A Family Affair

Supporting Foundations provide unique opportunities for multi-generational family involvement in philanthropy.

“Children Will Listen” is a song by Steven Sondheim from the musical Into the Woods. We hope our children will listen, especially when we pass on the Jewish values of giving back to the community and helping people in need. The Meisel children listened well, and the result is three generations of Meisel and Pesses family members who are living grandparents Bobby and Stanley’s philanthropic values.

Kim Meisel Pesses and Peter Meisel remember that as young children, their parents, Bobby and Stanley, took them and their siblings to deliver meals to needy families on Thanksgiving and volunteer at soup kitchens on Christmas. “They never actually talked about why they were doing it, they just did it — and they took us along with them.” The Meisels would read about families in need in The Plain Dealer during the holidays and together, their family would try to help others in need. Peter remembers that the first significant and permanent gift by his parents was a scholarship fund at Glenville High School. “Dad was very involved in choosing the recipients and very proud of being able to help the students. The scholarship is still being presented today and helping even more students.”

How did the Meisels ensure that their children would inherit their philanthropic values? They led by example, involving their children and asking them for input from the beginning. Bobby and Stanley’s only daughter Kim, remembers that when her parents created a Donor Advised Fund at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, they engaged their children in making grant recommendations. “We were always a part of the decision making and were proud of our choices. This is how we learned which organizations were important to our parents, and we continue to support these charities to continue our parents’ legacy,” said Kim.

Later, Bobby and Stanley decided to establish a supporting foundation at the Federation. They continued to involve their children and, as time went on, their children’s spouses. When asked why her parents chose a supporting foundation at the Federation, Kim explained. “We wanted to concentrate on making grants and leave the administrative duties to someone else. The Federation was the natural choice, because all of us have a high level of trust and comfort with Federation and its staff.”

Initially funded by Bobby and Stanley, the Meisel Family Foundation is now guided by their children and actively involves their eight grandchildren as they are ready. Kim explained, “Some grants go to the same organizations every year. The trustees are mindful of and remain committed to the organizations that our parents were passionate about. Because we have been involved all along, we know what they care about most.” The Meisel Family Foundation also supports the organizations where family members volunteer and it considers grants to other charities that fit the Foundation’s mission.

Each of the Meisel grandchildren is encouraged to submit a one-page grant request for $1,000 for the charity of their choice. The Meisel Family Foundation trustees consider the requests as they do from any other organization. Last Thanksgiving, when the family met to suggest revisions to the Foundation’s policy and mission statement, each family member was ready and eager to give their input.

With years of respectful listening by the adults and active participation by the children as they grew, the third generation of the Meisel Family Foundation is ready to inherit the responsibility of the family’s philanthropy when their time comes.

Meet Ann Garson

For more information, contact Ann Garson at 216-593-2814 or agarson@jcfcleve.org.