Atlanta Jewish Foundation Impact Story
November 3, 2026
For professional poker player Marcus Brodzki, every decision involves weighing the odds, thinking several steps ahead and knowing when to make a move. But some of life’s most important decisions aren’t about what you bring to the table today. They’re about the legacy you leave behind.
After years working in Jewish communal organizations, Marcus took a chance on his lifelong passion for poker. Today, he travels the country competing in tournaments while remaining deeply connected to Atlanta’s Jewish community.
Recently, he and his wife took another meaningful step in their philanthropic journey: including Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta in their estate plans, and opening a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) with the Atlanta Jewish Foundation.
For Marcus, the decision is rooted in something much more personal than dollars. It begins with family.
A Grandfather’s Legacy
Marcus grew up in South Florida in a Jewish family with deep communal roots. His grandfather, Jacob Brodzki, was a Holocaust survivor who immigrated to the United States after World War II. He helped establish the Jewish Federation in Fort Lauderdale and founded a synagogue in the community.
Although Marcus describes himself as less involved in synagogue life growing up than his siblings, his relationship with his grandfather profoundly shaped his Jewish identity.
“We were very, very close,” Marcus recalls.
They spoke every Friday after work. His grandfather followed Marcus’s career closely, even sending him newspaper clippings whenever he spotted a mention of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), where Marcus began working after graduating from Emory University.
When longtime ADL National Director Abe Foxman visited Atlanta, Marcus had the opportunity to take a photograph with him. He immediately printed it and mailed it to his grandfather, knowing how much the moment would mean.
“My grandfather was an incredible, incredible hero in my life,” Marcus says. “I’m very happy to think about him and continue the family traditions that he started.”
A career with an unconventional twist
Marcus spent seven years at ADL, followed by a stint at Israel Bonds, before deciding in 2023 to pursue poker professionally.
Yet even as his career took an unexpected turn, his Jewish communal involvement remained a constant. He serves on nonprofit boards, including Jewish National Fund, and is president of the local B’nai B’rith chapter.
His commitment to Jewish life also extends to his family’s philanthropy.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Marcus and his wife began thinking more seriously about their estate plans. With two young daughters, they wanted to ensure their children would be taken care of while preserving their commitment to tzedakah and Jewish community.
Working with an attorney, they established a plan that allocates a portion of their estate to charitable organizations, including Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.
For Marcus, choosing Federation as a beneficiary didn’t feel like a gamble at all, as the organization offered something especially valuable: confidence that his gift would continue serving the Jewish community, even decades from now.
“Federation has a well-documented process by which they allocate funds to various causes in the Jewish community,” he explains. “It’s like having a whole team behind you when thinking about your philanthropy… like having an insurance policy that the money will be sent where it’s needed most in the Jewish community.”
Giving today and building tomorrow
In addition to their legacy gift, the Brodzkis opened a Donor-Advised Fund with the Atlanta Jewish Foundation, creating another opportunity to make giving more intentional. The DAF allows them to contribute on a timeline that works for their tax and financial planning, while distributing grants to organizations they care about when the time is right.
Just as importantly, they established their DAF with their daughters in mind. As their children grow, they’ll have the opportunity to become successor advisors and participate in family philanthropic decisions.
“I’m excited to share that with them as they get older,” Marcus says.
For Marcus, philanthropy is about more than playing the hand he’s been dealt. It’s about thinking several moves ahead, making thoughtful decisions today and building a legacy that will benefit generations to come. Through his DAF and legacy gift, he and his wife are making that commitment part of their family’s story.
Interested in exploring how a Donor-Advised Fund or legacy gift could fit into your family’s philanthropic plans? The Atlanta Jewish Foundation can help you create a giving strategy that reflects your values and the causes you care about most. Reach out to Joel Ashner, Director of Planned Giving, at 404-870-1628 or email jashner@jewishatlanta.org.
