Bradley and Taly Friedman are the first to participate in each stage of the Continuum of Giving, the Jewish Community Foundation’s opportunities to engage and develop philanthropists and community leaders at all stages of life.
The B’nai Tzedek program was established in 2001 to give b’nai mitzvah teens a taste of the joy of charitable giving by allowing them to open their own philanthropic funds. That year, Bradley opened the Bradley Friedman B’nai Tzedek Fund, making him one of the earliest participants in this successful program.
“My family was involved in the community, and we volunteered together, but B’nai Tzedek provided an opportunity to learn about many different organizations and the first opportunity to make a difference with my own charitable resources,” he said.
A few years ago, Bradley and Taly joined J-LEAD, the Foundation’s young adult giving circle and leadership development program. Bradley currently sits on the Steering Committee, and he and Taly enjoy making a difference in the community alongside friends and peers.
“J-LEAD provides an opportunity to connect with people and have meaningful social interactions as we learn about projects in the community and how we can support them and get involved,” Taly said. She also said it was great to utilize the remainder of Bradley’s B’nai Tzedek Fund to contribute toward their J-LEAD membership, where they could participate in more sophisticated giving.
In addition to participating in these programs, the Friedmans turned to the Foundation to support their personal charitable efforts. As a couple raising two young children, they knew that it was essential that they help maintain a strong community for their family and others. They established a Donor Advised Fund (personal giving account) and have used it as a tool to support their charitable giving.
“Our DAF is a great vehicle enabling us to give more strategically and leverage the various tax benefits,” Bradley said. “We are going to give to causes that matter to us anyway, and this streamlines the process and helps us keep track and simplify our giving.”
Taly said that as a professional with Jewish Family Services, she knows how much the Foundation helps their agency and makes it easy for people to channel their support to JFS and other organizations.
The Friedmans are also involved in the final component of the Continuum: planned giving. They made their first planned gift to KU Hillel as part of Hillel’s participation in the Bushman Community Endowment Program through JCF. Hillel is particularly important to them personally, and they want to ensure that it remains vibrant for generations to come.
“It is inspiring to see a young couple so engaged and enthusiastic about giving back,” said Josh Stein, JCF Director of Philanthropy. “They exemplify the joy that people feel when they share their precious resources and talents with the community. We look forward to many years of working together in support of their charitable goals.”
Josh Stein can be contacted for more information about Foundation giving programs at (913) 327-8121 or .