February 2025 Foundation Focus: Protecting Our Community & Preserving Our Future

As members of a vibrant and thriving Jewish Atlanta, we are all deeply connected to a shared responsibility: ensuring the strength and continuity of our community for generations to come. Legacy giving and endowments are the cornerstone of this vision. They provide the lasting resources that protect our institutions, support those in need, and preserve the values and traditions that define us.

This mission will be at the heart of our upcoming Grow a Legacy event on March 6, where we will celebrate the profound impact of legacy giving and explore how each of us can contribute to building a sustainable and secure Jewish future. Together, we will honor the generosity and foresight of those who have already made commitments and inspire others to join in this sacred work.

Thank you for being an integral part of our community and for the passion, dedication, and leadership you bring to Jewish Atlanta. Your commitment helps us not only meet today’s challenges but also ensure that our future remains bright for generations to come.

Lindsay

When disaster strikes, the Jewish value of tikkun olam – repairing the world – shines brightly. This month, Jewish communities across the nation, including Atlanta, have united to support those affected by the historic wildfires devastating Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Spearheaded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and backed by national and local Jewish organizations, the relief efforts highlight the power of community, compassion, and coordinated action.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles swiftly mobilized a multifaceted response to the wildfires, ensuring critical aid reached those in need. Efforts include direct financial assistance, resources for displaced families, mental health support, and emergency grants to local synagogues and schools impacted by the fires. This coordinated response underscores the Federation’s unwavering commitment to helping its community weather this unprecedented crisis.

Federations, synagogues, and philanthropic funds across the country worked tirelessly to contribute to the cause. According to Jay Sanderson, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, “The support we’ve received from Jewish communities nationwide affirms our collective responsibility to each other and to the broader world in times of need.”

Closer to home, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta demonstrated its support by sending funds directly to the Los Angeles Federation to bolster their relief efforts. Additionally, many Atlanta Jewish Foundation fundholders have utilized their donor-advised funds to make significant contributions, ensuring a lasting impact for those in need. These philanthropic acts exemplify Atlanta’s enduring dedication to supporting Jewish communities everywhere.

Erik Benjamin, an Atlanta Jewish Foundation fundholder, reflected on his personal experience giving to the wildfire relief efforts: “One of the many benefits of participating in my family’s foundation is the ability to act quickly in times of need. Living in Los Angeles, I saw the historic destruction of the fires firsthand. I was able to reach out to my family and discuss the best strategy to make gifts, relying on my parent’s philanthropic expertise while providing my own perspective on the specifics of the fires, all in service of making sure those in need received resources in the fastest manner possible. While there is still an enormous amount of work to be done in the region, I am pleased that the structure of our family foundation empowered me to help my community, and that our gifts will make an immediate impact with the assistance of our DAF.”

Jan Winston of the Weinstein Foundation echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the critical role of the Jewish community in the relief efforts: “In response to the devastating fires impacting Los Angeles, the Jewish community has mobilized to provide essential resources, including mental health support, warm meals, shelter, and space for displaced individuals, families, and institutions. It was important for us at the Weinstein Foundation to do something meaningful to support the wildfire relief efforts and doing so through the Jewish community.”

Beyond financial aid, Jewish communities have also provided crucial emotional and spiritual sustenance. Synagogues and communal organizations have opened their doors to displaced families, offering shelter and comfort. Virtual services and gatherings have created spaces for those affected to process grief and find solace. As shared in a recent video update from the Los Angeles Federation, these efforts have reinforced the enduring spirit of community and resilience within Jewish life.

The wildfires in Los Angeles are a sobering reminder of the fragility of life and the immense challenges posed by climate change. Yet, in the face of devastation, the Jewish community has risen to the occasion, guided by our shared values and unwavering commitment to chesed (loving-kindness).

As we reflect on these efforts, let us take pride in how the Jewish community—from Los Angeles to Atlanta and beyond—has exemplified the power of collective responsibility. Together, we are making a difference, offering hope and healing to those in need, and ensuring that no member of our extended family faces hardship alone.

To make a gift to JFedLA’s Wildfire Relief Fund via your donor-advised fund, email donorservices@jewishatlanta.org.

For Emily Sanders, philanthropy isn’t just about giving—it’s about building a legacy of impact, financial security, and Jewish continuity. As a lifelong leader in both business and community service, she has spent decades working, leading, and giving—and now, through her endowed Lion of Judah gift, she is ensuring that her commitment to Jewish Atlanta will last for generations.

