Special Section: End of Year Decisions (December 2025)
Year-enddecisions
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Dear Readers,
Year-end decisions
The year’s end presents almost an arbitrary cut-off of sorts. . . like a state border. . . one second, we’re in Virginia, and the next in Maryland, with no apparent physical boundaries, just a sign. One second, we’ll be in 2025, the next in 2026, and we won’t have moved at all. . .just the ball in Times Square.
Still that simple flip of the calendar dictates that some financial transactions must be accomplished. It also suggests a time of reflection, thinking about tasks to tackle so that we enter the new year better prepared.
Among the many decisions to make, some might include: Should I finally establish that donor advised fund? Take that check over to my temple? Pay off my pledge? See my attorney about a will? Decide about moving? Clean out my attic and finally get rid of that odd lamp of my grandmother’s that my dad wanted me to have? (That one is personal.)
The list is practically endless with things to do these last few weeks of December. . . shop, plan and take trips, make medical appointments that have been put off, get together with friends, and for some, stop working (see the articles on Glenn Saucier (page 22) and Stephanie Peck (page 32)).
This section offers some advice on what decisions to consider making, as well as tips on how to make them happen. We hope they help and maybe even inspire some action.
Whether you decide to make decisions this month or not, all of us at Jewish News wish you a Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, and Happy Decision-Making Time!
Thanks for reading,
Terri Denison Editor
For 75 years, we have worked to make life better in Hampton Roads through civic leadership, philanthropy, and grantmaking.
We can help you establish a legacy of caring that will last forever. Learn more at HamptonRoadsCF.org
Year-end decisions
Year-end decisions, opportunities, and possibilities
Stephanie Peck
WWhile bidding farewell to 2025, many may have free time during these final weeks to address tasks that have been put off for the last 11 months. Whether it’s crunch time for finances, shopping for last-minute Hanukkah gifts, or making plans for New Year’s Eve, Jewish News has compiled a range of ideas for readers to consider as the year winds down.
Finances and Taxes
To prepare for the end-of-year, consider these guidelines when getting your paperwork in order for the last weeks of 2025.
Randy Parrish, Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s vice president and CFO, offers the following:
• Max out retirement contributions. Utilize “catch-up” contributions of an extra $7,500 for ages 50 and above, and new “super catch-up” of $11,250 for ages 60 - 63 if plans allow.
• Withdraw the required minimum distributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts to avoid a tax penalty. If the RMD is not needed, avoid the tax on that income by having the custodian make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) directly from your retirement account in lieu of the RMD. QCD’s aren’t deductible gifts, but they avoid paying tax on the withdrawal.
• Contribute to a 529 Virginia College Savings plan for a tax deduction or tax credit. Consider a “super-funding” strategy that allows contributing five times the annual gift exclusion per beneficiary account, $95,000 in 2025 (or double that if both spouses contribute).
• Consider a conversion from a traditional retirement account to a ROTH IRA. Dollars converted each year are taxable, but it is often a good strategy when combined with other taxsaving opportunities.
• Remember the importance of charitable giving. Charitable deductions in 2025 may be worth more than in tax year 2026 when a new “floor” based on 0.5% of adjusted gross income excludes a portion of gifts from being deductible. Additionally, deductions in 2026 will be capped at a tax savings rate of 35% for high income taxpayers with a 37% marginal tax rate.
• Consider maximizing the value of a 2025 charitable deduction by opening a donor-advised fund (Tidewater Jewish Foundation can help) with several years’ worth of normal annual gifts that can then be recommended as charitable grants from the new fund over the next several years. This “bunching” strategy is often followed by use of the higher standard deduction in the following years.
• Gifts of appreciated assets like marketable securities continue to be a great strategy by parting with a low-cost asset in exchange for a deduction at the higher market value.
• Review insurance policies and their beneficiaries. Consider donating ownership of excess life insurance policies that may no longer be needed to charity.
• Spend remaining funds in a flexible spending account to avoid any lapse at the end of the plan year.
Randy Parrish.
Year-end decisions
Family Conversations
While surrounded by family this holiday season, take advantage of this time together to have conversations about end-of-life.
Fitness and Health
Tom Purcell, Wellness director at Simon Family JCC, offers this advice when trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle in the midst of year-end celebrations.
• Focus on consistency with a schedule you can stick with. When time gets crazy with parties, family, friends, and
shopping, shorten your workouts or add activity into your day.
• Park at the far end of a parking lot to achieve more steps in your day.
