Jewish tradition teaches the importance of making the world a better place for future generations. Eight recently deceased individuals have done just that by collectively donating nearly $6 million to the community in planned gifts established through the Jewish Community Foundation. These charitable gifts, which were put in place during the donors’ lifetimes and realized at their deaths, will be used to benefit more than six community organizations.
By utilizing the creative planned giving services offered at the Foundation, these individuals will provide a legacy of crucial support to the organizations they cared about most and help benefit others for years to come.
Dorothy Loeffler and Herb Adler each established Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs) at the Foundation, which are gifts that pay one or more individuals a fixed income for life. Upon the death of the annuitant(s), the remainder of the gift passes to the charitable organizations he or she has designated.
Loeffler sincerely believed in the effectiveness of such charitable gifts and created four separate CGAs to benefit the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy. Adler’s CGA will create a permanent endowment for Village Shalom, an organization with which he was passionately involved during his lifetime.
Another community member, Paul Flam, employed a life income gift to benefit the agencies important to him during his lifetime. He created a Charitable Remainder Unitrust which paid him a variable income during his lifetime and, upon his passing, distributed funds to the Congregation Beth Shalom, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Federation, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, KC Jewish Museum Foundation and Community Legacy Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation.
Maria Devinki created a Jewish legacy with a combination of a life insurance policy and a bequest. During her lifetime, Devinki found great meaning in personal commitment and service to the Jewish community. She was one of the first women to create a Lion of Judah endowment, which provides an annual gift to the Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy campaign. Her endowment ensures that the Federation can continue to support many community needs for years to come.
In 2012, Phillip Gershon left an estate gift under his trust to the Foundation’s Community Legacy Fund, which awards grants that enhance and maintain the quality of Jewish life in the Greater Kansas City area and responds to emergency need for Jewish communities around the world.
Earlier this year, the Foundation received the news that Gerald Rose had also generously designated a portion of his trust for the Community Legacy Fund. Both of these gifts will fund worthwhile community projects that are reviewed and evaluated by the Foundation’s Grants Committee and approved by the board of trustees.
Evelyn Abrams made provisions in her estate plan to benefit both a loved one and the charities she held dear. Abrams established a trust to support a family member during his lifetime. At his death, the trust was terminated and distributed to the Jewish Community Foundation to create a restricted fund. The fund will be administered by the JCF Grants Committee and will be used to support important community work.
The Grants Committee will also oversee a restricted fund created by Gene DeLeve under his trust. At his request, DeLeve’s fund will be used to support the Kehilath Israel Blue Ridge Cemetery, for which he was committee chairman, as well as other causes within the community. DeLeve passed his legacy of giving down to several family members who will also have input as to how his fund will be used.
For more information on how you can “Create a Jewish Legacy” for your favorite organizations, contact Josh Stein at 913-327-8121 or .
