness and services for community members with special needs; and, in general, continuing to build an inclusive community, where all are welcome, without regard to age, wealth, ethnicity, sexual orientation, degree of observance, or background. All of this work relies on people coming together in a thousand different ways. We are so fortunate to live within an energetic and deeply compassionate community that selflessly gives tzedakah — in the form of time, funds, ideas, and manpower — to the benefit of the entire region and beyond. Together, we raised nearly $19 million in our community campaign in 2012–2013. In 2013, the combined totals from our General Fund, Donor Advised Funds, Supporting Foundations, and Unrestricted Endowment Funds enabled us to provide $176 million in more than 8,800 separate grants. Those dollars, combined with our work in capacity building for organizations, leadership development for the next generation, and strategic professional services to help our funders realize their philanthropic visions, are game changers for our community. In this magazine, you’ll read about some of the formidable people who make our Federation what it is, and you’ll see some examples of our phenomenal grantees and their important work. You’ll also discover some of the ways in which the Federation helps philanthropists and organizations of every scale facilitate positive impact, locally and globally. May we continue to build bridges, to connect, to collaborate, and to support one another as we build a more vibrant, engaging and innovative Jewish community. With sincere gratitude,
Jennifer Gorovitz CEO, Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund
Federation earns top spot among US charities three years in a row Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent evaluator of charities, has once again given our Federation its highest (4 star) rating. This indicates that the Federation executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way and outperforms most other charities in America. In fact, only 17% of charities receive a 4 star rating in consecutive years. In this competitive philanthropic marketplace, this “exceptional” designation confirms what our donors already know — that we are an effective organization they can support with confidence.
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OUR LOCAL IMPACT Reducing barriers to Jewish life
Providing meaningful Jewish experiences
Sam struggled in his classroom. At recess he was always on the sidelines. But, after just a few days in summer camp, Sam is smiling and actively involved. His mother reports that this is the first time she has seen him happy in months. Bay Area Friendship Circle has helped 330 children with social and emotional challenges by training staff and volunteers to provide social, physical and life skills in a fun and supportive Jewish setting.
The high cost of Bay Area living has made tuition at Jewish camps and schools a luxury thousands of families simply cannot afford. Out of an estimated 130,000 Jewish households, 45% earn less than $75,000 per year. The Affordability Project provides children, who would otherwise not be able to participate, with more than $1M in need-based scholarships for Jewish preschool, day school, summer camp, and teen Israel trips.
Caring for the vulnerable
A deeper connection to Israel for LGBT Jews
Betty is in her 80s and, since her husband passed away, loneliness often creeps in. The Chabad of Greater South Bay Sunshine Club serves as a ray of light for more than 1,300 individuals, families and elders. Seniors like Betty receive visitors who not only bring challah and kugel for Shabbat but offer much-valued friendship. One woman, Jan, in her 90s, exclaimed, “I don’t get many visits; I really love it when you come!”
“Places that allow people to be LGBT and Jewish are really important in my life,” Arthur says. An accomplished community and business leader, Arthur noticed that, over the past several decades, LGBT Jews have a weaker sense of Jewish identity, are less involved in Jewish institutions, and have a decreased sense of connection with Israel. A Wider Bridge aims to change that, supporting programming that fosters more meaningful engagement with Israel among Bay Area LGBT Jews and allied communities.
Engaging and developing Jewish leaders
Investing in ideas to strengthen the Jewish future
By sending 240 young adults on Birthright Israel trips, serving over 1,000 individuals through Young Adult Division programs, and awarding $228,000 to innovative young adult initiatives, our Federation provides a continuum of meaningful ways to channel youth onto a pathway from initial engagement to deeper leadership and philanthropic involvement.
Through Reboot — a national network of young, creative Jews founded on the belief that every generation must grapple with questions of identity, community, and meaning on its own terms — the Federation is partnering to support the development and launch of Unscrolled, a unique Torah commentary as retold by 54 of America’s most notable authors, humorists, screenwriters and journalists whose goal is to increase Torah literacy.