Emily’s ability to give so generously is rooted in a lifetime of dedication, leadership, and perseverance. A female entrepreneur in the financial sector, she built her own financial advisory firm, growing it to the point where she sold it twice—eventually to a large global bank. Her 47-year career in the industry was marked by relentless hard work, a commitment to excellence, and a passion for helping others achieve financial security.

“I spent years building my business, making sure my family had what they needed,” Emily shares. “That success didn’t come easily—it took decades of hard work, dedication, and a lot of late nights. But at the end of the day, the ability to give back is what makes it all worthwhile.”

Her entrepreneurial accomplishments gave her the ability to not just provide for her family, but to uplift her community—and she has done so in profound ways.

Emily has always been a generous philanthropist, but she knew that one-time donations, while impactful, would not be enough to ensure the long-term stability of the organizations she cared about. That’s why she made the decision to endow her Lion of Judah gift after attending this year’s International Lion of Judah Conference in Atlanta, creating a permanent fund that will continue to support Jewish Atlanta for generations to come.

“An endowment isn’t just a donation—it’s a promise,” Emily explains. “It’s a way of saying, ‘I believe in this community so much that I want my support to continue forever.’”

Her experience as a financial leader gave her a deep understanding of the importance of strategic giving. Unlike annual gifts that can fluctuate based on financial conditions, an endowment provides consistent, reliable funding that organizations can depend on.

Beyond her Lion of Judah endowment, Emily has played a pivotal role in establishing and growing endowments at Temple Emanu-El, JF&CS, and the Atlanta Jewish Foundation, ensuring these institutions have the financial security they need to thrive in the future.

Emily has always been deeply involved in mentoring and empowering other women, both in the business world and in philanthropy. As a leader in Atlanta’s Jewish community, she has helped recruit and inspire other women to step into their own philanthropic journeys, showing them that generosity isn’t just about writing a check—it’s about creating lasting impact.

She encourages younger women, especially those balancing demanding careers and family life, to start small and grow their giving over time.

“There are so many ways to make a difference,” she says. “You don’t have to be at a certain stage of life or career to start giving. Whether it’s volunteering, leading, or making financial contributions, what matters is that you begin.”

For Emily, philanthropy is not just about duty—it’s about joy. One of her guiding principles is a simple yet powerful belief:

“It feels better to give than to receive.”

She has experienced firsthand how meaningful and fulfilling it is to give back to the Jewish community, and she hopes others will experience that same joy through their own philanthropy.

Emily’s philanthropic philosophy is rooted in both responsibility and vision. She believes that Jewish communities must plan ahead, ensuring that future generations have the resources they need to thrive. That’s why she has dedicated herself to building long-term financial foundations through endowments and community partnerships.

Her work with the Temple Emanu-El endowment is a prime example of her strategic approach to philanthropy. By fostering a culture of giving and open communication, she has helped strengthen the synagogue’s financial foundation, making sure it remains a vibrant spiritual home for generations to come.

For those considering how to make a lasting impact, Emily has one key piece of advice:

“Give what you can, when you can. But most importantly, think about the future. The Jewish community needs long-term commitment to thrive, and every endowment makes a difference.”

Through her generosity, leadership, and financial expertise, Emily Sanders has built a legacy that will sustain Jewish Atlanta for generations. She has proven that hard work leads to success, but true fulfillment comes from giving back.

And as she continues to inspire others to follow her lead, she is ensuring that the Jewish future remains bright—not just for today, but forever.

Lion of Judah Endowment (LOJE) The Lion of Judah Endowment (LOJE) is a charitable gift that supports the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s Partners Fund and causes that are important to the donor. LOJEs are a way for women to leave a legacy and ensure that their financial commitment continues to be made to the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. To begin your LOJE conversation, contact Ghila Sanders at gsanders@jewishatlanta.org.

Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment (PACE) A Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment (PACE) is a permanent fund endowing your Annual Campaign gift—a lasting legacy that will continue to make an annual gift to The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s Partners Fund. To begin your PACE conversation, contact Ghila Sanders at gsanders@jewishatlanta.org.

Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles Wildfire Relief Fund

In response to the devastating fires impacting Los Angeles, the Jewish community has mobilized to provide essential resources, including mental health support, warm meals, shelter, and space for displaced individuals, families, and institutions. To make a gift through your donor-advised fund, contact donorservices@jewishatlanta.org.