The following is a reprint of the JCF's Money Matters column, published in the December 24, 2024 issue of the Jewish Community Voice, titled 'Ensuring our community thrives for years to come':
As we wind down the calendar year, it’s timely to reflect on several stories of new endowment funds that donors established with the Jewish Community Foundation in 2024 that will benefit our community annually.
Each of the following three funds memorialize a loved one and will continue their respective legacies for generations.
• The Ben Lipitz Memorial Award joins the JCF Scholarship Awards program (learn more and apply at jcfsnj.org/scholarships) that will benefit students from Cherry Hill High Schools East and West who participated in either school’s theater program and who are enrolled or will be enrolled in post-high school education for theatrical arts (performing or tech studies).
Shayna Penn, who helped launch the fund in Ben’s memory, shared the following thought:
“To extend Ben Lipitz’s legacy of giving back to our home community, creating the Ben Lipitz Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund felt appropriate. Ben was an outstanding member of every community he joined. While performing over 6,000 shows as Pumbaa in ‘The Lion King,’ he raised over $3.4-million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, produced and performed in Broadway Live! at the Katz JCC to benefit the Open Hearts/ Open Doors program, and led virtual masterclasses during the COVID-19 lockdown for Cherry Hill East and West. He did all of this with love, kindness, and humor.
“I grew up attending the Katz JCC Camps at Medford and befriended fellow campers who benefitted from the Open Hearts/ Open Doors program. I also benefited from the outstanding arts programing at Cherry Hill High School East, which is how I met Ben. To later come full circle and stage manage Ben’s final, impressively ambitious ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ felt truly special.
“I am humbled to continue Ben’s legacy so closely to the places that formed both our childhoods and professional tikkun olam efforts.”
• In the spring, we excitedly announced the new Nadell/Langan BookMates Endowment Fund established by Dr. Judith Nadell and John Langan to provide groundbreaking financial support to the Jewish Community Relations Council’s Nadell/Langan BookMates. Throughout her life, Dr. Nadell has taken great pride in helping children learn to read, and she is not alone in this important endeavor, with Marcia Toub (z”l) serving as another shining example, which segues to our next new fund.
The Marcia Toub Memorial Endowment Fund was created by Joel Toub to remember his beloved wife. During her lifetime, Marcia was a dedicated teacher, and, after retiring, she actively volunteered with BookMates, taking great joy in working closely with students, and even training police officers to do the same. Now, this fund in her memory will annually support BookMates and, in turn, continue her legacy of helping students succeed.
• Last but not least, the Ravi’s Mensches Endowment Fund was initiated to remember Ravi Bloom (z”l) and the enduring impact he left on so many despite losing his life at the young age of 17. According to Ravi’s mother, Jayne Feld, the fund was created “to ensure that a gift to camp will be made each year in Ravi’s name. The fund is focused on areas that reflect Ravi’s values and passions, allowing camp leadership to help determine the areas of greatest need in any given year, directed by causes that were meaningful to our son. This includes arts programming around Ravi’s Bimah, sustainability initiatives promoting environmental awareness through a Jewish lens, and expanding opportunities for all children through the Open Hearts/Open Doors initiative.”
Thank you to the many donors who have made these and other endowment funds possible, ensuring that our community thrives and legacies live on.
From the entire JCF Board and staff, happy Chanukah and New Year!
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