09/22/2026
A Forever Gift for Our Community
Article reprinted with permission from the Cleveland Jewish News.
Jeremy Pappas | SPECIAL TO THE CJN
During Rosh Hashanah, many of us gathered with family and friends to welcome the new year. We shared meals, dipped apples in honey and recited familiar blessings. We reflected on the past, celebrated the joy of being together in the present and looked ahead with hope for a sweet year to come.
This season of reflection and renewal also marks the beginning of Jewish Cleveland’s annual fundraising campaign. More than 1,000 community members came together recently at Super Sunday Kickoff to launch our community’s Campaign for Jewish Needs. I looked around and saw the generations working side by side and the commitment over time – children who used to bring their tzedakah boxes to be counted are now young adults, day school students who are now day school parents, young pledge card runners who are now grandparents. Rain or shine, countless members of Jewish Cleveland have joined these collective efforts year after year, which helps take care of our community while building for a stronger tomorrow.
We also remember and are grateful for those who are no longer with us who continue to strengthen our community. These are community members who chose to endow their annual gifts which are now made each year through endowment funds that they created. Their support keeps our community safe, strong and growing. Their gifts demonstrate confidence in us to carry on their values and their belief in Jewish Cleveland’s ability to thrive while continuing to meet changing needs. Together, we feed the hungry, comfort the sick, care for our older adults, combat hate, support the people of Israel, and so much more.
Endowed annual gifts ensure our community has a steady base of support we can rely on to sustain essential services in uncertain times, plan for the future, quickly respond to emerging needs and create new opportunities.
So how does this work in practice? When someone makes a gift to an organization’s endowment, the gift is invested to help preserve and grow its value over time, while a portion is distributed each year to support the organization’s mission. For example, a donor who gives $100 annually could make one endowment gift of $2,500 to continue their giving every year thereafter. Cash, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and several other types of assets can be used as funding.
This is l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation, in action. Jewish Cleveland is strong today because of the investment made by those who came before us. We can honor their legacy not only with our gratitude, but by making the same commitment for those who will come after us.
Jeremy Pappas is managing director, campaign, of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in Beachwood.
