B'nai Tzedek Fundholder Brings Joy and Support to Burn Victims
For many middle school students, the winter break is a welcomed time for holidays, vacations, and hanging out with friends and family. While classmates were attending to winter break festivities, Gahanna Middle School East 8th grader Morrisa Cohen and her mom Paula took some time out to make the two-hour trip south down interstate 71 to visit with patients at Shriners Children’s Hospital.
The pair did not make the journey to visit a friend or relative however. Their visit was one of compassion and generosity. Morrisa is a B’nai Tzedek fundholder at the Columbus Jewish Foundation. She established her B’nai Tzedek fund around the time of her Bat Mitzvah from Temple Beth Shalom in New Albany. “It was a nice opportunity for me to create a charitable checking account which would help me help others.” remarked Morrisa at the time of fund agreement signing.
In addition to a generous check from her B’nai Tzedek fund to the hospital, Morrisa came bearing gifts for the children under the hospital’s care. Pink teddy bears and pink drawstring bags from her Bat Mitzvah along with new toys donated by Morrisa's cousins, The Aronoff's of Mason, Ohio filled the trunk of the Cohen’s car. After prior approval (and permission to bring the toys) from the hospital, Morrisa and Paula delivered the toys with the help of Shriners’ Donor Relations Manager Trish Planck.
“Trish gave us a wonderful tour of the facility and an overview of the how the children are cared for while at Shriners.” Paula reported. “It was a wonderful way for Morrisa to see first hand the mission of the hospital caring for children with burns.”
The Mitzi & Henry Saeman B'nai Tzedek Youth Philanthropy Program embraces the next generation's quality traits and looks eagerly to our teens as the sculptors of our collective future. As teens prepare to celebrate their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, the Columbus Jewish Foundation can help start them on the road to a lifetime of philanthropy and social action. With an initial contribution of at least $125, teens can establish a donor advised fund in their own name. With matching funds from the Foundation and Mitzi & Henry Saeman Endowment Fund, the fund’s initial value will be at least $500.00. Participants can add to the fund at any time, as can parents, relatives or friends so that the fund continues to grow.
As a fund holder, teens are be entitled to the same privileges of giving accorded to any fund holder of the Columbus Jewish Foundation. They will receive Quarterly Statements and are invited to events throughout the year that will introduce them to worthy causes and provide them with the opportunity to “hang out” with other fund holders in Columbus.
Since inception, over 320 teens have distributed more than $71,000 to over 100 worthy causes here in Columbus, Ohio and throughout the world.
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a one-of-a-kind international health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Children up to age 18 with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment at no charge - regardless of financial need. Shriners Hospitals relies on the generosity of donors to deliver this mission every day. For more information, please visit www.shrinershospitals.org.
For more information about the Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy program and giving opportunities, visit www.iamphil.org, call Larry Shuman at 614-338-2365 or email him at Lshuman@tcjf.org.
