On October 23, nearly 70 LIFE & LEGACY® donors gathered for the 2nd annual LIFE & LEGACY Community Celebration, the first in-person event since the program began in the greater Ann Arbor area 2 years ago. LIFE & LEGACY is a program that aims to sustain Washtenaw County’s beloved Jewish organizations for future generations, through after-lifetime giving.
Attendees at the event enjoyed music, schmoozing, and toasting to the achievements made over the last two years. In particular, attendees celebrated the 408 commitments, worth an estimated value of $13.3 million, for the 11 participating organizations in the greater Ann Arbor area. The impact on financial stability and opportunities for growth that will be made possible for these organizations is exciting!
Three donors generously shared their testimonials with everyone, showcasing how vital the range of Jewish communal organizations are to our community. It was enlightening to hear why these community members chose to give to the various organizations, and the importance of those organizations in their lives.
One attendee, Barb Banet, remarked about the celebration, “It was so much fun to see everyone re-connecting after such a long period of mostly just Zooming. The three short speeches were all interesting and impressive.”
Participants also had the opportunity to snap a photo in front of the Canada Red Cherry tree that was planted in their honor at the JCC. Make sure to check out the tree and commemorative plaque next time you are at the JCC!
If you’re interested in learning more about LIFE & LEGACY or you’re ready to make a commitment, please contact Osnat Gafni-Pappas at the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor at osnat@jewishannarbor.org or 734-773-3538. You can also reach out directly to any of the following participating community organizations: Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan, Beth Israel Congregation, Chabad House, Eastern Michigan University Center for Jewish Studies, Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor, Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor, Jewish Cultural Society, Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, Temple Beth Emeth, and University of Michigan Hillel.