Leaving a legacy to secure the Jewish future is crucial to the survival of our Jewish community. For the past three years, United Jewish Federation of Stamford, New Canaan and Darien has been working with 10 other community organizations to build their endowments and secure their future as part of the Harold Grinspoon LIFE & LEGACY program.

On June 15, over 100 members of the local Jewish community will join together at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center Farmhouse to celebrate their commitment to leave an afterlife gift to ensure the continuity of the Jewish community. Following a celebratory dinner, participants will be treated to a performance by American-Israeli comedian Joel Chasnoff. This year’s celebration chairs are Connie and Alan Freeman and Beverly and David Stein.

“I am so honored to be working on this event with these community leaders. They lead by example with their legacy gifts and all that they contribute to our community," said Lenore Fogel, UJF's LIFE & LEGACY Coordinator. 

A Jewish stand-up comedian, former IDF soldier, and author of multiple non-fiction books, including the newly released Israel 201, Chasnoff's performed at more than 1,500 Jewish events in ten countries, from the Melbourne Comedy Festival in Australia to Israeli late-night TV.

“Currently the 11 participating organizations, with the guidance and sponsorship of United Jewish Federation, have secured over 520 ‘Letters of Intent’ for afterlife giving, totaling almost $15,000,000 dollars in promised bequests. Over $350,000 of this money has already been realized,” shared Diane Sloyer, UJF CEO.

“Having just returned from the annual LIFE & LEGACY conference in Springfield Massachusetts, I have a renewed sense of urgency as to how important Legacy giving is for our Jewish communal future."

The Year 3 LIFE & LEGACY Celebration is open to all those who have either signed a letter of Intent or a commitment letter to make a legacy gift to any of the participating Jewish communal organizations. To learn more about the LIFE & LEGACY program, contact Lenore Fogel at Lenore@ujf.org.

 

This article appears in the June edition of The New Jewish Voice. To receive The New Jewish Voice newspaper delivered free to your home, sign-up today at www.ujf.org.