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OUR IMPACT IN ISRAEL For more than two decades the Federation has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to Israel by directly investing community dollars in the Jewish State. SOCIAL VENTURE GRANTMAKING Funding innovative, progressive social venture enterprise in Israel In 2013, four exemplary organizations, each receiving $68,000 and two years of business mentorship from the Israel Venture Network, were selected by a delegation of Bay Area Jewish community leaders and donors, formed through the Impact Grants Initiative, the Federation’s pioneering prototype for community-engaged grantmaking. “Being a part of the Israel IGI has been amazing,” noted Israel IGI team member Randi Shafton. “We are not only engaging our donors in innovative ways,” adds Jennifer Gorovitz, Federation CEO, “but we are also making the biggest possible impact with our grant dollars.” SUPPORTING CIVIL SOCIETY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY Integrating the Ultra-Orthodox into Israeli society Because of their commitment to full-time Torah study and a fear of assimilation, little more than 4 in 10 Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men in Israel work. Nearly 60% of Haredi families live in poverty and, by 2050, they are expected to make up more than a quarter of Israel’s population. Shachar Chadash is a program that provides a religiously and culturally appropriate way for Haredi men to serve in the Israel Defense Forces while gaining vocational skills and the education and networks essential to securing long-term employment. PROMOTING VOLUNTEERISM AND LEADERSHIP AMONG D I S A D V A N TA G E D P O P U L AT I O N S Creating opportunities for social mobility The degree of socio-economic mobility in Israel is one of the lowest in the Western world. The Ma’ase Afak program, which works with 600 volunteers, aims to promote a more equal and just society. Through Afak, Arab-Israeli young adults volunteer a year of service in their home communities. The goals are ambitious: to expand accessibility for young people from periphery communities to volunteer programs, nurture young leadership through education of social and personal responsibility, and improve the professionalism of volunteer opportunities for young people. And it’s working. The rate of recruiting volunteers has grown exponentially, empowering youth and easing their integration into adult life as productive citizens. JEWISH IDENTITY AND PLURALISM Building a pluralistic approach to Jewish identity and a more cohesive Israeli society By funding programs in Israel that reflect our shared Jewish values, we promote greater understanding for different approaches to Jewish practice. Through Gvanim — the Federation’s own ground-breaking leadership initiative, now in its 13th year — secular Israelis explore Jewish values, traditions and culture, and religious Israelis learn about non-Orthodox expressions of Judaism. Of the hundreds who apply, 15 professionals are selected. The many alumni touch thousands of lives to create social change that is broad, deep, and essential for the strength of Israeli society.
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CARING FOR OUR GLOBAL JEWISH COMMUNITY The Federation’s Global Fund, in partnership with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), provides humanitarian relief and revitalizes Jewish communities in more than 70 countries. Revitalizing Jewish life in Eastern Europe Our JDC partnership is also helping to invigorate Jewish communal life in nations that lived under communist rule by funding programs that build a connection to Jewish life and culture for future generations of European Jewry. We develop future Jewish leaders, by training professionals, lay leaders and volunteers through learning seminars, programs, conferences, and cross-border initiatives.
Empowering a new generation of grassroots Jewish visionaries in the Baltics Jewish communities around the globe need promising young leaders to grow into the vibrant cultural hubs of the future. The Community of Learning — Baltics Young Professional Network is a new pilot program that will provide up to 200 young professional Jews in the Baltics with tools, opportunities, and connections that will further their career goals and, at the same time, provide them with a new connection to Jewish life.
A stirring example of impact in Ukraine through the Federation’s partnership with JDC In a year characterized by superlative efforts, what Tania, a JDC-supported homecare worker in a rural corner of Ukraine, did for “her people” — as she affectionately calls the couple she cares for — stood out. Tatiana, who lost both her legs in a long-ago car accident, and Bronislav, who walks with a severe limp, live in the same village as Tania, but Tania needs a moped to reach them on their remote farm. She visits them five days a week, waking at 4a.m. to milk her cows and prepare food for her two children before spending six to seven hours cooking, cleaning, and generally caring for her increasingly immobile clients. So what did she do this past winter, when the mercury fell to -27 degrees Fahrenheit, and snow and ice made road travel unthinkable? Tania borrowed a horse and sleigh from her brother — and never missed a day. “I could not think not to go,” says Tania, “because they will just starve.” For 70+ days, Tania filled the sleigh with food, water, and supplies, adding hay and blankets to keep the horse warm while she worked. And, on the five days that her brother could not lend her the horse, Tania walked, for over an hour, in the bitter cold. “For me, helping Tatiana and Bronislov is beyond a job,” Tania said, explaining what inspired her to go to such lengths. “I am doing everything for them as for my relatives. I do not see any difficulties in my work; how is it possible to have hardships in the work that you love?”
