It was the first week of May, as I was walking into a continuing education seminar, when my phone rang. The individual on the other end told me he wanted to donate a beachfront condominium — a donation that would become the second largest individual gift received by our organization in its 27 years here in Northeast Florida.
Founded in 1995, The Jewish Foundation was established to last in perpetuity, and we went on to merge with our Jewish Federation in 2018. Together, the Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida serves as an umbrella to provide consistent funding to our partner agencies and nonprofit organizations that serve seniors, children and families through education, social services and programming, both locally and across the globe.
The mission and goals of our foundation center on the shared responsibility of creating permanent financial stability for our greater Northeast Florida Jewish community. We achieve this primarily by working with individuals and families to create endowment funds, donor advised funds or other legacy gifts that serve to preserve a thriving Jewish life in our community and continue the important Jewish tradition of giving back and repairing the world.
With more Jewish people relocating into the area, the need for sustainable funding for our local synagogues, schools, agencies and other Jewish organizations, is rapidly increasing in demand, making the work of our organization more vital than ever.
Although admittedly not a common occurrence, our foundation is well-equipped to accept and sell real estate donations of this kind. Through the guidance and support of a top-notch list of dedicated board members and community volunteer leaders, we are able to seamlessly process even the most complex charitable gifts, providing the greatest tax-advantageous return to our donors.
For instance, the benefits of gifting real estate can go far beyond the good they do in providing for the nonprofit community, allowing the owner to avoid paying capital gains tax on the sale of the real estate and receive a charitable income tax deduction based on the value of the gift.
Providing customization and versatility in giving is one of the many ways we remain committed to the privilege of assisting individuals in curating their unique legacies. We are honored to have helped families for more than two decades execute their philanthropic visions for today, tomorrow and generations to come.
In the words of Sol Goldman, of blessed memory, who established our foundation’s single largest endowment fund to date, “When I look back upon my childhood, I sincerely believe that some of us need that one helping hand to assist us. [My wife] and I feel that the greatest contributions we can make to Judaism and to mankind is offering educational opportunities to children and young adults and caring about and providing for the sick and the needy. We are pleased and thankful to be able to help those in need.”
The Sol and Hilda Goldman Early Childhood and Summer Camp Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to children in need, regardless of race or religion, who seek access to the highly recognized Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool and summer camp programs of the Jewish Community Alliance. Sol’s generosity and commitment to our community is an exemplary story of legacy, and we are so honored to have been entrusted with his bequest.
Spacious and sophisticated, the donated condominium is a rare find directly fronting Ponte Vedra Beach.
This once-in-a-lifetime custom home is completely renovated with stunning details and designer finishes and boasts the only private elevator in the building.
At 2,523 square feet, with three bedrooms and three baths, the open floor plan is warm and inviting and includes spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean from every room. Located within Sawgrass, this unique community offers championship golf, a world-class racquet club with 13 tennis courts, fitness center and oceanfront dining and pools.
For more on our organization, go to jewishjacksonville.org/foundation. To learn more about how you can begin creating your unique philanthropic legacy, contact Kellie Smith, foundation director at 904-512-3796.
The condo is listed by Janet Westling, at Berkshire Hathaway HSFNR for $2,985,100. She can be contacted for an appointment at 904-813-1913 or janet.westling@floridanetworkrealty.com.
