Jewish community prepares for growth in Charlotte

Over the past 10 years, the Jewish population of the Charlotte region has grown by at least a one-third to an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 individuals.

To help agencies serving the Jewish community cope with that growth, three key organizations have stepped up their fund raising.

The Foundation of Shalom Park has just completed an eight-year campaign that raised $40 million to nearly triple the facility space on its 54-acre campus.

Butch Rosen, executive director of the Foundation of Shalom Park, says facilities on the campus have grown to 225,000 square feet from 85,000 over the past six years. The campus has two synagogues and their religious schools; a day school, pre-school and high school; community center; library and resource center; athletics facilities and meeting space; and other Jewish agencies.

And Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community, a supporting organization of Foundation for the Carolinas that has 84 funds totaling nearly $39 million, has launched an effort to spur Jewish donors to create endowments and planned gifts.

Phil Warshauer, director for planned giving at the Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community, provides planned-giving advice to the nine agencies on the organization's board and represents them to prospective donors.

The foundation also has formed a "legacy" group to recognize donors who have made deferred gifts.

In the wake of an annual drive that raised a record $3.03 million this year, the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte is allocating more dollars to Jewish agencies in the region and abroad.

Sue Worrel, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, says this year's campaign aims to broaden and expand the organization's donor base. This year, the federation is distributing 70% of its funds to roughly 20 local agencies, with the rest going to groups overseas. Developing leaders within the Jewish community and serving as a voice on Jewish issues are the focus of two of its initiatives.

For example, the Bernstein Leadership Group, formed 10 years ago, offers an 18-month program to cultivate emerging leaders for the Jewish community. And in August, the federation launched its Community Relations Council to represent the Jewish community and develop relationships with the news media, government, nonprofits, interfaith community, schools and academia.

QUICKINFO
Agencies serving the local Jewish community include:

• The Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish Community Center
• Temple Beth El
• Temple Israel
• Congregation Ohr Ha Torah (Lubatvitch of North Carolina)
• The Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
• Hebrew Cemetery Association of Charlotte
• Charlotte Jewish Day School
• Jewish Family Services of Greater Charlotte

Need additional info on Jewish Agencies in Charlotte, NC and surrounding areas call real estate RELOCATION specialists Yuriy & Luda Vaynshteyn @ 704-543-4590 or visit our web site http://123CharlotteHomes.com/ or http://CarolinasMetro.com/.