Jewish Community Partners

2024 was a remarkable year for The Jewish Foundation of Memphis.

Grants totaling $14 million were awarded to local, national and international charitable organizations.  Fund holders recommended grants to close to 700 different charitable organizations representing every non-profit sector – education, the arts, Jewish organizations and front-line social service organizations.  And Jewish foundation fund holders stepped up with a resounding “Hineini – Here I am” in response to the critical needs in Israel.
 
It isn’t a secret that people who are actively engaged in charitable giving tend to live happier, more fulfilling lives.  Whether its dropping coins in the Salvation Army bucket outside of Kroger or making your largest-ever charitable gift to the Israel Emergency Campaign, giving feels good.

I remember my first foray into the world of charitable giving.  During my childhood, the Jerry Lewis Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) was a big deal.  My sister and I would join with the other kids in our neighborhood and go door-to-door collecting money.  I remember the excitement when someone gave us a dollar bill, instead of a quarter.
 
After spending the morning walking around our neighborhood, one of the parents would load us up in their station wagon and take us to the Embassy Theater in downtown Fort Wayne.  Our small neighborhood group would excitedly dump our coins and dollars into a huge barrel and get our photo taken with local celebrities. We were excited and felt great that we were doing our part to support people who needed help.

At its core, the work of the Jewish Foundation of Memphis is to inspire charitable giving – which is no different than my early days of contributing my collected pennies to the MDA.  I was inspired to participate and to give back.

As we look to the year ahead, I hope that you will continue to value your partnership with the Jewish Foundation of Memphis and will expand your involvement.  Add to your fund, work with your advisor to finalize your charitable estate plan and work with the Foundation team to craft a meaningful legacy document.  When each of us does our part we will ensure our Jewish community organizations will flourish for generations.

Wishing you a prosperous and healthy 2025.

Laura Linder