Eric Butlein and his wife Jayne have “lived on both coasts,” but it is the “strong sense of community” they found here that has engendered a deep attachment to Milwaukee.
The couple has been active in the local Jewish community since they moved here from the East Coast in the mid-70’s — Eric in organizations such as the American Jewish Committee-Milwaukee Chapter, and Jayne in the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, among others — and they have both been struck by how these “organizations work together,” Eric said.
That cooperation is one of the reasons that they and their family are supporting the Community Capital Campaign. The Butlein-DeToro family is one of seven families, trusts, and foundations who have made gifts of $1 million to the campaign.
Other gifts of $1 million have so far been made by Bernard and Mickey Peck, the Rose and Harry Samson family, Nita Soref, the Theodore Gordon Trust, the Helen and Bernard Soref Foundation, and the Waterman/Blade Memorial Foundation. Eight other families and foundations have made gifts of more than $1 million, which were highlighted in an Oct. 28 Chronicle story.
As of press time, the campaign, which has a goal of $40 million, has raised $37,100,00.
Though the [local Jewish community] “is not large in numbers, it really has a powerful influence,” Butlein said.
“One of the things that really motivated us was the community-wide nature of this campaign, and the “idea of creating a vision for the community so that organizations can cooperate and participate [with each other],” he said.
Bernard Peck agreed, saying he hopes his gift will contribute to making the “Jewish community more cohesive.”
Some hope that the very act of their giving will encourage future generations to be equally generous.
Nita Soref said she was one of the “original starters” of the 1985-87 campaign for the existing Max & Anita Karl Jewish Community Campus in Whitefish Bay.
Soref, who said she believes in the federation and what it does, likes that the federation is working to “get younger people to give” to the community.
Though she no longer has any children living in the city, Soref says she still believes in supporting the Milwaukee community because “my husband made his money in this city,” she said.
‘Rebirth’ at the JCC
One of the agencies within the campaign, the upgraded Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, will engage these younger people as well, according to Butlein.
“The rebirth of the JCC should provide a destination for at least another decade,” Butlein said.
That is part of what inspired the late Harry Samson to give a naming gift in the 1990s to the JCC and what motivates his family’s current donation. “Both gifts are part of the same philosophy that Harry held to during his life,” according to Bert Bilsky, executive director of the federation’s Jewish Community Foundation.
“The gift is very much in keeping with his dedication to provide a thriving Jewish community for future generations,” Bilsky said.
According to Joel Lee, trustee for the Theodore Gordon Trust, the project fits also with the visions that Gordon, who died in 1994, had for the community.
A businessman, Gordon was a “charitable” man, who was “very interested in serving kids and those who have less,” Lee said.
Peck, who made “a substantial gift” to the 1985-87 Karl Campus campaign, said he is looking forward to other new additions to the community, including the Milwaukee Jewish Historical Society’s museum, planned for the Helfaer Building on Prospect Ave.
Both Butlein and Soref commended the federation and the community for their efforts in the campaign.
“We applaud the community,” Butlein said, for its ability to “identify what the needs are” and for “supporting the collaboration” that is needed to fill them.
“We’re happy to have the resources to support this, as we benefited years ago,” Butlein said. At that time, “other people stepped forward, when we didn’t have the resources to do so.”
Soref said she believes our Jewish community is “very good at taking care of our people.”
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