Named Family Funds

Named Family Funds

Named family funds are an excellent way to ensure your legacy continues and that you have a lasting impact on the community. Donors can designate which programs or services they would like their fund to support.

The cost to create a Named Fund is $10,000, in addition to a minimum annual donation of $1,000. As a thank you for establishing a named fund, you will be entitled to up to 25 free tributes each year. For more information, contact Amy Newman at 248.592.2327 or anewman@jfsdetroit.org.

Gifts to this fund are used to serve the greatest needs of the community, providing resources, support and care to help individuals and families overcome challenges.

The Anna and Meyer Prentis Emergency Fund is named in memory of the magnanimous couple who, throughout their lifetime, made a tremendous impact on our community. Recipients of their widespread generosity include Temple Beth El, Wayne State University and many other metro Detroit fixtures. Anna was a past president of Hadassah and Meyer was the former chairman of the Allied Jewish Campaign. This fund is just one of the many ways their family continues to uphold their legacy of service and giving. Gifts to this fund support Emergency Financial Assistance to individuals and families facing unexpected challenges and crises.

Financial contributions to this fund help provide over 31,000 door-through-door rides each year. When David and Tillie Kaufman first moved to America from Russia, they were assisted by Jewish Family Service. As the years passed, David and Tillie never forgot how welcoming JFS was when they first arrived and decided to donate their car to the JFS Transportation program. This special gift began the David and Tillie Kaufman Transportation Fund, which is regularly supported by the Jack Kaufman Family. Gifts to this fund ensures that older adults and people with disabilities are able to attend medical appointments, jobs, religious services and social outings. Click here to learn more about this fund.

Gifts to this fund provide medical and essential support for persons served by JFS with lineage to the town of David-Horodok in Poland.

Gifts to this fund are used to serve the greatest needs of the community, providing resources, support and care to help individuals and families overcome challenges.

Started by Nancy and Joseph Jacobson in 1987, these funds are used to serve the needs of individuals and families needing in-home respite care. This program is unique in that it is not limited to the care of the aged and also serves chronically or terminally ill individuals, including children.

The purpose of the fund is to provide financial assistance for shelter and housing expenses to women and children in crisis served by JFS.

These funds are used to serve the greatest needs of the community, providing resources, support and care to help individuals and families overcome challenges.

This fund was created by Vera and Eric Lev (z”l) and Colleen and Jeffrey Lev in memory of their father and grandfather, Frank Lazar, whose acts of giving and selflessness inspired the family’s philanthropic values. Funds support the most pressing needs of the community.

These funds are used to serve the needs of the community, providing resources, referrals and care to help individuals and families overcome challenges.

Gifts to this fund are used to serve the greatest needs of the community, providing resources, support and care to help individuals and families overcome challenges.

These funds are used to support women served by JFS in our community. In 2010, Elanah Hunger founded The Joy Project as a way to honor her mother, Joy Nachman. Through The Joy Project, people can send Mother’s Day cards to loved ones, and all donations raised help women served by JFS. Click here to read more about how The Joy Project came to be.

These funds help older adults receive support services including home care and transportation so that they can age safely, independently, and with dignity. Click here to learn more about this fund.

This fund was created to serve special needs of community members to help them thrive.

As leaders, philanthropists and volunteers, John and Judy Marx have supported JFS.  After Louis, John’s brother, passed away, they started this fund in his memory. This fund supports volunteer-driven initiative and the day-to-day operations of our Volunteer Services department, which includes screenings and trainings for the 1,000 volunteers JFS relies on each year. Click here to learn more about this fund.

This fund supports critical and emergency needs of individuals and families in our community. It began with the Zedakah Club, originally founded in 1932 by Mrs. Sophia Q. Jacob. Jewish Family Service is continuing the legacy of its founder and the Jacob family. Click here to learn more about this fund. Read about this fund in our 2020 Fall newsletter.

Growing up, Meredith seemed to always be with family friend, SallyJo Levine and SallyJo’s two daughters when they were shopping for shoes. SallyJo would buy each of her daughters a pair of shoes, and she’d buy one for Meredith too. This ritual led to a memorable inside joke and the Levine family presented Meredith with a decorated shoe at her Bat Mitzvah candle lighting ceremony. When Meredith passed away in 2011, the Levine family established this fund in Meredith’s memory. This fund provides shoe store gift cards to those served by JFS who are in need of shoes.

This fund is used for professional development and continuing education for the JFS dedicated staff. It is named in blessed memory of Norm Keane, CEO of JFS from 1998-2011. Click here for an article in memoriam of Norm.

This fund is used to help families in crisis receive emergency financial assistance for food, child care, utilities, medicine, shelter, clothing, and other urgent needs. Click here to learn more about this fund.

These funds are used to serve the greatest needs of the community, providing resources, support and care to help individuals and families overcome challenges.

This fund is used to provide trainings in suicide awareness and prevention to members of our community. Rabbi Daniel Syme’s lifelong passion is to fulfill the credo of “One who save a life, saves the world entire.”

Gifts to this fund are used to serve the greatest needs of the community, providing resources, support and care to help individuals and families overcome challenges.

This fund supports enrichment activities for older adults to enhance their quality of life.

Funds supplement the resources received from The Claims Conference to help survivors age in place with comfort, care and independence.

This fund supports Emergency Financial Assistance to individuals and families facing unexpected challenges and crises.

Gifts to this fund are used to serve the greatest needs of the community, providing resources, support and care to help individuals and families overcome challenges.

This fund helps sustain the work of Jewish Family Service, strengthening lives through compassionate service. Suzanne and Joseph Orley left behind a legacy of work that made a significant impact on Jewish Detroit, including Jewish Family Service. Today their children and grandchildren continue their tradition.