The Jewish Foundation Selected as the Toronto Partner for the LIFE & LEGACY Program

 

The Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto has been selected to partner with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s LIFE & LEGACY® initiative. This partnership will ensure the long-term affordability and sustainability of Toronto’s day school community, a critical element in ensuring the future vibrancy and vitality of our community.

“For a hundred years, day schools have shaped the Toronto Jewish community into what it is today—one of the world’s strongest communities characterized by high affiliation, strong engagement and a deep connection to Israel,” explains Dr. Daniel Held, Executive Director, the Julia & Henry Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Education. “Our day schools’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic proved their value once again. However, it also reinforced their financial vulnerability. Now is the time to ensure these important institutions are around for another 100 years.”

LIFE & LEGACY is a four-year initiative that provides training, support, and monetary incentives to motivate Jewish organizations to secure after-lifetime commitments with the aim of building endowment funds that will ensure we have vibrant Jewish communities for generations to come. “Ensuring our day schools have the financial security to continue as pillars of our community is critical to the passing on of Jewish values to the next generation,” explains Ronit Holtzman, Senior VP, Philanthropy & Planned Giving and Endowments. “The Jewish Foundation, with its experience and rich community history in Toronto, will not only support these schools and their donors as they grow their legacy funds, but will also house the legacy funds.”

As part of the program, 14 UJA-affiliated Toronto Jewish day schools will be participating and will begin their first session on October 13th.

The 14 schools join 669 other participating organizations in 62 communities who to date have secured more than 28,000 after-lifetime commitments with an estimated future value of more than one billion dollars for communities across North America.

“Providing Jewish communities with proven tools and training to help them secure their long-term financial goals is absolutely vital. Through the LIFE & LEGACY program, I’m hopeful that we will be able to help sustain vibrant communities that allow future generations to enjoy our rich Jewish culture and heritage,” said Harold Grinspoon, the founder of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.

The Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto is proud to partner with these 14 Jewish day schools:

Associated Hebrew Schools
Bialik Hebrew Day School
Bnei Akiva High Schools
Eitz Chaim Schools
Joe Dwek Ohr HaEmet
TanenbaumCHAT
The Toronto Heschel School
The Leo Baeck Day School
Tiferes Bais Yaakov High School
Montessori Jewish Day School
Netivot HaTorah Day School
Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School
Robbins Hebrew Academy
Yeshiva Darchei Torah

For more information about making your legacy commitment, please contact Chani Greenwald at cgreenwald@ujafed.org.