A year ago, I took over as Chair of Tidewater Jewish Foundation (TJF). I am extremely honored to be in this position especially considering all of those who have occupied this position before me. I only hope to fill their shoes while trying to help guide this amazing organization in ways I hope they approve. I am also extremely grateful for our donors and partners, and this wonderful community I try my best to serve. We are truly blessed by each one of you. We are a small and vibrant community that truly understands the necessity of planning and building for our future.
I became active at TJF because I believe in our community and its future, and I want to help us preserve our Jewish Community. We have the opportunity and obligation to strengthen our organizations by building on the foundations that will keep them running for years to come and making sure they will be around to serve our children and grandchildren.
This legacy commitment is one I hope every member of our great community can endorse. Our goal is to triple our current assets under management from $160,000,000 to $500,000,000 and those aren’t just numbers. This is our promise to each other: that every child will have access to a Jewish education; that every Jewish organization will have the best available security so that their practice can go on uninterrupted; that every family in need will have that support available, that every institution we cherish will have the resources to not just survive, but thrive.
This tripling of our assets under management represents the combination of what we have today, and what promises have been made for tomorrow. It’s a long-term strategy built on short-term trust. That is trust you have placed on our Tidewater Jewish Foundation and in some respects your trust in me. Our Foundation has the most incredible professionals. Naomi Sedek, Randy Parrish, Amy Weinstein, Craig Bailey, Ann Swindell and Kim King tirelessly endeavor to make our community stronger and help us reach these lofty goals. Our Board of Directors are some of the best, brightest and finest of our incredible community. I get the honor of serving with Paul Peck, Sandra Porter Leon, Richard Saunders, Neil Rose, Jay Klebanoff, Kim Fink, Byron Harrell and Charlie Nusbaum as my Executive Committee to name just a few.
As a Foundation, our focus this year has been crystal clear: be the best possible stewards of this community’s generosity. That means smarter investing. Stronger partnerships with our agencies and congregations. Deeper relationships with our donors. And a renewed commitment to education, helping families and advisors alike understand how legacy giving can turn private values into public good.
We're also thinking about the future in new ways, creating tools and conversations that speak to the next generation of philanthropists. We’re helping young people understand that giving isn't something you wait to do when you're older. It’s something you grow into, and we’re showing them how.
Our job isn’t just to manage money. It’s to inspire movement, and to build bridges between generations. We need to make sure that when the torch is passed, it’s burning even brighter. One thing my Eagle Scout father, Pete Kramer, inculcated in me was to leave everything behind in better shape than you found it.
On behalf of the TJF Board, thank you. Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your belief in what we’re building together.
Let’s keep going.
Let’s keep giving.
Let’s keep growing.
With appreciation,
Eddie Kramer
Chair of the Board
Tidewater Jewish Foundation