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LEADERS AND PHILANTHROPISTS With what terms do we describe a group of community leaders that includes a neuroscientist, a chaplain, a real estate executive, a physician, an educator, a mayor, and a law student with a cooking blog? Diverse and eclectic come to mind. The group ranges in age from mid-20s upward, and their passions are as wide-ranging as their skill sets, but they all share one core value: a commitment to our Jewish future.
Do not be wise in words, be wise in deeds. –Jewish proverb
DEBBIE TOIZER Debbie Toizer was barely past her own Bat Mitzvah when the principal of her Hebrew school approached her with something between a job offer and a plea to take over the classroom duties of a teacher who had fallen ill. She needed someone to tutor that year’s group of B’nai Mitzvah students. Not your typical afterschool job. And, yet, she continued in that role throughout high school and college. Today, as a lay leader at the Federation, Debbie has made a truly lasting impact as a Jewish educator and philanthropist. Her current schedule is dizzying: she is the Federation’s campaign chair for Women’s Philanthropy, co-president of the school board of Congregation Rodef Sholom, and a board member of Kevah, a Bay Area nonprofit that encourages Jewish identity and builds community through the study of classical Jewish texts. And, when she’s not volunteering or spending time with her family, she teaches 4th through 7th graders Jewish Studies out of her home in Kentfield. But, of all the issues and passions that animate Debbie — from education to the role of innovation, to fundraising and teaching acceptance — perhaps none is more urgent to her than the need to reconnect disconnected Jews back to their community. “You know, I think it’s a matter of getting people in the door in a place that feels comfortable to them. And there are so many more opportunities for that now. We don’t all have to connect in the same way. Just find a way that works and come on in!” TAMAS MAKANY Dr. Tamas Makany is a former research associate at Stanford University with a PhD in Cognitive Psychology who is equally committed to his scientific, secular pursuits as he is to “living an authentic life” as a mitzvot driven, Modern Orthodox Jew. When Tamas is not interacting with Nobel Prize winners, teaching college students, designing educational video games for underserved populations, and authoring papers such as “Human Navigation Heuristics in Solving the Euclidean Traveling Salesman Problem,” he serves the Jewish community in a variety of capacities: he’s a former board member of Adath Israel in San Francisco, a member of his shul’s Chevra Kadisha (burial society), and the keeper, along with his wife, Julie, of a nearly always open Shabbat table for Jews and non-Jews alike. Tamas is also part of the Federation Fellows, a leadership development program designed to attract, train and educate new and emerging leaders for the Jewish community. “I think the best way to express Judaism is, like Avraham, to keep our tent open on all sides. There’s a great gap, particularly in San Francisco, between the Modern Orthodox and traditional Jewish communities on the one side, and the secular Jewish world on the other. I’d like to close that gap through engagement and living life as authentically as I can.”
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ILANA KAUFMAN Ilana Kaufman, a program officer at the Federation, believes deeply in the mission of the organization. “For me,” she says, “that is predominantly three things: cultivating Jewish leaders from within the community, strengthening organizations, and using philanthropic dollars to be a catalyst for change.” “I had been working as an educator and administrator for about 20 years, and I went to visit a friend’s Judaica shop,” Ilana continued. “I mentioned to her that I was looking to make a professional transition and she just sort of looked at me and said, ‘I want to encourage you to work in the Jewish community.’ Up until that moment I had never really thought about that. To be able to find a way to align my professional world with my personal values, I couldn’t get that thought out of my mind.” Shortly thereafter, Ilana began her career at the Federation and indeed it seems that she has found her new calling. “Every day, I hope to create an impact by being part of a team that facilitates great ideas and great expressions of core Jewish values that come from our incredible community. I’ve been truly fortunate to have been given a unique vantage point from which I can see that every person and every generation in this community is important. Everybody has a role, everybody has a place and everybody can have the opportunity to make a meaningful connection. And I am privileged that I get to go to work every day and help foster pluralism and get people excited about the programs and projects we are doing within the Jewish community. That’s an amazing opportunity for me!”
