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Foundation fetes Zaret and Book of Life signers

July 14th, 2006

The Jewish Community Foundation, the endowment development program of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation will celebrate two things — a program and a person — at its Celebrate the Legacy event on Tuesday, Aug. 8, at Brynwood Country Club.

It will honor the first 41 signers of the JCF’s Book of Life. Started in 2004, the book contains the signatures and personal statements and stories of people who have committed to establish an endowment or leave a bequest to the Jewish community.

In this way, the book works “to create a history of the individuals who are making the gifts” and records their motivations, said Bert L. Bilsky, JCF executive director.

The JCF will also present its fourth Legacy Leadership Award, which acknowledges “exemplary leaders in the field of planned giving and endowments,” said Bilsky.
Started in 2000, this award is not given annually, but “only when we have a worthy recipient,” said Bilsky. Past recipients have been Esther Leah Ritz, Louise Eder and Joseph M. Bernstein, Bilsky said.

This time, it will be presented to Melvin S. Zaret, former executive vice president of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation from 1955 to 1985.

“He was the professional who instituted the foundation program” in 1973 and has continued to support it since, Bilsky said.

While this will be the first JCF event built around both the Book of Life and the leadership award, Bilsky said the foundation intends to hold similar events in the future.

The country club is located at 6200 W. Good Hope Rd. The event will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:45, with dietary laws observed.

Cost to attend is $60 per person. Joseph M. Bernstein is the event chair. For more information, call 414-390-5712.