Charitable giving is alive and well in Denver’s Jewish community, and last week hundreds of donors gathered at the Pinnacle Club to celebrate the launch of the Jewish Community Foundation and its $4 million in new endowments.
The JCF is a division of Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, and is headed by Doug Seserman, who is also the federation’s president and chief executive officer. Brad Friedman is JCF’s executive director; Andy Levy serves as relationship manager and Gena Beagle is the associate.
Sheldon Smith is chairman of the foundation board, serving with Leslie Sidell, Gary Wagner, Harvey Allon, Michael Feiner, Linda Fenner, Carolyn Grant, Gene Kay, Sol Leftin, Ruth Malman, Bruce Plotkin, Ruth and Warren Toltz and Gary Yourtz.
For 42 years, the foundation was known as The Endowment of the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado. With a new name, Seserman said, comes a re-branding that includes an aggressive marketing campaign and increasing the number of partnerships with professional advisers, agencies, organizations and synagogues.
The goal, Seserman added, is to double the foundation’s assets in the next three to five years, while the mission is to be the central source for long-term philanthropy, endowment and planned giving for individuals and institutions in Colorado’s Jewish community.
The JCF also is offering such new services as a Jewish Cemetery Endowment, Family Philanthropy Initiative, B’nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy Program and the Community Annual Campaign Endowment (CACE). It also will work closely with local agencies and synagogues to fund programs and services.
The $4 million donation came from the estate of Jack Bernstone and three local agencies: Shalom Park, Hillel of Colorado and Jewish Family Service of Colorado. Representatives from all three agencies were on hand to share in the excitement and explain why they’ve entrusted their funds to the JCF.
“We strongly believe that together with the JCF we can raise a lot of money, together we can build a stronger community and together we can meet the growing needs of the vulnerable,” said Yana Vishnitsky, president and CEO of Jewish Family Service of Colorado.
In addition to learning about the Jewish community’s “Prescription for a Healthier Future,” attendees were treated to delicious food and live music sponsored by First Western Trust Bank. Sandy Kaminsky, Gene Kay, Debra Weinstein and Sheldon Smith chaired the event.
For details, call 303-316-6469 or visit
jcfcolorado.org.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-820-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