TOM KASTEN There are résumés and there are RÉSUMÉS. Tom Kasten has the latter. Following his military service and the acquisition of his BS and MBA from UC Berkeley, Tom began an illustrious, 34-year career at Levi Strauss and Company, in which he rose to become responsible for the company’s information technology and business development. He has lectured at prestigious universities, advised multi-national corporations, appeared on NPR and other radio programs, and been quoted in Fortune, Fast Company, and other magazines. Upon his retirement, Tom “settled down” and served on the City Council of Hillsborough before becoming a two-term mayor and police commissioner. As if that were not enough, Tom is chair of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, and serves on the investment committee for the Jewish Home Foundation. When Tom’s wife, Kendra, was asked to describe the essence of Tom, she replied: “He has a defect that he can’t say no.” Indeed, when it has come to answering the call to public service and philanthropy, Tom’s inability to say no has been nothing short of a blessing to our community. How does he do it? “I don’t know,” says Tom. “But I do know what Hillel said: ‘If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But, if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?’” 7
LEADERS AND PHILANTHROPISTS LAURA FITCH If you watch the video Listen From The Heart (one of six in director Antony Osso’s Devotion Project), you’ll get to know Laura Fitch, her wife, Jaime, and their adorable son, Simon, and hear a bit of their family story: their falling in love, being one another’s beshert, and of Laura’s unyielding devotion and continuous care for Simon, who was diagnosed with pediatric cardiomyopathy shortly after he was born. They were told by one of his doctors that he could be in the hospital for three weeks. He ended up staying for four months, most of that time in the ICU. Laura is quick to point out that, during that trying time, the Federation was extraordinarily helpful in connecting them to much-needed financial and recreational resources. It was also at the time of Simon’s hospitalization that Laura first felt a calling toward chaplaincy. “I’m a social worker by education,” says Laura, a graduate of Smith College. “The part that I love about it is being social with people. But sometimes it lacks that feeling of spirit. On the other hand, life in a hospital often has a lot of medicine going on, but not a lot of healing. So I’m working toward my clinical pastoral education and certification…because it’s a beautiful opportunity to help people who need attention.” Tikkun olam and tzedakah are central to Laura’s Judaism. “I love being Jewish. And, for me, the question for us all, as Jews and as people is: can we look to our own experiences as individuals and use those experiences to make a connection and reach out to others?” That’s a question that Laura does her best to answer every day. ANDY ELKIND For more than 25 years, Andy Elkind has helped companies and organizations improve their performance and reach their goals. So, he knows more than a thing or two about leadership. And, for him, to paraphrase Woody Allen, much of it simply comes down to showing up. “From the time I got my first job till today, the value of work has always been very dear to me.” That is not empty rhetoric. Andy has served as a president of Jewish Vocational Service and is still actively involved in their mission to develop skills and human capital and find gainful employment for Jews and non-Jews alike. Now he has turned his attention toward mining those same leadership skills from within the philanthropic community, particularly among young, budding philanthropists. “The question we need to keep asking is: How do we recruit and develop the next generation of leaders?” One way that Andy answers that question is through his involvement with the Federation’s Business Leadership Council. “Truthfully, I’m just doing what I can to help,” Andy says with his typical modesty before quoting from Pirkei Avot: “You are not obligated to complete the task, but neither are you free to desist from it.” Well, not only is Andy Elkind not desisting from the tasks facing both the Jewish community and the Bay Area in general, he is embracing the challenges that lie before him — and us — with enthusiasm, an entrepreneurial mindset, and an infectious sense of optimism and fun. “I don’t know what’s going to happen 10 years from now. I’m not a futurist. But I suspect that we are going to see a lot of innovative models for how to support the Jewish community and the broader community as well, and that is hugely exciting to me!”
