The PEJE partners fund and govern PEJE. Some partners are advised by professional delegates who are in frequent contact with PEJE staff and with one another. Through board meetings held several times a year, the partners make decisions about PEJE policy and future initiatives, guided by the mission and by the insights of the PEJE staff and professional delegates.
PEJE Partners
Adelson Family Foundation, Las Vegas, NV
Established by philanthropists Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson, the
Adelson Family Foundation intends to focus its support
primarily on programs that benefit the State of Israel and the Jewish
people.
Recently, the Adelson Foundation donated $30 million to fund 15,000 additional participants for the birthright Israel program. Dr. Adelson is a physician who works in the area of treating substance addiction in the United States and Israel. Mr. Adelson, a dynamic entrepreneur and business visionary, is Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp.
The AVI CHAI Foundation, New York, NY
AVI CHAI is a private foundation endowed by Zalman C. Bernstein that is committed to the perpetuation of the Jewish people, Judaism, and the centrality of the State of Israel to the Jewish people.
The Beker Foundation, Riverdale, NY
Harvey and Jayne Beker are longtime supporters of Jewish education, and
both are day school graduates themselves. Harvey, co-chairman and co-CEO
of the Millburn Ridgefield Corporation, sits on the boards of SAR Academy,
Ramaz, the Riverdale Y, Aleph Society, UJA, NYU Stern School of Business
and Wave Hill, and he is a member of the International Board of Governors
of Hillel. Jayne, consulting psychologist for the Family Center at Bank
Street College in New York, chairs the Board of Education at SAR and is
on the board of trustees at Yeshiva University and its Ferkauf School.
The Gottesman Fund, New York, NY
The Gottesman Fund is the primary philanthropic agency of the
Gottesman family. It supports educational, medical and welfare
institutions in the United States and Israel.
Paula and Jerry Gottesman, Morristown, NJ
Paula and Jerry Gottesman have supported Jewish day schools since 1972 when they chose to give their daughters a better Jewish education than they themselves had received in afternoon and Sunday schools. Active in many Jewish and civic causes, their primary focus is on Jewish education, particularly on tuition subvention at day schools. They believe that it is a Jewish communal responsibility to provide and support quality Jewish education for children and that this education should be available to every child regardless of the family's ability to fully pay for it. In 1998 they established an annual tuition subvention program for middle income families at the Hebrew Academy of Morris County, NJ, and in2006 they permanently endowed it. They are now involved in developing a major community-wide endowment to support tuition subvention and academic excellence for all day schools in MetroWest, NJ. Jerry is chairman of Edison Properties, a family owned real estate company founded in 1956 which is now in its second generation. Edison specializes in parking, mini storage, and building development. Paula, a retired lawyer, is an active volunteer and recently was president of the Jewish Community Foundation of MetroWest.
The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Longmeadow, MA
Harold Grinspoon is the founder of Aspen Square Management, a national
real estate company. In 1990, Mr. Grinspoon founded the Harold Grinspoon
Foundation (HGF) which fosters Jewish education opportunities throughout
Western Massachusetts, offering grants to Jewish day schools, camping,
youth programming, family education, and increasing tzedakah. Among
its national efforts are the promotion of the B'nai Tzedek program
which encourages Jewish teen philanthropy, and the Awards for Excellence
in Jewish Education, a national incentive program for teachers administered
by Jewish Education Services of North America, Inc. (JESNA). Mr.
Grinspoon's charitable commitments extend beyond the Jewish community
to programs in the arts, education incentives for inner city children,
and medical research.
The Jesselson Family, New York, NY
The late Ludwig Jesselson and his wife Erica Pappenheim Jesselson
have been generous and innovative supporters of many major Jewish
organizations in New York and Israel. Following Mr. Jesselson's
passing in 1993, his wife and three sons have carried on the tradition
of philanthropy to Jewish life in Israel and America. Their volunteer
and philanthropic activities include the Hebrew University and the
Heart Center of Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem, the Israel Museum,
Yeshiva University, S/A/R Academy, Riverdale, New York, The Ramaz
School, New York, Bar-Ilan University, Technion, and The Weizmann
Institute, Israel, and other institutions of higher learning.
