Foundation Programs
ADVISORS PHILANTHROPY INITIATIVE
The Advisors Philanthropy Initiative (API) is comprised of professional money managers, insurance, stock brokers, trust officers, CPAs, and attorneys.
API creates partnerships within the professional community that have the ability to motivate potential donors. Our job is to educate our professionals on the work of the Federation, locally and globally. The objective is to secure planned gifts for the Jewish Community Foundation. Members of API are provided opportunities to connect with their colleagues, fulfill their continuing education requirements through seminars, as well as participate in social gatherings throughout the year. Advisors who secure planned gifts for the Jewish Community Foundation will become members of our Mitzvah Society and will be honored at our bi-annual Cocktail & Awards Reception.
Our Mission is Simple:
Promote philanthropic discussions and giving from clients of professional advisors to the Jewish Community Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Broward County and its beneficiary agencies.
Come Join Us:
Become an official member of Advisors Philanthropy Initiative (API) and help the Jewish Community Foundation promote philanthropic discussions and giving throughout our communities.
Reasons to Join:
Become more proficient at fulfilling the philanthropic needs of your clients
Network with like-minded colleagues
Spread philanthropy
Educate professionals on the work of the Federation, both local and international, and its partner agencies and synagogues
We Cannot Do This Alone:
Thank you to the following advisors who referred their clients to us and helped grow our foundation to the $115+ million that it is today.
Jeffrey A. Baskies
Howard N. Bienenfeld
Marvin T. Bornstein
Herbert Jay Cohen
Alan B. Cohn
Libo Fineberg
Adrienne Frank
Randy S. Friedlander
Jill Ginsberg
Gene K. Glasser
Adam Goldberg
Thomas O. Katz
Corinne R. Korn
Les S. Kushner
Christy Lambertus
Denise A. Lettau
Jack R. Loving
Bonnie S. Miller
Sheldon Polish
Jack Rosenberg
Richard B. Sabra
Myron Sandler
Jeffrey Saster
David B. Schulman
Sheri F. Schultz
Carl Schuster
Joseph L. Schwartz
David M. Scully
Barbara A. Shore
David A. Shulman
Eric W. Sulzberger
Leonard Suskind
Donald R. Tescher
Benjamin A. Tobias
Ricky J. Weiss
API CHAIR, MARC LOWELL
Marc Lowell, CLU, ChFC Pres/CEO The A.I.D. Group | Financial, Estate, Investment, Insurance, Planning/Co-Founder NYSE Financial Services Co.
- University of Florida BSBA Finance
- 2-year President of the West Broward Estate Planning Council (2018-2020)
- Co-founder of National Financial Partners (NFP) Member Firm (NYSE IPO 2003)
- Educator for Continuing Education in Florida for CPA’s (CPE), Attorney’s (CLE) and Insurance Advisors (CE)
- Selected to appear in the 2020 Top 100 People in Finance Magazine
- Specialist in Estate and Income tax mitigation strategies
- Expertise with HNW Wealth Management
- Founder The A.I.D. Group and its Member Firms - A.I.D. Wealth Management, Advisors Insurance Design, and The 401kompany
- Member of multiple charitable and industry specific Boards of Directors
- Public speaker for professional’s business development training
- South Florida business leader for over 33 years
API Lunch & Learn Webinars
We are proud to share our API Lunch & Learn recorded webinars for additional learning opportunities.
Jonathan Zucker Vice President, Senior Donor Relationship Manager
(954) 660-2082 | jzucker@JewishBroward.org
About Me
Your Legacy…Our Promise
An Individualized Concierge Professional Care Management Program for Individual
WHO WE ARE
The story of the Jewish people began with a promise: "Every Jew is responsible for the other." For those individuals who are creating their Jewish legacy and promising impact for future generations by committing a qualified endowment to the Jewish Community Foundation, we promise Chai Care. Chai Care is an individualized care management program for individuals Ages 65+.
The Chai Care program delivers comprehensive advocacy for people confronted with the challenges of aging through individualized care management. Chai Care’s professional team is trained in gerontology, social work, nursing, healthcare, and counseling. The team makes specific recommendations, and they become a part of the individual's extended family, helping to assure advocacy, referral, and support.
HOW WE HELP
Chai Care helps our donors on an individual basis depending on their needs, through initial and ongoing assessment and monitoring, planning and problem solving, education and advocacy and caregiver coaching and support.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
Donors who make an irrevocable endowment of $100,000+ to one or more of our Jewish Community Foundation's Vision Funds may be eligible for our Chai Care program starting at the age of 65.
CHAI CARE'S IMPACT
Chai Care has raised over $12 million for needy Jews in Broward County, Israel and around the world. Since inception, Chai Care has touched the lives of 36 donors and their families, and currently there are 179 donors that are eligible to be part of the program.