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LAUREN WILNER Third year law students have a full plate and have more than earned an exemption from the question: “So what else do you do?” They are in law school, they are doing plenty! But Lauren Wilner wanted to do more, particularly for the Jewish community that has done so much for her, dating back to her first Birthright trip. Upon graduating from the University of Washington, where she was active in the campus Hillel, she studied abroad in Israel as a Haas/Koshland Distinguished Fellow. “It was an utterly transformative experience,” Lauren says. It exposed her to three of the greatest loves of her life: Jewish learning, Jewish cooking, and her future husband, Adam. Today, back in the Bay Area, as one of the youngest Federation Fellows, she is dedicated to inspiring 20- and 30-something Jews to connect to the community in whatever way best suits them.
I think we need to help people my age have that ‘ah ha moment,’ to get them excited and engaged and able to recognize that there are so many ways for us to get involved. Furthermore, she adds, “We need to start getting involved philanthropically. That doesn’t necessarily mean pledging $50,000 you don’t have, but the fact is there’s a giving gap in my generation and we need to help in any way we can.”
ADELE CORVIN If you ever want to get a good case of writer’s cramp, try typing up all of Adele Corvin’s community and philanthropic endeavors in one sitting. Here’s a sampling: board member and past president of the Jewish Community Federation; president of the Morris Stulsaft Foundation; honorary director of the Institute on Aging; chair of the Board of Directors of Bay Area United Way, the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter, and the San Francisco Adult Day Health Network; advisor to several Bay Area hospitals; and, the list continues.... And, yet, this octogenarian with an endless supply of energy remains as tireless, selfless, and visionary a leader as this Jewish community has ever seen. “Being part of the system — on the inside, that is — has given me a first-hand look at the challenges we are facing. And I’m not sure I know what the answers to our problems are, but I know they are not going to get better if people don’t give. Our goal is to keep people healthy, involved and active.”
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PROFILES OF VISIONARIES Shared experiences and connections greatly enrich our lives, and Jewish values fuel a long tradition of building community and caring for those in need. Planned gifts express these values and ensure a vibrant Jewish future. Below are profiles of two visionary philanthropists who, through Donor Advised Funds, bequests, charitable gift annuities, and other planned gifts, have left the Federation unrestricted assets which help our community thrive for future generations. MARLENE STURM If you were to ask a typical yeshiva bocher to quickly name a great educator in Jewish life, in all likelihood the answer you’d get would be Maimonides, author of the Mishneh Torah. Fair enough. But ask that question anywhere near the Gideon Hausner Day School in Palo Alto, and you’ll hear the name “Marlene Sturm” time and time again. Indeed, Dr. Sturm, who’s been a practicing pediatrician for the past 23 years, is as passionate about healthy minds as she has been about healthy bodies. Perhaps even more so. In addition to serving as a past board president of the Gideon Hauser Day School, Marlene is the immediate past president of Jewish LearningWorks, a Bay Area non-profit whose mission is to improve and extend Jewish learning. She also sits on the Federation’s Board of Governors and Scholarship Committee. But, despite the great impact of Jewish organizations and schools, Marlene is convinced that we as a community need to “do a better job educating the current generation of Jewish children and, just as importantly, create learning opportunities for young adults and Jewish learners of all ages.” Still, she remains encouraged by such documented successes as the NESS Initiative (Nurturing Excellence in Synagogue Schools) and the fact that “innovation is in the air we breathe” in the Bay Area.
