Laying the Foundation...
Elliot and Roslyn Horovitz Elliot was the first executive director of the Jewish Foundation in 1995 One of Elliott Horovitz’ favorite nuggets of advice was to say, “The toughest thing for a business to overcome is inertia.” Over the course of his life, Elliott overcame a lot of inertia, starting businesses from scratch and constantly thinking outside of the box. Those attributes were on full display when Elliott was named the first executive
director of the Jacksonville Jewish Foundation 25 years ago. Along with community leaders like Michael Donziger, Richard Sisisky, Mel Gottlieb, Alan Margolies and others, Elliott played a key role in the Foundation’s formation. During his brief tenure as executive director, Elliott helped to grow the Foundation to nearly $20 million in assets and promises for the future. His work helped secure endowment gifts that will benefit our Jewish community for years to come. He quickly established his own Donor Advised Fund with the Foundation as well as a Charitable Remainder Trust, which converted to an endowment fund following his death and that of his wife, Roslyn Platock
Horovitz. The Roslyn and Elliot Horovitz Fund will forever provide for the community the Horovitz' were so committed to. His work in helping establish the Jacksonville Jewish Foundation was nothing new for Elliott. In addition to his many entrepreneurial successes, Elliott spent a lifetime supporting Jewish causes. He always attributed his love for Judaism and his involvement in the Jewish community to his grandparents and parents who impressed upon him the importance of living a Jewish life and remembering that to be charitable is part of being Jewish. As a member of the “Greatest Generation” Elliott was a highly decorated bombardier in World War II,
where he flew 19 missions over Germany on the B17 flying fortress. During Israel’s War of Independence, Elliott assisted the Haganah in recruiting fighter pilots. While president and chairperson of the California Orange County Jewish Foundation he participated in a Prime Minister’s Mission to Israel and created a UJA golf day that continues to provide funding every year. Elliott considered his greatest legacy to be his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all of whom he encouraged to live an active Jewish life. As a result, his family now includes four generations of fundholders at the Foundation. L’Dor V’Dor from generation to generation.