COMMUNITY
JEWISH FEDERATION & FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER FOCUS: SANDY ZIMMERMAN was all in! Yes, I was a young president, but with the strong governance structure Alan has developed over his decades as CEO, no one person has to shoulder all the responsibility. We had a great executive board during my presidency, and I am proud of the accomplishments we achieved.
Your family has been active and generous in the Jewish community for generations. What drives their activism?
My family has been in Jacksonville for at least five generations. I watched my parents and grandparents volunteer when I was a child. When I was old enough to contribute, it felt like the right thing to do. I believe it is up to each of us to preserve and grow the Jewish community for future generations. My parents and grandparents did this for me, and I want to do the same for my children.
What was it like to be so young as a past president of our organization? I was always familiar with the work of the Federation, but never fully appreciated its vast reach until I joined Executive Director Alan Margolies on a mission to Romania and Israel in 2007. After that trip, I 8
You were a past Foundation board member before and during the merger with Federation. Can you share that history?
My mom had been a founding board member of the Jewish Community Foundation, so I was very familiar with the organization. By the time I was involved in both, the need to bring these two agencies together was obvious. But this was not a simple task. Both organizations had their own history and leadership. It was important to honor the independent past, but to still move forward. To ensure we did it right, Jeff Edwards, Larry Appel, Alan, and I took a road trip to visit three similar sized communities that had succeeded in merging the two organizations. You are the chair of the Foundation's investment committee. What does that involve?
Our Foundation Director, Kellie Smith, does a great job managing the existing relationships and working on growth. We have a world class investment manager in SEI. Our investment committee consists of a great cross mix of former Community Foundation members and Federation leadership. Because the actual investment decisions are made by SEI, our committee is able to focus on the needs of our donors and helping to grow legacy giving. Last I checked, our total assets under management were in excess of $35 million, having nearly doubled since the merger. Why is Jewish Federation & Foundation still relevant and vital to our future?
They are the only organization I know of that touches so many different areas of Jewish life. Whether its our schools, senior services, Israel advocacy, or emergency assistance, they make an impact. Ever since I have been involved, we have been blessed to have great relationships with all our Jewish agencies in Jacksonville. That closeness is in no small part because of the work of Alan and our Federation. Even during the COVID crisis, Alan spearheaded a daily Zoom call for all Jewish agency leadership in the city. It takes a strong and successful Federation to bring all the pieces together. What drives you to give your time, talent and treasure as a board member of Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida? What drives me to give has changed over the years. Today it is my