The profound impact you can have on improving Jewish life at home and abroad The Federation’s philanthropic advisors offer a menu of services and professional advice in order to advance the philanthropic impact of individuals and families. We partner with you to develop a giving plan that clarifies your mission and funding priorities. Whether that means private consultations, conducting site visits, philanthropic education and networking, or research of specific issues, organizations or programs, our expertise aligns your charitable goals with your Jewish values. Consider a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), a low-cost philanthropic tool that allows you to set aside charitable dollars in a tax-efficient way for future use. It’s easy to set up a DAF. With one signature and a minimum opening balance 10
of $5,000, you can establish a DAF in your name, in the name of a loved one, or another name of your choice. For more information, contact Ruth Bender at RuthB@sfjcf.org or 415.512.6205 Consider a Jewish Legacy, through a bequest to the Federation in your will or living trust, or another form of planned gift from your estate. A legacy gift can minimize your estate taxes, while ensuring that your values continue from generation to generation, sustaining a thriving, innovative, caring, and welcoming Jewish community. For more information, contact Paula Romberg at PaulaR@sfjcf.org or 415.512.6232
GERSON BAKAR AND BARBARA BASS BAKAR Many magazines, newspapers and well-intentioned admirers have referred to Gerson Bakar and Barbara Bass Bakar as a Bay Area “power couple.” And, indeed, they have accomplished many extraordinary things by virtue of their intelligence, strength and resourcefulness: Gerson primarily as a developer, Barbara as a chief executive officer. But, when one learns of their backgrounds and of the incredible hard work and grace in building their careers, and then sees the impact their philanthropy makes for San Franciscans today, any easy description for this formidable couple feels inadequate. They have not only transformed our landscape, they have transformed our lives. Barbara is the founder and president of the ACHIEVE Program, a scholarship and enrichment program which sends students from low-income, underserved communities to private high schools. She was formerly president and CEO of both Emporium-Weinstock’s and I. Magnin; and, in addition to other boards on which she has served, she currently serves on and was a former chair of the UCSF Foundation Board. Additionally, she helped create the UCSF Foundation Wellness Lecture Series and the Raising Hope benefit series for the UCSF Cancer Center, and has been honored by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi for her commitment to quality health care, education and the arts. Gerson, the son of chicken ranchers in Petaluma, has served as co-chair of the Building Committee of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; chair of the Building Committee of Menorah Park; founding director of BRIDGE, a nonprofit housing corporation; and, as a member of the Bay Area Life Science Association, a nonprofit formed to assist in the development of the UCSF Mission Bay campus. Gerson and Barbara have made profound contributions to our Jewish community, through development of the San Francisco Jewish Community Center and Menorah Park, support for Jewish Family and Children’s Services and other agencies, and Gerson’s major role for 20 years on the Federation’s Endowment Committee. Gerson and Barbara’s contributions to the Bay Area Jewish community and to Bay Area institutions cannot be overstated. They are truly philanthropy personified.
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NEXT GENERATION GIVING As my ancestors planted for me, so I plant for my children –Ta’anit 23a DAVE SAXE After learning the Saxe family history of philanthropy, it’s hard for people of a certain age not to remember Tevye’s opening number from Fiddler on the Roof: “Tradition… Tradition!” Indeed, this family’s tradition of giving back to the community began, in large part, with David’s grandmother, Dorothy, and his late grandfather George, who served as a board member with the Federation and the Jewish Home of San Francisco, and was a past president of Congregation Beth Am. David’s father, Loren, followed in their giving footsteps and, now, according to David, “It’s my turn.” And David, who serves as managing partner of his real estate investment firm, Calvera Partners, as well as president of the Federation’s Young Adult Division, has taken his turn with gusto. “I think people my age and younger need to be given a compelling reason to get involved,” he says. “So what I’m trying to do is show them that there are many different entry points into the Jewish community. It could be social, professional, educational, community service — it doesn’t really matter what gets you in the door because they are all valid reasons. What matters is getting people motivated. And then getting them to give. And, of course, tikkun olam.” As to what lies ahead for our Jewish community, David is encouraged by what he’s seeing. “One of the best things about being in the Bay Area is the amount of sheer creativity and younger people who want to make a difference,” he says. “And now there are so many ways to get involved that it is just amazing to me, which is what keeps me so optimistic about our future.” Visit: www.tinyurl.com/DaveSaxe to watch a short video on Dave and his family passing the tradition of giving from generation to generation.