The Newsletter for Chai Care, a program of the Jewish Community Foundation of Broward County
2020 - 2021
2019 - 2020
Chai Lighting
Chai Lighting: Gina Shull
Oprah Winfrey once said, “To move forward, you have to give back,” and that is precisely what Gina Shull exudes on a daily basis. As an in-home health care practitioner, she witnessed the implications of seniors in isolation and its impact on their mental health. With a heart of gold, Gina made it her life…
Chai Lighting: Sam & Audrey Meline
Sam and Audrey Meline have dedicated their lives to giving back through philanthropy. The couple, married 61 years, were born, raised and educated in Boston. After graduation, Sam served as a dentist in the US Army, stationed in Munich, Germany for 2 years. It was from there that in 1959, they made their first trip…
Chai Lighting: Susan Meyerson
For Susan Meyerson, joining the Chai Care program with the Jewish Federation of BrowardCounty, was a vital choice. Through her friendship with Chai Care Chair, Carol Lasek, she became aware of the program and the benefits. At 82 years young, Susan opted to utilize the Chai Care program to ensure that her life would be…
Chai Lighting: Joe & Robbi Alexander
Dr. Joe Alexander is the type of man to hold the door for passers-by and give just the right greeting to each one. His greatest cheerleader and wife, Robbi Alexander, is the type of woman to give you a piece of her heart and educated perspective that you hadn’t realized you needed. The Alexanders win…
Chai Lighting: Lori Adelson
Lori Adelson has inspired many as she turned her journey in South Florida into her life’s mission. In her brief, experience-rich 6 years as a leader in the Jewish Federation of Broward County, Lori has been actively living her legacy by sharing her voice, mentoring aspiring leaders and unifying her philanthropic, professional and legal worlds…
AGING & CAREGIVER SUPPORT
Appointment times are limited. No drop-ins, please. To schedule a session, call Esther Cohen at 954-252-6952.
Who We Are:
The Jewish Women's Foundation (JWF) Trustees are a group of philanthropic women who are committed to transforming the lives of Jewish women and girls and fostering life-long social change, one woman at a time. Through our generous allocation of innovative grants, programs here in Broward County and Israel are making a real difference by providing educational opportunities, crisis relief, and advocacy. JWF Trustees are decision-makers—analyzing needs, comparing grants, voting on grant applications, and evaluating outcomes.
Our Guiding Values:
JWF has proudly allocated over $209,900 in grants to help transform the lives of women and girls in Broward County and Israel.
JWF Trustees & Membership Information
MEMBERSHIP
Individual membership shall be through a financial contribution in one of five categories:
TRUSTEE
Trustees make a $10,000 commitment, payable over five (5) years. Trustees in good standing are those who have paid a minimum of $2,000 per calendar year. At the completion of five (5) years, Trustees may renew their membership by making a $5,000 commitment, also payable over five (5) years.
YOUNG WOMAN TRUSTEE (UNDER 40)
Young Woman Trustees make a $5,000 commitment, which may be payable over five (5) years. Young Woman Trustees in good standing are those who have paid a minimum of $1,000 per calendar year. At the completion of five (5) years, Young Woman Trustees may renew their membership by making a $5,000 commitment, also payable over five (5) years.
LION OF JUDAH TRUSTEE
Current Lions of Judah make a $5,000 commitment, which may be payable over five (5) years. LOJ Trustees in good standing are those who have paid a minimum of $1,000 per calendar year. At the completion of five (5) years, LOJ Trustees may renew their membership by making a $5,000 commitment, also payable over five (5) years. LOJ Trustees must maintain their LOJ status in order to be considered a LOJ Trustee.
LIFETIME TRUSTEE
Lifetime Trustees make a one-time commitment of $50,000, which may be payable over five (5) years. Lifetime Trustees in good standing are those who have paid $10,000 per calendar year.
MULTI-GENERATIONAL TRUSTEE
Multi-Generational Trustees make a one-time commitment of $100,000, which may be payable over five (5) years. The original member may appoint additional family members to join them as Multi-Generational Trustees. Original Multi-Generational Trustees in good standing are those who have paid $20,000 per calendar year.