• Perform bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, push-ups, dips, and crunches while watching TV.
• Ask your family and friends to go for a walk after dinner.
• Head to the gym in the early hours before your day starts.
• Complete shorter workouts but at a higher intensity based on your ability.
• Write in a journal each day, or place a reminder on your phone calendar, to commit to achieving something healthy on a daily basis. Fifteen minutes each day = 1 hour 45 minutes each week!
Wellness Experiences
Simone Cassidy, a Norfolk native, and her husband, Chris, have started a new business called Vivoro, which delivers holistic, concierge-level, judgment-free care entirely online.
From weight management and longevity to hormonal health, skin vitality, and sexual wellness, Vivoro blends medical expertise with lifestyle coaching so members can make sustainable changes. And…its approach is practical and positive: no kale-only diets or midnight yoga marathons required.
“As we step into the new year, Vivoro is here to walk beside you on your wellness journey — with thoughtful, clinician-led care, modern medications, and real-life support for how you eat, move, sleep, and live,” says Cassidy. “We go beyond ‘quick fixes’ to help you build sustainable, healthy habits that honor your body and your future. Our aspiration is that everyone has access to a personalized plan that meets them exactly where they are and helps them get where they are meant to go.”
For more information, visit vivoro.com.
Liana Marasca, advance planning specialist at Altmeyer Funeral Homes & Crematory, suggests having open and honest conversations about personal wishes to ensure that they are honored – including topics such as burial versus cremation or a preferred final resting place. “What better opportunity to take care of this now than to wait for tomorrow when emotions run high, funds may be running low, or our health may prevent us from taking care of matters. The peace of mind this creates is truly the best gift you can give,” Marasca adds.
According to Roger Seay, funeral director and manager of the pre-planning department at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, preplanning relieves families of the burden of having to make several immediate decisions and gives them more time and energy to focus on healing and remembrance.
Looking for a place to celebrate New Year’s Eve?
• Ruth’s Chris invites revelers to cap off 2025 with a stellar fine dining experience and perhaps a glass of wine or handcrafted cocktail. Extended hours on December 31 are 4 – 10:45 pm. Guests can then enjoy the Virginia Beach Ball Drop at the Town Center ‘Last Night on the Town’ festivities right outside the door.
• Hilton Norfolk The Main offers a night of dancing, delicious food, and great company to countdown to 2026. Entertainment across The Main includes the Ballroomwith DJ Hutch, Grain, Gabraham Lincoln, and Brian Sewell. Wristbands and package deals are available.
• At the Cavalier Hotel resorts, celebrate in style across all three hotels: Historic Cavalier Hotel, Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort, and Embassy Suites by Hilton. A New Year’s Eve Package includes a onenight stay for two and exclusive access to the Cavalier Resort’s signature New Year’s Eve celebration, The Midnight Lotus Ball, inside The Historic Cavalier Hotel.
Tom Purcell.
Chris and Simone Cassidy.
Year-end decisions
It’s the most wonderful time of the
year….to tip!
Stephanie Peck
Year-end is a good time to remember those people in our lives, besides family and friends, who play a part in our daily activities. According to the Emily Post Institute, which has been weighing in on proper etiquette for five generations, during the holidays it’s important to remember that tipping is truly about expressing appreciation to those who provide year-round services.
Making the decisions, though, on who and how much to tip can be complicated.
At Muddy Paws, a full-service pet store for dogs and cats in Norfolk, owner Maryann Jacobson says that clients are more than generous during the holidays. “They bring gifts, they tip extra, and they give services like manicure and pedicures to our staff to show their appreciation,” she says.
Emily Post provides a list of service people who might be worthy of this extra gratitude at year’s end and suggested gratuity:
• Nanny, babysitter, or day care provide: The equivalent of one week’s pay
• Housekeeper or cleaning service: The equivalent of one service
• Private nurse, live-in aid, or nursing home employees: A gift
• Barber or hairdresser: The equivalent of one service
• Personal trainer and massage therapist:
The equivalent of one service
• Pet groomer and dog walker: The equivalent of one service
• Pool cleaner: Up to the cost of one cleaning to be split among the crew
• Garage attendant: $10- $30 or a small gift
• Newspaper delivery person: $10- $30 or a small gift
• Doorman, handyman, building superintendent: Between $25 and $100 each
• Landscaper: Up to the cost of one service to be split among the crew
• Tutor and coach: The equivalent of one service
• Teacher: A gift card or present.