Jim Joseph Foundation, San Francisco, CA
Jim Joseph z"l was President and Founder of Interland Corporation,
a developer of investment properties headquartered in San Mateo, California.
Over the past 30 years, Interland's developments have included corporate
headquarters and offices for major corporations, multi-family residential
communities and commercial properties. Mr. Joseph served on a wide
range of charitable boards, with a special emphasis on educating
Jewish youth and assisting the Jewish elderly. Mr. Joseph established
the Jim Joseph Foundation in 1987. The Foundation's primary interest
is to ensure a strong, self-supporting, respected Jewish community,
through improving the education of Jewish children.
Robin and Brad Klatt, Livingston, NJ
Robin and Brad Klatt are long time supporters of day school education and programs that enable Jewish children to reach their potential. Robin is a full-time fundraiser working with their local day school and The Living Legacy/Friendship Circle (special needs) programs. Brad is the Managing Partner of Roseland Property Company. Robin and Brad spend a great deal of time "investing with their hands as well as their checkbook" in many philanthropic efforts. They serve as Board members for numerous institutions that benefit Jewish education in the United States and Israel including The Center for Advanced Judaic Studies and the Hillel at University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins Hillel, Boston University Hillel and Beth Hatefutsoth.
Fran and Bobby Lent, Hillsborough, CA
Fran and Bobby Lent head the Levine-Lent Family Foundation which focuses on helping build the Jewish Day Schools enterprise and on building the pluralistic Jewish schools enterprise in Israel. Both Fran and Bobby are on several boards of Jewish day schools and high schools as well as providing advice and council to many day schools across the country. Bobby serves on the boards of the San Francisco Jewish Federation and Endowment as well as the Peninsula JCC. He is also the President of the North Peninsula Jewish Campus Foundation. Bobby serves as the Treasurer of PEJE. Bobby Lent is the Managing Partner of Hillsven LLC, a venture capital firm located in the Silicon Valley. Hillsven LLC invests and plays an active role in innovative high tech firms primarily in Israel and the U.SA. Bobby is the Chairman of Business Events, Inc., an early stage enterprise software service focused on Business Opportunity Discovery for the Fortune 2000, which is headquartered in California with core R&D located at Kibbutz Glil Yam, Israel. Bobby is also Chairman of Traiana, Inc., an enterprise Internet company focused on Trading Relationship Management, which is headquartered in New York and has core R&D located in Ramat Gan, Israel. In early 1996, Bobby was the co-founder of Ariba (Nasdaq: ARBA), an enterprise software company, which is the recognized leader in Enterprise Spend Management. In 1995, Fran founded and led Fran's Healthy Helpings, Inc., a national frozen food company focused on delivering healthy frozen meals for young children. Fran sold the company in 2002. Fran now focuses on raising their two teenagers who both attend Jewish day school.
The Marcus Foundation, Atlanta, GA
Bernie Marcus is the co-founder of The Home Depot. His foundation carries out his philanthropic goals based on his values and desire to give back to the community. The foundation supports five significant areas. One of the areas is Jewish causes, with emphasis on ensuring a strong and vibrant Jewish community now and in the future.
Charles z"l and Lynn Schusterman, Tulsa, OK
Charles Schusterman z"l served as the founding president
of the PEJE board until his untimely death in December, 2000. He
was the Chairman of Samson Investment Company, a Tulsa-based oil
and gas enterprise that operates in most states west of the Mississippi
and internationally. Lynn Schusterman is the President of the Jewish
Federation of Tulsa, and is involved in a host of other charitable
organizations. Through their family foundation, the Schustermans
have funded programs to enhance Jewish life in the United States,
Israel and the former Soviet Union. They have also supported non-sectarian
groups in Oklahoma that focus on education, children and community
service. Hillel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
(JDC) and Synagogue Transformation and Renewal (STAR) are among
the institutions for which the Schustermans have served in various
leadership roles.
Sheila Schwartz and Family, Phoenix, AZ
Sheila Schwartz and her late husband, Jess Schwartz, have supported
Jewish day school education for many years in the Phoenix area,
and she is a founder/board member of the Jess Schwartz Jewish Community
High School. Her three children all received day school educations
and the tradition is continuing with her grandchildren. In addition
to serving on the board of the Phoenix Hebrew Academy, Sheila has
been a leader in the Federation and Women's Division, Kivel Women's
Auxiliary, and Endowment Fund. She was awarded the Special Community
Award by the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix. Her current leadership
activity includes Arizona State University, Jewish National Fund,
the Council for Jews with Special Needs, the Jewish Community Center,
the Weizmann Institute, and Bar Ilan University.
