Sue Katz dedicated her life to helping Jewish adoptive families through Stars of David, an organization to support Jewish adoptive families that she founded and built. She also enjoyed a strong partnership with adoption and infertility support, a program of JCFS. When she passed away in 2014, those who worked closely with her—Marsha Raynes, Director of Adoption and Infertility Support, and Elyse Flack, a dedicated volunteer—wanted to honor Sue’s memory.

During her lifetime, Sue directed endowment dollars from Stars of David to JCFS for adoption and infertility support. Elyse, Marsha and Barbara Chandler, JCFS Chicago Senior Development Associate for Endowment, met with Sue’s husband, David to discuss honoring Sue’s memory by raising additional endowment dollars to reach $100,000. This would establish the Susan M. Katz Adoptive Family Fund at JCFS recognizing Sue’s significant contribution to the adoption community and carry on her legacy and name for future generations.

David offered to write letters to family and friends, explaining the purpose of the fund and asking for their donations. JCFS immediately began to receive gifts in all amounts for the fund in memory of Sue, many with heartfelt messages. Within months, the fund surpassed the initial $100,000 goal and continues to grow.

The fund supports a wide range of services for Jewish adoptive families, as well as birth families and adult adoptees including guidance in navigating the adoption process, social events for adoptive Jewish families, support groups and educational programs.

Midge Perlman Shafton is someone who deftly manages tight schedules, embraces her family, and supports her community. That was especially true on one of the most important days of her life – June 16, 1960. Midge and her husband drove from Milwaukee to Madison for her sister’s morning graduation from the University of Wisconsin, and then raced to Chicago to attend the Jewish Children’s Bureau’s last group meeting before fall for prospective adoptive parents.

“You had to be married for three years to start the adoption process and that day was our third wedding anniversary,” explains Midge, “So if we missed that meeting we would have had to wait until fall to start the process.” Nine months later they adopted their daughter, Karen, and two years after that they adopted their son, Mark.

The Jewish Children’s Bureau (JCB) merged with Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) to become JCFS in 2006. Through those years and the evolution of the Agency, Midge became, and still is, a dedicated leader and supporter.

Adopting her children through JCB was Midge’s first connection to the Agency, but it didn’t take long for her to get more involved. She had a friend from college who was married to Chuck Stern, a JCB board member, and in 1972, he asked her to serve on the Board.

“I said yes,” remembers Midge. “I was thrilled by the opportunity to give back.”

In 1975 Midge became the first woman president of JCB and, after her tenure leading JCB, she moved on to leadership at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, becoming the second woman to serve as its chair.

She also served in an advisory leadership role during the merger of JCB and JFCS, watching for the “right time” when both agencies were in a strong position so the resulting agency, Jewish Child & Family Services, would start on solid ground.

Midge remembers making her first endowment gift at a Federation retreat when she was on the JCB Board. At the retreat, she learned about how the endowment fund would provide a source of support for generations to come and signed a Declaration of Intent to include the Agency in her will. She was going to direct the gift to just adoption, but her attorney suggested she give it unrestricted. She realizes that agency needs change over time and this allows the gift to be used where it’s needed most.

Midge’s collection of tzedakah boxes represents the tradition of philanthropy in which she was raised and has passed on to her children. Her parents were generous donors and leaders in the Jewish community. Midge follows in their footsteps, and her two children and seven grandchildren continue the family’s tradition of giving generously. “I owe the Jewish community for these seven grandchildren, for this whole family that I have.”

When she talks with her children and grandchildren about the gift in her estate for the JCFS Chicago Endowment Foundation, she tells them, “I’m not taking away from your inheritance. I’m just changing the form of it because it’s important that I help to leave you a strong Jewish community.”

“I remember about 24 years ago, when Larry excitedly came home from work and announced that he was asked to be on the Response for Teens' board,” recalls Nanci Dobkin. “He told me about the important work that Response for Teens does and how he could not wait to be a part of that work. I looked at him and practically in tears said to him, ‘Absolutely no way can you join another board!  You already are on the board of JUF and Aitz Hayim and …you work 12 hour days!’ He looked at me and said how the meetings were only once a month, at 8:30 in the morning and it would not interfere with him seeing the family because he would normally be at work at that time. I reluctantly agreed and never looked back on that decision. He loved serving on Response and it made him so proud to be part of it.”

For 20 years, Larry Dobkin supported teen services as a Response for Teens board member, eventually serving as its president. Thanks to his leadership and support, Response for Teens empowers over 12,000 adolescents each year to make healthy life choices. These teens, ages 12-21, are from diverse backgrounds, and approximately half of those served are from low income families. Response for Teens provides support through a variety of programs, including individual, family, and group counseling; violence prevention; outreach to schools and community groups; leadership development opportunities; and teen-friendly sexual health care. Response for Teens and JCFS Chicago allow these young clients to redefine what’s possible in their lives.

The Larry Dobkin Memorial Endowment Fund of the JCFS Endowment Foundation was established to honor Larry’s lifelong passion for helping others and his commitment to providing teens with the necessary services to build healthier lives by empowering them to make positive life choices through education and advocacy

“Larry was a dedicated and effective leader in both the Jewish and secular communities. He was one of its brightest stars,” says Nanci. “It seems appropriate for me to honor Larry and his work in the Jewish community by donating to his endowment fund in order to ensure that his light will shine forever.”

Nanci chose to make a donation to the fund in Larry’s memory, which she paid over a few years, and also to leave a portion of her IRA to the fund as part of her estate plan. Hundreds of other people who knew Larry also donated to the fund in his memory, which continues to grow and will provide endowment income to ensure vital services to teens for generations to come.

While there will never be a way to fully fill the void left with Larry’s passing, together we can ensure that his legacy will continue to lead those who knew him to make a difference