A. I grew up in a family where giving back was part of everyday life. My parents showed me by example that we all have a responsibility to make our community better, and they brought me along. A lot of that happened at the Weinstein JCC, where I went to preschool and had my first job. Today I’m a third-generation board member there and chair of its Development Committee.

That upbringing led me to a career in philanthropy. I spent about 10 years at the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington helping young adults find their way into giving, then came home to Richmond. In 2019, I joined the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond, where I work as a Senior Philanthropy Advisor. Many people have a CPA and a financial advisor. I sit in the third seat as their philanthropic advisor. I work with individuals and families who give through donor-advised funds, helping them get clear on their values, connect with nonprofits doing meaningful work, and plan how their giving can grow and last.

For me, philanthropy has never been only about writing a check. Whether I’m working with a fundholder or serving on the boards of the Weinstein JCC and the Richmond Jewish Foundation, the goal is the same: helping people feel connected to their community and confident they can make a difference.  

A. The moment a family finds its why. A grandparent, a parent, and a teenager might sit down together and realize they care about the same thing. Even when their interests are different, a shared commitment to giving is what connects them. I also love introducing a donor to a nonprofit and watching the partnership grow. And more often than not, I learn something from the individuals and families I work with, too.

Much of my work is with families of all shapes and sizes. I help parents think through how and when to bring their children into their giving. Whatever the setting, the goal is the same: helping people feel connected to their community and confident they can make a difference.

A. It’s special to be recognized by my own community through the JCC and to have my work validated by my colleagues at the Community Foundation. Those two places have shaped who I am, so being nominated by both meant so much. The best part was having so many of the people who’ve shaped me in the room: my parents, my in-laws, my closest friends, my colleagues, and my JCC family. In my remarks, I shared the credit with my family, my colleagues, and the families I work with, because none of this happens alone.

A. I just joined, but it’s already been a great way to get to know the Steward community. In all of my work, I help people find ways to make a difference in the places they care about, and the Annual Fund gives every Steward family that chance, whether they give a little or a lot. When our kids see us give to their school, they learn that they belong to a community worth investing in.

A. Kids are natural givers. They notice when someone needs help, and they want to do something about it. Philanthropy shows them they have something meaningful to contribute, even when they’re small. It can be as simple as talking at dinner about what your child cares about, volunteering together, or letting them help choose where a gift goes. When children grow up seeing giving as a normal part of family life, they become more empathetic, grateful, and generous, and they see themselves as part of a community.