David and Fela Shapell Family Foundation, Los Angeles, CA
David and Fela Shapell have a long-standing and passionate interest in Jewish education. Survivors of the Holocaust who settled in Los Angeles in 1952, they have made the continuity of the Jewish people a personal and philanthropic priority. Through the David and Fela Shapell Family Foundation, they have been leaders and active supporters of Jewish educational institutions--day schools, high schools, yeshivas, universities and post-graduate programs--in both the United States and Israel. In addition, the Foundation provides funding for a number of synagogues, museums, medical institutions, and social services programs within the Jewish community. The Foundation has placed particular emphasis on Holocaust education through its major support of Yad Vashem. Mr. and Mrs. Shapell's three children are actively involved in the management of the Foundation.
The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life, New York, NY
In 1995, after a legendary Wall Street career, Michael H. Steinhardt
retired to devote his time and fortune to the causes of the Jewish
world. Beneficiaries of his support have included the Israel Museum;
Hillel, where he serves as Co-Chairman of its International Board
of Governors and founder of its Steinhardt Jewish Campus Service
Corps; and The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life, a foundation he created. The mission
of The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life is to renew the Jewish community through innovative programs
that nurture the identity of individual Jews while transforming
the institutions of the Jewish community. Among its most well-known
initiatives are PEJE, Makor, and Birthright Israel, where Mr. Steinhardt
serves as Co-Chair.
Jeffrey and Deborah Swartz, Newton, MA
Jeffrey and Deborah Swartz are passionate believers in Jewish education.
Jeff is CEO of Timberland, a NYSE listed footwear, apparel and gear
company. He is chair of the board of City Year, a national youth
service organization, and serves on the Board of Business for Social
Responsibility. He is an active volunteer and board member of the Combined
Jewish Philanthropies, Boston's federation. Deborah, a teacher by
training, is an active board member and officer of the Solomon Schechter
Day School of Greater Boston.
UJA-Federation of New York, New York, NY
UJA-Federation of New York is the largest local Jewish philanthropic
organization in New York City. As a central address for the Jewish
community, its mission is to care for those in need, to strengthen
Jewish peoplehood, and foster Jewish Renaissance in New York, Israel,
and throughout the world. UJA-Federation does this through its Commission
on Jewish Identity and Renewal, supporting Jewish education and
heritage-building by strengthening Jewish day schools, synagogues,
Hillel foundations, Jewish summer camps, and Israel experiences.
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Baltimore, MD
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, based in Owings Mills,
MD, was established in 1959 and is one of the 25 largest private
foundations in the United States, supporting a wide range of causes.
The late Harry Weinberg was actively involved in real estate and other
business pursuits throughout many areas of the United States. His
late wife, Jeanette, was an avid painter and philanthropist.
Sustaining Partners
Edgar M. Bronfman, New York, NY
Edgar M. Bronfman is the Chairman of The Seagram Company Ltd. Mr.
Bronfman is the president of the World Jewish Congress, an international
federation of Jewish communities and organizations whose primary
goal is to preserve and foster the worldwide unity of the Jewish
people. He is also the president of the World Jewish Restitution
Organization, devoted to ensuring the return of communal Jewish
property stolen by the Nazis. Mr. Bronfman serves as chairman of
the International Board of Governors of Hillel: the Foundation for
Jewish Campus Life. In 1999, President Clinton awarded Mr. Bronfman
the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States government's
highest civilian honor.
Leslie H. and Abigail S. Wexner, Columbus OH
Leslie H. Wexner is Founder and Chairman of The Limited, Inc., and
Intimate Brands, Inc. Mr. Wexner has a profound interest in the
development of tomorrow's leaders as demonstrated by his support
of the Wexner Foundation; the Wexner Heritage Foundation; the Wexner
Israel Fellowship Program at Harvard University's Kennedy School
of Government, where he has also spearheaded the creation of The
Center for Public Leadership; and the Fisher College of Business
at The Ohio State University.
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