Page 5 - The Jewish Voice - February '23

The Jewish Voice, Page 5

LocaL happenings

Historic $10 Million Announced at the H. Irwin Levy Founders Event at

Gift to Federation Will Palm Beach Country Club last month, the Levy Center
will provide a permanent source of funding to support the
Address Urgent and historic connection between Jewish Palm Beach and Israel
through local initiatives like the Israel Program Center; to
Ongoing Overseas Needs further connect people in the Palm Beaches with Jewish
people around the world; and to strengthen Federation’s
Among the most philanthropic, dedicated, and impactful investments that care for Jewish communities in 70
leaders of the Palm Beaches and global Jewish communities, countries during crisis or conflict and every day.
Palm Beach Gardens residents Stacey and Mark Levy have Stacy and Mark Levy shared, “Helping build and
made a transformational gift of $10 million to the Jewish sustain a strong Jewish Palm Beach and Israel is central
Federation of Palm Beach County to launch the Stacey & to who we are and has become increasingly meaningful
Mark Levy Center for Israel & Overseas (Levy Center). as our children and grandchildren now live here. We are
On the heels of two other significant gifts to the Federation committing to Federation because we want to help ensure
this season, the Levys have also made one of the largest a quality local Jewish community for years to come. We
contributions in the organization’s history, including a feel confident that Federation will forever be the central Fueled by the couple’s decades-long commitment to
legacy gift to permanently support our local and global Jewish organization in the Palm Beaches that cares for our global Jewry and astounding generosity, and at a time
communities. extended global family.” of rising antisemitism, the Levy Center will further
Federation’s multimillion-dollar annual investments with
Federation’s global partners — such as the American Jewish
Joint Distribution Committee and The Jewish Agency for
Israel — to ensure that families and communities around
the world have resources and services they need to survive
and thrive.
Locally, the Levy Center brings together learning and
community building opportunities about Israel through
Federation’s Israel Program Center; Federation’s programs
to welcome young adults from Israel to the Palm Beaches to
familiarize people at home with Israel; as well as immersive
overseas missions and travel experiences.
The Levy Center also will become home to
Partnership2Gether, Federation’s nearly 30-year partnership
with Israel’s TZAHAR region, which comprises the
northern Israeli cities Tzfat, Hatzor HaGlilit, and Rosh
Pina, as well as the Palm Beaches’ newer partnership with
the Jewish community of Budapest, Hungary. Our deep
and lasting partnership with these overseas communities
includes regular visits between our communities, volunteer
opportunities, joint projects, and shared experiences that
have built lasting, authentic, people-to-people relationships
of shared care and responsibility.
care community. They are also generous annual supporters of
The Levys’ inspiring gift includes a multiyear commitment

to Federation’s Annual Campaign, the organization’s primary
fundraising vehicle to address the needs of today’s Jewish

local Jewish organizations and programs, including Alpert
Jewish Family Service, Mandel Jewish Community Center
of the Palm Beaches, mosaic TV show and podcast, and
global organizations Birthright Israel and The Jewish Agency,
including its Amigour Senior Housing Project that provides
housing for seniors in Israel who would otherwise live in
poverty. In the broader community, the Levys have been
need long-time supporters of a number of organizations, including
for people in
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and the United Way
of Palm Beach County.
“Mark and Stacey are extraordinary role models, inspiring

our community’s most significant leaders to create a strong
Jewish future through their philanthropy, time, and expertise,”
shared Michael Hoffman, president and CEO of the Jewish
Federation of Palm Beach County. “Mark’s parents, Jeanne
Levy, of blessed memory, and Irwin Levy, were pioneers
of the Palm Beach Jewish community. Today, Mark and
Stacey are shaping and securing our community’s future,
supporting the dramatic expansion of one of the largest
Jewish communities in North America, with an unwavering
commitment to our global Jewish family.”
Mark, a Palm Beach County native and lifelong resident,
People across the Palm Beaches has always felt connected to his Jewish community. He has

and the global community face shared that his first trip to Israel at 16 years old fueled his
commitment to Israel. Nearly a decade later, upon returning
overwhelming challenges. to the area with Stacey after his graduation from law school,
he became increasingly involved in the Jewish community
and Jewish Federation. Over the years, Mark has visited
Powered by you, we are mobilizing and expanding our Federation’s partners, grantees, and families who have
benefited directly from Federation’s support, including
network of human service partner organizations Jewish communities in Israel, Argentina, Brazil, Budapest,
to support the growing numbers of people in need. Ethiopia, France, St. Petersburg (Russia), Albania, Prague,
and more. He has also served in numerous leadership roles
with many organizations, including The Jewish Agency for
Israel, board chair of the Arthur I. Meyer Jewish Preparatory
School (then called Jewish Community Day School), and
Alpert Jewish Family Service. Mark was Federation’s board
chair from 2010 to 2013 — a post that his mother, Jeanne,
jewishpb.org | 561.478.0700 | @jewishpalmbeach served in the early 1980s.
Stacey, who shares Mark’s commitment and drive to

ensure a strong Jewish future, was initially inspired to get
involved locally by Mark’s mother. Over the years, she has
charted her own path, including serving as board chair of
Mandel JCC of the Palm Beaches, a member of Federation’s

Local Happenings on page 6

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