BETTY ROSENFELD

Rosenfeld invests in future with Legacy Gift

By Sura Rubenstein, Special To The Jewish Review

article created on: 2011-10-01T00:00:00

Betty Rosenfeld likes to joke that when she moved to Portland from Cleveland as a young bride in 1946, “There was nothing here but salmon and Reed College.”

But she allows, “It’s really developed since then.”

Over the years, she and her late husband, A. Victor Rosenfeld, watched and helped as the community grew and matured. Now, at age 86, she’s taken another step by creating an endowment fund to help the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland reach out to a new generation and build leadership for the future.

“If not now, when?” she asks. “We have got to have kids exposed to their heritage. And we have to support them.”

Both Rosenfeld and her late husband were active supporters of federation, of local congregations and other community institutions. She sees her endowment gift as carrying on that tradition—and carrying out her belief in giving back.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Betty for her gift,” says Laurie Rogoway, federation’s associate executive vice president. “Betty and Vic have supported the Jewish community their entire lives. This ensures that the community will continue to thrive in the future.”

Rosenfeld’s gift—to the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation for the benefit of federation—will help underwrite programs and leadership training for young adults, supporting the next generation of community leaders.

Rogoway said that Rosenfeld decided on that thrust after several conversations about her interests and concerns. “Legacy Giving,” she said, using another term for endowments, “is a wonderful opportunity to match a donor’s passion with community needs.”

Rogoway, who has worked with federation for 27 years, last spring began focusing on developing endowments and related gifts.

She noted that—whether people are interested in services for preschoolers, young adults, seniors or programs in Jewish culture—she can help them either develop new initiatives or support agencies or programs already working in their field of interest.
“I look forward to meeting with people, getting to know them, and helping make their dreams come true,” she said.

Donors at whatever level have an important impact, she noted, and legacy donors are especially important because they help ensure the Jewish community will continue to thrive in the future.

“It’s important to understand that a Legacy Gift or endowment can be at any level,” she emphasized. “You don’t have to be a ‘gazillionaire’ to have an impact.”

For example, she said that if someone gave a $500 annual donation to the federation campaign, a $10,000 endowment would ensure that the annual contribution could continue “forever.”

Rogoway calls federation’s collaboration with the OJCF in establishing endowment funds “a wonderful example of the two organizations working together on behalf of the community.”

For her part, Betty Rosenfeld hopes that everyone will consider giving a Legacy Gift.

“We should all partake of what we have—but then give what we are able,” she says. “Everyone should be able to give something.”

For information on setting up an endowment, contact Rogoway at 503-245-6473 or laurie@jewishportland.org.