Philanthropic Partnership Encourages Younger Generations to Give

Family philanthropy is a rewarding way to bring change and growth to local communities. It can also tighten family bonds, transmit important family values, and create a long lasting family legacy of tzedakah believes Craig and Jan Sher of Pinellas county.

The Shers have worked with TOP Jewish Foundation to assist and empower their childrens understanding of philanthropy and leadership. The “Sher Girls Fund” allow their children to get together once or twice a year and recommend grants together after discussing what is important to them and why.

“Our children have always watched us give. We felt it was time for them to make their own philanthropic decisions. Most importantly, their charitable fund provides support for the causes that are important to them. Each child is developing their own unique philanthropic interests,” explains the Shers.

Thanks in part to the establishment of the “Sher Girls Fund,” the Tampa and Pinellas communities have established the B’nai Tzedek, “Children of Justice”, program to inspire Bar/Bat Mitzvah youth in becoming philanthropists while learning the power of tzedakah and Jewish leadership.

“We wanted to assist teens in becoming more engaged in Jewish Life across Tampa Bay. B’nai Tzedek helps redefine for young people what it means to be a philanthropist — that it doesn’t mean you have to be wealthy — and to become engaged in a lifelong relationship with giving,” explains TOP Tampa chairman Bob Kokol.

The B'nai Tzedek program works like this: a teen of Bar/Bat Mitzvah age or older contributes $250 or more from his or her Bar/Bat Mitzvah gift money. The money is matched with another $250 from the T.O.P. Jewish Foundation totaling $500 in the child’s named B'nai Tzedek Fund held at the foundation. As the young adult matures so does the charitable fund through interest earnings and additional contributions. Each year 5% of the fund’s balance is to be donated, at the teen’s discretion, to local or overseas Jewish organizations.

“The desire for our children, as Jews, to care about the world they live in is a vital one. The truth is they already do care about their world and this program offers a way to express how much they are committed. The special coming of age of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is the perfect time to empower and allow young adults to begin to make their voices heard,” says L. Casey Shear, TOP Jewish Foundation President.

Shear outlines that by starting a B'nai Tzedek account teens will be hooked into a lifelong habit of philanthropy, immediately exposing them to a diverse group of people and Jewish organizations that are working hard to change the world. Not only will the youth become more conscious and aware of the world around them, but they will also gain a community of friends who share their passion and commitment.

A Cone/Roper Raising Charitable Children Survey conducted in the year 2000 found:

• 85% of parents believe children should be introduced to philanthropy
• Parents play a key role in getting youth involved in charity
• 96% of parents felt charitable giving and volunteer involvement teach children to help others

“That survey supports what is best about the B’nai Tzedek program: that parents and teens will more likely to meet to discuss charitable giving. Other important features of the new effort include teens learning about Jewish agencies through the meeting of its leadership and participating in yearly programs with peers promoting community philanthropic and volunteer activism,” comments TOP Pinellas chairman Greg Fox.

TOP Jewish Foundation, in partnership with the June Baumgardner Gelbart Foundation and local Jewish funders, initiated the program. The Tampa Bay communities already have participants and continue to receive outstanding feedback from interested families.

“At an age when youth are defining themselves, there is no better way to introduce them to other mature and socially responsible teens then through the B'nai Tzedek program. Their participation in B'nai Tzedek will positively effect the rest of their lives,” concludes Shear.

TOP Jewish Foundation provides resources and works individually with families to help them learn about and effectively transmit their Jewish charitable values. By engaging several generations in conversations and administration of philanthropy, children have an opportunity to learn early in life that giving back to their community is an important and worthwhile endeavor.
To establish a or sponsor a child in creating a B’nai Tzedek charitable fund call 813-961-9090 or email at Daniel@topjewishfoundation.org.