JWF TRUSTEES*
Lori Adelson
Arlene Backman
Jane Basch
Terry Breitbord
Karen Dombey
Goldie Dropkin
Wandy Druss
Adrienne Frank
Agnes Gray
Sheryl Greenwald
Laura Gordon
Gladys Hirschman
Bette Hochberger
Marcy Hoffman
Stephanie Houser
Joan Kuriansky
Carol Lasek
Denise Lettau*
Jami Levy**
Audrey Meline
Gina Stelnik
Elissa Mogilefsky
Robbin Newman
Karen Roberts
Susan Samrick
Karen Saster
Stephanie Saunders
Susan Schneider
Hanita Schreiber
Ibby Schulman
Esther Shacket***
Nicole Shacket**
Merryl Shapiro
Gina Shull
Gina Stelnik
Corina Waldman
as of September 2020
JWF Grants Awards & Application Information
2021 Grant Co-Chairs:
Sheryl Greenwald & Robbin Newman
2020/2021 GRANTS
COVID Emergency Grant - $10,000
Awarded to the Goodman Jewish Family Services (GJFS). Funds will be distributed to single moms who are clients of GJFS. These funds will go to rent emergency assistance and other immediate needs such as electric and other bills. Additionally, GJFS will distribute gift cards to these same moms, $100 per adult and $50 per child as needed. The distribution of gift cards may be made over a 2-month period.
JWF Scholarship Fund - $20,000
This is a scholarship fund for women, regardless of age, who have been affected by the COVID pandemic and who need to re-train, re-direct their careers and/or return to the workforce.
The Jewish Women’s Foundation Scholarship Fund awards dollars (a minimum of $1.000) to prospective Broward Technical College ("BTC") female students who have been affected by COVID-19. Those awarded scholarships would enter the “Career in a Year” Program(s) and participate in its online platform beginning on August 1st.
Recipe for Success - $5,000
Awarded to Be'er Sova, this program provides culinary training, skill-building and emotional support to help southern Israeli women age 20 – 60 who suffer from nutritional security and unemployment to break free of the cycle of poverty, eventually becoming financially independent and ensuring long-term job retention in the food industry
Tech Training with Guaranteed Jobs for Negev Women - $10,000
Awarded to Eretz-Ir, this is a holistic 4-month comprehensive training program for 20 women age 22 - 35, followed by a 4-month paid internship program that will teach young women to build websites using the WIX platform. Graduates will be able to work from home, with guaranteed 2-year job placements with TribeStudio and Eretz Ir will continue providing support for program graduates for the first 6 months
Your Voice, Your Choice - $7,500
($5,400 plus a $2,100 match from the Sam Berman Foundation)
Awarded to Goodman Jewish Family Services, this program will consist of workshops to promote safety, security, strength, and self-esteem for teens and young adults. The workshops include topics such as safe dating, healthy relationship, consent, bullying, identify abuse, speaking up, how to get help and debunking myths about abuse in the Jewish community
Women's Jewish Leadership Fellowship - $5,800
($3,600 plus a $2.200 match from the Sam Berman Foundation)
Awarded to Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach, this 10-week theme-based seminar will include the study of rabbinic texts alongside contemporary analogs, learning skills to express and defend themselves, leadership skills, weekly dinners together, and including and Shabbat experiences. The cohort will have 12-15 participants and include a JLF unpaid intern who will help to create a feeling of sisterhood amongst the group.
Denise A. Lettau, Esq., Co-Chair
Ms. Lettau joined National Care Advisors in October 2020. She graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Pacific Lutheran University and subsequently a juris doctorate from Seattle University. After graduation, Ms. Lettau worked as a Research Assistant at the Institute of International Law in Kiel, Germany and later after the fall of the Berlin Wall, she worked as a Senior Lecturer at Humboldt University in Berlin.
Upon her return to the United States, Ms. Lettau practiced law before entering the banking industry. Her banking career has been entirely focused on servicing the disabled and/or elderly. She worked for an eight- year stint at SunTrust Bank as a trust advisor in the Special Needs Trust department followed by nearly five years at Wells Fargo as a Senior Advisory Specialist in the area of Life Management Services which catered to the needs and concerns of older clientele. From 2018 – 2020, Ms. Lettau served as Vice President of Advancement at Secured Futures.
Ms. Lettau is a board member of both the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Broward County. Denise is currently serving as the co-chair for the Strategic Impact Teams for the Jewish Federation. She also currently serves as the Chair for the Jewish Women’s Foundation and is also a Lion of Judah. Denise has served a number of roles within the Jewish Federation as a lay leader. She is the founder of the Hearts of Gold Society, a women’s circle to support the goals of Ann Storck Center in Fort Lauderdale. The Ann Storck Center provides education, daycare and residential housing for individuals with special needs.