On the website aarp.org, details about tipping mail carriers are outlined. “The U.S. Postal Service prohibits mail carriers from accepting cash tips, but you can give a noncash equivalent, such as a gift certificate to a local restaurant, of up to $20 in value.” Similarly, in some cities and counties, the people who pick up the garbage and recyclables are government workers and are prohibited from accepting tips, so check the jurisdiction’s website to find out the rules.
Generational attitudes differ on this subject. Last year, Bankrate, a consumer financial website, found 40 percent of Gen Xers and 46 percent of boomers think tipping culture in the U.S. has spiraled out of control. However, that same survey
estimated that 80 percent of Americans said they planned to give holiday tips to house cleaners and other service workers.
The younger generations also live cash-less for the most part; their currency is digital, so the traditional holiday card to insert cash or a gift card is foreign to them. Lizzie Post, the great-great-granddaughter of the etiquette expert Emily Post, says she frowns on giving holiday tips via apps, like Venmo or Cash App. This method is less personal; plus, it may be awkward asking a service provider for their Venmo.
Tom Purcell, wellness director at Simon Family JCC, shares that some personal
trainers receive gifts, cards, letters, and tips, though not all do. “I would say about half (of our clients) do some form of gratitude.”
Purcell theorizes about this inconsistency, “We are one service industry that does not receive tips on a regular basis – unlike massage therapists, hairdressers, servers, and transportation. We see our clients several days per week and the other services are not as frequent.”
If cash gifts are not in the budget, a personal note that expresses gratitude goes a long way, especially when it’s someone who receives tips throughout the year.
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Year-end decisions
2026 Annual Campaign on track for successful fundraising year
Amy Zelenka
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2026 Annual Community Campaign kicked off in August and has been raising funds at a steady pace since. As this article goes to press, the campaign total has surpassed $4.3 million, well on its way to a $5.2 million goal.
The response to this year’s campaign has been incredibly generous, with many donors increasing their levels of support. But why so many increases? Unfortunately, it’s not too difficult to guess: security. Yes, security has become the byword of Jewish communities across the country and around the world, including right here in Tidewater. Many donors have increased their giving this year to help offset the increased cost of community security, and it’s helping.
Security covers not just the Sandler Family Campus and its agencies, but also area synagogues, Hillels, and other places where Jews gather. And it includes not just the “hardening” of physical spaces but also training for those who dwell within them – training for scenarios everyone hopes to never encounter.
Heightened security, helping to rebuild Israel (physically, emotionally, and economically), and the deep desire to continue living proud Jewish lives – these are the factors which make fundraising especially critical and meaningful this year.
For those who have not already made a pledge or gift of support for the 2026 UJFT Annual Community Campaign, please consider doing so before December 31. Gifts may be made online at www.jewishva.org/donate.
For those who are able to maintain, or increase a gift this year, by even a small amount, know that it will help defray the increased cost of security and enable UJFT to continue meeting its obligations to the agencies, programs, and services which make Jewish Tidewater a strong and vibrant community.
Prefer to send a check? Please make it out to UJFT with a note that it is for the 2026 UJFT Campaign, and mail it to: Campaign Department, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, 5000 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462.
Prefer to speak with someone? Call the UJFT Campaign Department at 757-965-6115 to make a pledge or gift over the phone.
For more information about Untied Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the work it does on behalf of Jewish Tidewater, locally and around the world, visit www.jewishva.org.
Amy Zelenka is United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s chief development officer.
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Year-end decisions
Stephanie Peck says goodbye to newspaper deadlines
Terri Denison
This issue of Jewish News is Stephanie Peck’s last as assistant editor. She joined the paper in July 2023 and made the decision several months ago to step away from the hectic world of newspaper deadlines. The paper appreciates that she offered to remain at her desk through the end of the year.
Peck’s contributions to Jewish News will be missed. A team player, she offered plenty of ideas for articles, which she often wrote, and utilized her knowledge of Tidewater’s Jewish community when seeking experts to interview and people to feature for their various Judaica collections, simchas, and traditions.
For much of Peck’s time with Jewish News, she has served as president of the board for Jewish Family Service . . . that’s some mighty fine juggling!
Peck already has several trips planned with her family – husband Paul, daughter, Audrey, and sons Jonathan and Caleb.
The staff of Jewish News (what’s left!) wishes only the best of times for Stephanie and her family and hopes when she receives the paper in her mailbox she doesn’t have flashbacks of deadline days!
