For Jewish Family Services’ (JFS) 125th Anniversary Celebration, Ro and Howard Jacobson and their family were chosen to serve as its honorary family.

JFS is one of nearly 100 organizations to which the Jacobson family has provided hands-on volunteerism.

A lifetime of commitment to the community

The Jacobsons’ years of volunteering in the Kansas City community are extensive. While Howard has supported many organizations, The J and its continental affiliate, the Jewish Community Center Association of North America (JCCANA), are the ones closest to his heart.

“The most important aspect is that it helps strengthen the Jewish community across North America and gives our members a sense of identity,” said Jacobson, who served as board president here in Kansas City from 1993 to 1995 and on the national JCCANA board from 1994 to 2002 and from 2009 to today.

His joy in The J comes from knowing he is helping so many people daily.

“It serves everyone in the community, from almost birth to people 100 years or older. The entire spectrum,” he said. “It is important to me to help everyone. And it touches so many lives. Additionally, for people who do not belong to a congregation, this is their one strong link to the Jewish community.”

Ro has also contributed greatly to the Kansas City community, both as a teacher in the Shawnee Mission and Center school districts and as a dedicated volunteer. She was active in school PTAs and served on the boards of several organizations, including Starlight and Friends of the Zoo. She chaired the Richard Bloch Cancer Hotline, served as community care chair of the United Way and was a docent for the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. Ro has also volunteered for Safehome and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

The Jacobsons have many “one-off” philanthropic actions that have significantly changed lives, such as the Irena Sendler story called “Life in a Jar,” involving Fort Scott, Kansas, students who discovered Sendlers’s heroism in saving 2,500 Jewish orphans during WWII. Howard raised funds to send the three students to meet Sendler several times. He unselfishly took further steps to invest in the students’ college education and for Sendler and the others in her nursing home to live more comfortably.

Serving decades as a key advisor for the Abe & Anna Bograd Memorial Trust & Grants, Howard has been one of JFS’ 30 most significant benefactors. Now, Sherri Jacobs is an advisor with him, as well as neighbor Michael Berenbom. In addition, the Jacobsons also give generous personal financial support to JFS. That spirit of giving has been passed down to their family.

The importance of family

The family values of tzedakah and tikkun olam were taught to Ro and Howard Jacobson by their own grandparents and parents, Rosalyn M. and Abe H. Jacobson and Jennette and Jerome Cohen.

“We both contributed part of our allowance to the ‘Blue Box’ of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) to help plant trees in Israel,” they said.

Both grandfathers were officers in their synagogues, and their fathers served as presidents of their respective congregations. These memories stick in Howard’s mind, as well as his early involvement as a 5-year-old camper at the Jewish Community Center and then learning leadership skills as a teenager through BBYO.

The Jacobsons have been married for 62 years. Their secret to their long marriage, Howard said, is that “We talk out our differences. We don’t go to bed mad, and I let Ro know that she’s always right.”

Ro continued, “Family is important. From when our children were little, we included them in our community activities. Richard and Sherri went with me when I drove clients who were visually impaired to their appointments. When the kids were in high school, our family adopted a Russian family, whom we still keep in contact [with].”

The Jacobsons take pride in seeing their family take leadership roles in the community. Sherri Jacobs is currently on the board at The J and Congregation Beth Israel Abraham and Voliner. Richard Jacobson has been on The J’s board as well as many others. Each of Ro and Howard’s six grandchildren, Ariel, Avi, Jaden, Jackson, Eza and Rachel, already have resumes for their leadership roles and volunteer endeavors. Some organizations, such as JFS, The J, and Boy and Girl Scouts have had at least three or four generations of Jacobson involvement.

The Jacobsons established funds for each of their grandchildren at JCF, in which the grandchildren decide what charities to support. Grandson Ariel Brudoley took months to research where he would make his first “big” gift

He announced, “I’m going to make my gift to JFS because they help people with basic, social service needs, like providing food. JFS serves many people who are both Jewish and non-Jewish. Grandpa taught me to take care of my family and my Jewish community.”

When asked what legacy they want to leave the community and their family, Ro said, “We strive to transmit the values our parents and grandparents transmitted to us, a lifelong model for hard work, service and giving back to the community so that their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will continue helping repair the world.”

“Too many members of a community donate money to charity and feel they have done their part,” Howard said. “I feel there are three parts to participating in charity. The 3 ‘Ts’ are defined as time, treasure and talent. I work to get people involved in organizations on a deeper level than just writing a check.”

All six grandchildren presented Howard with a plaque committing to each volunteer 84 hours in honor of his 84th birthday. They also made a 125th Anniversary Partner Sponsorship gift in honor of Ro and Howard. Additionally, for this occasion, the Jacobson family remembers Rosalyn M. and Abe H. Jacobson and Jennette and Jerome Cohen, all of blessed memory.

The business world and beyond

The business world has been Howard Jacobson’s domain, where he has spent his long professional career. In 1998, Howard founded Paragon Capital Management, LLC, and was named one of the “Best Personal Wealth Managers in Kansas City” by KC Magazine for five years. Prior to starting Paragon, he held positions with E.F. Hutton & Co. and UMB Bank. He also served as president and chairman of Electronic Business Equipment, Inc. and Dynamic Computer Solutions, Inc. He met with multiple U.S. Presidents including Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Jimmy Carter.

He also finds great joy investing in others to help them achieve their full potential. During his many mentoring sessions, Howard has been known for dispensing his share of sage advice.

JFS is not alone in honoring the Jacobsons for their tireless efforts. They’ve received several awards, including the 2017 Star Award from Starlight Theatre. In 2012, Howard was the first person in five years to receive the Earl Tranin Distinguished Leader Award from the Jewish Federation. He was named the Buck O'Neil Legacy Seat honoree in 2021, honoring The J.

The Jacobson Family will be honored at JFS’ 125th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, May 7, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Fiorella’s Event Space. Jack Stack’s barbecue, along with other delicious bites and cocktails, all VAAD kosher-certified, will be available as JFS raises funds to support community programs. The event is nearly sold out. Reservations can be made at jfskc.org/jfs125.