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GEORGE SARLO “Can I tell you about my grandson?” George Sarlo asked, midway through this interview. “A couple years ago, after the horrible earthquake in Haiti, Roman, who was about eight at the time, asked his mother to empty his bank account so he could make a donation. It was all of $20 and 60 cents. I told him that, if he got his classmates involved, I would match whatever funds they raised.” Long story short, and $18,000 later, George found himself writing a matching five-figure check. He’s never been more proud. One might say that this is all you need to know about George Sarlo, but, extraordinary as that story is, there is so much more to tell. He survived not one but two totalitarian regimes and tremendous hardship. Born in Hungary, he lost 17 members of his family in the Holocaust, including his beloved father when he was just four years old. Then, years later, as a college student in Budapest, he and his classmates took up arms against the invading Red Army. Overmatched by the brutal Soviet military forces, George ended up a refugee once again. After a treacherous four-day journey with his sister and her husband, he miraculously escaped to Austria and ultimately was accepted for resettlement in the U.S., his mother and stepfather joining him shortly thereafter. Starting with $5 to his name, George began his amazing American journey. He earned a BS in electrical engineering at the University of Arizona and an MBA at Harvard Business School, went to work on Wall Street, and ultimately became one of America’s leading venture capitalists. He proceeded to enter the world of philanthropy and, today, the Sarlo Foundation — a supporting foundation of the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund — focuses primarily on immigrant issues, human rights, education, mental health, and medical crisis intervention in underdeveloped areas. Notably, George’s daughters — Susie and Gabriella — are following in their father’s footsteps and playing active roles in the family’s philanthropic work.
Guiding families in talking with the next generation about money Next generation and intergenerational philanthropy are vital to the future and stability of our Jewish community, here and around the world, but aligning priorities and philanthropic goals within a family can be challenging, even for the most skilled advisor. The family members involved will need to come to an agreement and may have differing values, priorities, and ideas about what philanthropy should be and how to truly do good in the world. Our professional team has expertise in next generation and intergenerational philanthropy, providing group and individual consultancies with an eye to transferring values and helping families develop their philanthropic passions and skills. Learn more about all of our philanthropic services by visiting jewishfed.org, or contact Amy Rabbino, Interim Chief Philanthropic Officer, at 415.512.6212 or AmyR@sfjcf.org.
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PHILANTHROPIC EDUCATION How do you raise kids these days to be more philanthropic? Start with making opportunities to have conversations. Make the most of simple moments like sharing a book or watching a movie. These experiences prompt conversations and trigger deeper exploration of family values with your kids. Become more action-oriented by trying one of the following activities: Share family history stories between kids, parents, and grandparents. Just by having the conversations, you open the door for kids to talk about what matters to them. Three good story starters to ask are: What life experiences — historical or familial — most formed who you are? What are the values that motivate you to be charitable? What are you passionate about? Create a scavenger hunt. Walk on “Main Street” by your house and try some of the following: do a quick scan and count the pieces of trash you see on the ground between two points. Who do you think is responsible for keeping the streets clean? Name any community needs made obvious by what you see. Is there a need for homeless shelters, food banks, grocery stores, mental or physical health centers, access to social services? How many public drinking fountains, showers and restrooms do you pass? Where do people go if there are few of these facilities around? While waiting in line at the museum or aquarium, have your kids count the total number of names on the donor wall. Do they recognize any? Is there more space on the wall? Why is that? Ask the kids why they think the names are on the wall and why people gave money to be there. Read a book. Read together or read on your own and talk about the book. Here are a few suggestions for different ages: What Zeesie Saw On Delancey Street by Elso Okonn Rael
(elementary school or late pre-school); Mitzvah Magic by Danny Siegel (elementary school); The Power of Half: One Family’s Decision to Stop Taking and Start Giving Back
by Kevin and Hannah Salwen
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(6th grade to high school); Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich (high school and older). Watch a movie. Save time to talk about it after and invite your kids’ friends to join. Here are a few suggestions: Pay it Forward, The Pursuit of Happyness, Freedom Writers, and The Mighty. Volunteer. Here are some suggested agencies to check out: Urban Adamah works outdoors in nature; a visit to the Jewish Home can brighten the day for a seniors; Jewish Children and Family Services delivers meals to those in need. Continuing the conversation. If you are interested in having one of the members of our Philanthropic Services team facilitate any of these discussions or conduct a mini grant round with your family, let us know. For more information, contact Sue Schwartzman, Director of Philanthropic Education, at Sues@sfjcf.org or 415.512.6259.
JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION AND ENDOWMENT FUND
A Snapshot of 2013 - 2014 Federation Grantmaking* Community Core Fund Ensuring a vibrant Jewish community by caring for the vulnerable, promoting Jewish culture, fostering strong relations with our community and society at large, and strengthening Jewish education and identity. Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust Bay Area Jewish Healing Center Berkeley Hillel Bernard Osher Marin Jewish Community Center B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Brandeis Hillel Day School Chabad of Greater South Bay Congregation Beth Am Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School Hillel at Davis and Sacramento Hillel Foundation at Stanford University Hillel of Silicon Valley Hillel of Sonoma County Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life J - The Jewish News Weekly of Northern California Jewish Agency for Israel-North American Council, Inc. Jewish Community Center of San Francisco Jewish Community Center of Sonoma County Jewish Community High School of the Bay Jewish Community Relations Council Jewish Family and Children's Services
Jewish Home and Senior Living Foundation Jewish LearningWorks Jewish Public Affairs Committee Jewish Vocational Service JIMENA Kehillah Jewish High School Lehrhaus Judaica Lisa Kampner Hebrew Academy of San Francisco Northern California Board of Rabbis Oshman Family Jewish Community Center Peninsula Jewish Community Center Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School San Francisco Hillel San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Santa Cruz Hillel Foundation Shalom Bayit South Peninsula Hebrew Day School Tawonga Jewish Community Corporation The Contemporary Jewish Museum The Jewish Community Free Clinic of Sonoma County The Jewish Federations of North America
Israel and Global Fund Strengthening Israel by advancing social justice and equal opportunity; providing for Jews in need worldwide. Promoting Jewish Identity and Pluralism: Atid Bamidbar • Bet Tfila Israeli in Tel Aviv • BINA • Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism • Ono Academic College • Shalom Hartman Institute • Tel Hai Academic College • The Hebrew University of Jerusalem • JCF Gvanim Program • Fishka • Society for Advancement of Education Preventing Poverty through Education and Volunteerism: A Different Lesson • American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Echad • College for All • JVP - Jerusalem Venture Partners - Bakehila • Ma'ase Center Association • Rashi Foundation • The Israel Center for Educational Innovation • New Spirit - Students for Jerusalem
Promoting Democracy and Shared Society: The Jewish Federations of North America • Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development (NISPED) • The Aguda: The National Israeli LGBT Task Force • Hagar • Ma’ase Afak Providing for Jews in Need World-Wide: American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee • Jewish Agency for Israel-North American Council, Inc. Preventing Poverty through Job Training and Employment: Olim B'Yachad • Tech Careers • Yedid • ITWorks - Empowering People • Tsofen – High Technology Centers Ltd. • Hillel - The Right to Choose • American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee - Shachar Chadash
Bay Area Initiatives Fund
Innovation Fund
Addressing local community-wide challenges through targeted initiatives.
Seed-funding innovative projects in emerging and traditional Jewish organizations.
Access/Barriers; Early Childhood Education: Jewish LearningWorks • Santa Rosa Jewish Community Center
A Wider Bridge • G-DCAST • Global Citizen Year, Inc. • Intersection for the Arts • Israel Strategic Alternative Energy Foundation • Jewish Community Memory Garden • JGSI • Keshet Inc. • Reboot, Inc. • The Kitchen Slow Down Jew Up • The One Percent Foundation • UpStart Bay Area • Urban Adamah • JCF One Happy Camper Program
Access/Barriers; Young Adults: The Birthright Israel Foundation Access/Barriers; Special Needs: Bay Area Friendship Circle • Jewish LearningWorks • Sonoma County Synagogue Center Access/Barriers; Affordability: JCF Community Scholarship Fund
*Approved as of October 15, 2013; does not include complete list of Impact Grants Initiative (IGI) grants
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties 121 Steuart Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 | 415.777.0411 | jewishfed.org
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The Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund is a philanthropic catalyst — transforming the Jewish values of tzedakah, kehilla and tikkun olam into action, and mobilizing the community to work together to ensure our collective well-being.
JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF SAN FRANCISCO, THE PENINSULA, MARIN AND SONOMA COUNTIES | 415.777.0411 | JEWISHFED.ORG
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