A year of growth and community resilience

Nat Ritter, Federation Board Chair

The following column is adapted from my state of the Jewish Federation address delivered at the March 30 Annual Meeting. I’m sharing it to update our broader community on the organization's activities and achievements over the past year.

As I stood before our community at the recent Power of Community Celebration, I was tasked with presenting the state of our Federation. Looking out at the faces of our dedicated members, I was reminded of how security remains at the forefront of all our minds. To address these concerns, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples has joined forces with the Lee/Charlotte and Pinellas County Federations to hire Secure Community Networks (SCN), bringing on John Murtaugh as our shared regional security advisor. Additionally, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples' funds have enabled us to employ Stephan Leoni and his colleagues as guards during our building’s hours of operation. To date, Murtaugh has visited all our local Jewish institutions, offering valuable security assessments and safety training.

Throughout my time with Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, I've had the privilege of meeting extraordinary community members whose passion and commitment continually inspire me. Each interaction reinforces my belief that we are not just an organization, but a living, breathing family committed to building a vibrant future for generations to come.

This year marked a significant transition in leadership. After a decade of remarkable service, Jeffrey Feld retired with the well-deserved title of president and CEO emeritus. We are deeply grateful for his dedication. Simultaneously, we welcomed Nammie Ichilov as our new president and CEO. Ichilov arrived from Texas with his wife, Lisa, bringing a fresh vision to our community. He has already begun reimagining our approach to community building.

Our programming continues to foster engagement and connection. This year, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of our Jewish Book Festival, which attracted nearly 3,000 attendees. We are now preparing to complete our 10th and final event for this season’s festival. Additionally, our collaborative spirit shines through partnerships such as our first-year collaboration with Beth Tikvah on the Naples Jewish Film Festival, which brought over 1,000 film enthusiasts together

In response to global challenges, our community has shown extraordinary resilience and generosity. Following last year's successful Israel Crisis Fund Campaign that raised over $1.2 million, we've raised an additional $350,000 this year to support rebuilding efforts in Israel.

I'm proud to report that Jewish Federation of Greater Naples continues to exceed expectations. Having surpassed our projected campaign goal of $1.85 million, we’ve reset our goal, striving to break the $2 million threshold. This financial strength is further enhanced by Stephen Saks' remarkable $11 million donation to our endowments, ensuring we can continue to meet emerging community needs.

Our Women's and Men's Cultural Alliances (WCA and MCA) continue to create unique programs fostering connection and understanding, serving as the lifeblood of our community engagement. The programming they provide can be heard across the halls of our Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center every day. And in a moment of immense pride, we have paid off our building loan! Just two years into our magnificent new facility, we stand debt-free — a testament to our community's commitment and strategic planning.

In this era of rising antisemitism, our role has never been more critical. We are expanding our departments to reach wider audiences and provide enhanced community protection. Our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is broadening its advocacy mission, strengthening relationships with elected officials, deepening partnerships with educational institutions, and expanding interfaith outreach.

None of this would be possible without our dedicated volunteers and staff. From our executive committee and Board of Directors to our committee chairs and members, it truly "takes a village" to accomplish all we do. Our incredible staff — Eduardo Avila, Renee Bialik, Anthony Clark, Michelle Cunningham, Alicia Feldman, Andre Lall, Pat Pastorius, Linda Sherman, Susan Spoerlein, Alexandra Wein, L.C. Velasco, and our faithful leader, President and CEO Nammie Ichilov — transform our vision into reality every day.

Lastly, to all of you who make up our community, thank you! And special thanks to my wife, Susan, who has supported me through many timeconsuming days and nights. Your generosity of time, talent and dedication are the treasure of Jewish Federation of Greater Naples. Because of you, our Federation is stronger than ever.