Esther Shacket
Esther Shacket was born in Poland and raised in Israel, where she served in the IDF before immigrating to the US in 1974. As a child of Holocaust survivors, it guided and shaped the direction she would take in life. After arriving in the US, she met her husband Roger. Together with their two children, Kevin and Nicole, they have built a life of philanthropy. Since 1978 Esther has been involved in the Broward Jewish Community and held a multitude of positions at many Jewish organizations, including her role as B’nai Brith Women’s Regional Chair of 11 States (D.C. - Florida), and Past National Board member of Jewish Women International. She is a founding member of the KOLOT coalition at Jewish Family Services of Broward County,
Continuing her endeavors, she began her involvement with the Jewish Federation of Broward County in the early 2000s with Women’s Division and served as N. Area Campaign Chair. She chaired the Israel and Overseas committee where she flourished as the 1st Steering Committee Chair of the Broward / Nesher, Israel Partnership. In 2007, Esther & Roger Shacket founded the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Broward County, where she formed a group of philanthropic women who are committed to transforming the lives of Jewish women and girls and fostering life-long social change, one woman at a time.
Expanding her involvement, she has held positions such as Broward Jewish Women’s Division Nominating Committee Chair, Jewish Community Foundation of Broward Governance Chair, Broward Jewish Federation Missions Chair, Broward Jewish Federation Major Gifts Chair, and from 2017 - 2019, she held the position of Board Chair of the Jewish Community Foundation of Broward.
Today, she sits on the Israel & Overseas Impact Team, is the Life & Legacy Chair, Vice Board Chair for the Jewish Federation of Broward County, and is a Board Member for Women’s Philanthropy.
Outside of her tumultuous philanthropic endeavors, she owns R.N.S. Associates, Property Development & Management Company and is a Certified Florida Supreme Court, Appointed, Family, Mediator. She is the proud recipient of the Jewish Federation WD Lisa Shulman Leadership Award, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Mother of the Year Award, Jewish Family Services Women of Valor Award, Soref JCC Alvin Gross Community Service Award, Jewish Federation Dedicated Leadership Award, and Jewish Community Foundation Outstanding Leadership Award.
Karen Zemel Director, Jewish Women's Foundation & Horizons Young Leadership Program
(954) 252-6978 | kzemel@JewishBroward.org
About Me
About LIFE & LEGACY®
Community Partners
Each participating organization selects a team of dedicated volunteers who work with professional staff to secure legacy gifts for their organization and the community. The Jewish Community Foundation of Broward supports the team members and works to coordinate this community-wide initiative to build a sustainable Broward Jewish community through endowments. Click the logo below for more information.
Getting Started
We encourage you to begin your legacy conversation by contacting the team leader of the organization you care about most to share your interests and learn about the organization's specific needs. The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Broward's staff is available to assist you with the technical aspects of legacy giving. You may also want to contact your financial advisors and/or estate planning attorney at this time.
Anyone can do this. You don't have to be wealthy, just committed to your organization's cause. This decision is for after you are gone, and you can decide exactly what percentage, or what part, of your estate to leave via your will or by simply naming an organization as a beneficiary of your retirement plan. You can make sure that the people you love are taken care of first, and you can change it if needed.
The answer is different for everyone. Some people make a will after the birth of a child; others may wait until they receive an inheritance. Whether you already have a will or are just getting started, it's always right to think of how you want to be remembered. Now is the time.
Ways to Give
There are many different ways to leave your own legacy. Your legacy gift can be designed to match your personal circumstances.
Endowments can be established with contributions of cash and/or securities. In general, charitable gifts of cash and securities both entitle the donor to a charitable income tax deduction, but in the case of securities that have appreciated in value, the donor may also be able to avoid capital gains tax. Please contact us to learn more about the most tax-efficient ways to establish an endowment.
The simplest way to support a LIFE & LEGACY Partner is by naming the organization in your will. You can designate either a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate after other disbursements. A bequest is a meaningful way to support an agency or synagogue without affecting your cash flow during your lifetime. Your attorney can include it when you prepare or revise your will or you can add a codicil at any time.
There are many types of charitable trusts. A Charitable Remainder Trust enables you to receive income during your lifetime and leave an endowment gift as your lasting legacy to the charities of your choice.
Gifts of new life insurance policies enable donors to build a substantial future endowment gift through reasonable, tax-deductible premium payments. Donation of an existing policy may also offer tax benefits.
Forms
Ready to begin? Download the 2021 Declaration of Intent and contact your organization or organizations of choice today. If you would like to digitally sign the document, please open in Adobe Acrobat.
Testimonials
News
LIFE & LEGACY Incredible 1st Year in Broward County
Local Jewish Organization Secures $15 Million in Endowment-Building Initiative Nationally, LIFE & LEGACY Program Tops $1 Billion Over 300 donors in the Broward Community have made personal commitments to provide future financial stability. These commitments totaling an anticipated $15 million are a part of a collaborative endowment building effort that includes 13 local Jewish organizations…
Judy Levenson Director of Educational Excellence and Life & Legacy, Senior Relationship Manager
(954) 660-2076 | jlevenson@jewishbroward.org
About Me
Chai Care has raised over $12 million for needy Jews in Broward County, Israel and around the world.