Year-end decisions
Hampton Roads Community Foundation celebrates 75 years of philanthropic service to the community
Terri Denison
Earlier this year, Hampton Roads Community Foundation celebrated its 75th anniversary with an event at the Chesapeake Conference Center.
“Now more than ever, America’s non-profit sector is an absolutely critical component in the democratic and economic framework that defines our nation,” said Dr. Deborah M. DiCroce, Foundation president and CEO. Her remarks came at the beginning of the luncheon event, which featured Eugene Robinson, a Pulitzer Prizewinning columnist, who at the time, was with The Washington Post.
More than 600 people from across the region, from across demographic groups, and representing countless organizations, attended the event. Donors and recipients, alike, attended. The diversity
• Family owned and operated since 1917
• Affordable services to fit any budget
• Advance funeral planning
of the audience was not a surprise as the Foundation has made it its mission to “make life better in Hampton Roads through civic leadership, philanthropy, and grantmaking . . . for a thriving community with equitable opportunity for all.”
Based in Hampton Roads, Michelle
Washington, the Foundation’s vice president for communications and marketing, notes that “everyone who works here, lives here.” The result is that the mission to “make life better” resonates with the staff, as well as with donors and fund holders.
Hampton Roads Community Foundation currently has more than $525 million in assets and has distributed more than $427 million in grants and scholarships since its founding in 1950. In 2024, the Foundation awarded
• Professional, experienced, caring staff
• Flexible burial options
• Flexible payment options
Approved by all area Rabbis and Chevrah Kadisha
more than $33.3 million in grants and scholarships.
“Our focus is on partnering with donors from all walks of life to improve life in southeastern Virginia,” states the Foundation’s website. The Foundation accomplishes this through grants, scholarships and leadership initiatives.
Touching all aspects of the community – funding for education, healthcare, culture, environmental issues, and more, one specific example of the Foundation’s impact is through a Foundation grant for Jewish Family Service.
“Hampton Roads Community
Foundation gave us funding to help increase our ability to provide mental health counseling to children throughout Hampton Roads,” says Kelly Burroughs, JFS CEO. The funding, she says, which is being spread over three years, enabled JFS to hire an additional therapist to fill the growing mental health needs of area children.
Whether a prospective donor, current fund holder, a nonprofit staff member, a community leader, or a student seeking a scholarship, learn more about connecting with the Foundation at HamptonRoadsCF.org.
Chris Sisler, Vice President, Member of Ohef Sholom Temple, Board member of the Berger-Goldrich Home at Beth Sholom Village, James E. Altmeyer, Jr., President, James E. Altmeyer, Sr., Owner
By Lydia R. Diamond
FIRST PERSON
The will to build, together
As we complete another incredibly successful year at Tidewater Jewish Foundation, I am heartened by the faith, trust, and confidence that is placed in us to safeguard personal heritage ideals.
This past year, we grew our assets under management by 17%; 2% better than the prior year, while maintaining strong levels of distribution. None of this would be possible without our clients’ and partners’ continued belief in our mission. For a deeper look at the impact individual generosity makes possible, check out our 2025 Annual Impact Report included as an insert in this issue of Jewish News.
I cannot say enough about our exceptional staff. Small though it is, this team manages significant community assets with tremendous fiduciary responsibility. Year after year, we receive outstanding audits and accolades for exceptional performance. Under the leadership of our CEO, Naomi Limor Sedek, the team continues to strengthen and expand its reach across our community. Naomi and Amy Weinstein work closely with all our member organizations to help them meet—and often exceed—their financial goals.
Ann Swindell oversees our grants process and committee calendars with professionalism and care. Each year, we distribute more than a quarter million
dollars to community programs through this process, and Ann ensures these dollars land where they can do the most good. Behind the scenes, Randy Parrish and Craig Bailey manage the back-office operations that make our perfect audit record possible. And, of course, Kim King binds the entire team together as executive assistant. Every person listed here does far more than can be captured in one article, and our community is unquestionably stronger because of their work.
TJF has served our community remarkably well, but I believe we can—and must—do even more. Naomi has set us on a promising path with board succession planning and is now developing employee succession planning to prepare us for the years ahead. To broaden our donor base, we must reach into financial areas we have not yet accessed, and we will be adding to our team to help us do so.
I have long believed that the role of our community foundation is to protect our institutions by securing their futures through endowment. Our next major milestone should be to expand our assets and promises under management from $230 million to $500 million. It’s a lofty goal, but an attainable one. We have the capacity. Now let’s find the will together.
Ed Kramer is chair of Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s board of directors.
