Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City hosted its Major Benefactor and Lion of Judah luncheon at Oakwood Country Club last week.
Chairing the event were Sarah and Peter Beren.
Honored at the event was Stanley J. Bushman for his leadership and philanthropic commitment to our community. Last December, Bushman announced three gifts of $2 million each from his supporting foundation to Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City, Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City, and Village Shalom. The gifts were unrestricted (meaning the agencies can use the money as they deem necessary) and given immediately.
The featured speaker was Julie Platt, board chair of Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). A native of Wichita, Kansas, Platt said it was special for her to come back to the Midwest and see several close friends in the crowd.
“It feels like a real homecoming,” she said. “As a child, my family traveled often to the ‘big city’ [Kansas City], to Starlight Theatre and to just enjoy the Plaza.”
Platt’s family was one of just a handful of Jewish families in Wichita when she was growing up, and she was the only Jewish student in her high school class of 671. Now, as JFNA board chair, she has a very different view of the Jewish community in North America.
“As a child in Wichita, I don’t think I could have imagined how large, varied and vital the Jewish community on this continent is,” she said.
During her speech, Platt noted that JFNA represents 146 Jewish Federations and more than 300 network communities, which raise and distribute more than $3 billion annually and through planned giving and endowment programs to support social welfare, social services and educational needs.
Platt highlighted several key areas that JFNA is currently focused on, including:
- Efforts to promote compromise between Israel’s coalition and the opposition around the controversial judicial reform proposals have garnered international attention. In March, two dozen Federation leaders traveled to Israel for less than 24 hours to meet with Israeli lawmakers from across the political spectrum. JFNA’s open letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid garnered immediate responses from both officials and an enormous amount of media, including being featured prominently in the New York Times and dozens of other news outlets.
- Relief efforts in Ukraine, including humanitarian aid and facilitating thousands of Jews in making aliyah to Israel. Collectively, Jewish Federations, including Kansas City, have raised $85 million for efforts in Ukraine. JFNA also continues to keep an eye on the Jews in Russia and other nearby countries, who have been fleeing in huge numbers as their economy continues to disintegrate under the pressure of Western sanctions.
- Bolstering community security with the creation of LiveSecure, a national matching fund to secure the North American Jewish community. A total of $62 million was raised so that every Jewish community, of any size, can put into place a comprehensive security plan, both developed and overseen by a professional security director. Platt said 25 new Community Security Initiatives have been launched and 16 existing initiatives have been enhanced.
Platt commended the Kansas City Jewish community for taking a commanding charge and inspiring other communities in the area of security. Through campaign efforts led by Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, more than $8 million has been raised for our local community security.”
“I cannot understate how much you here in Kansas City are inspiring and motivating other communities to take safety and security as seriously as you do,” she said. “You are truly leading the way in ensuring that safety and security remain at the top of the Jewish communal agenda.”
Platt concluded her speech by thanking everyone for their generosity, support and dedication to making the Kansas City community, “the kind of Jewish community of which all of us—across the country and around the world—can justly be proud.”
“I want you to know that we at Jewish Federations of North America stand behind you in everything that you do. Visits like this fill me with so much optimism and hope and tremendous pride,” she said. “I feel privileged – and so grateful – to work in partnership with all of you and all our fantastic Federations.”
