$25,000 – $99,999
Allan & Diane Goldberg
Anita & Joe Hara
Judith & Robert Hara
The Krinker Family
Mardi Shader
Ron Shader
Barbara Weinreich
$10,000 – $24,199
Dick and Dottie Appelbaum
The Crasnow Family
Robert & Elaine Gamson
Robert and Rachel
Gebaide & Family
Hank Katzen
Cherie & David Mazer
Sheryl & Julian Meitin
Nina & Dr. Ron Oppenheim
Andy Pargh
Ina & Eli Porth
Barry & Donna Render
Maxine & Paul Rosenthal
Laurie, Marc, Jason
& Jake Smith
The Soll Family
The Steinberg Family
Dick & Louise Weiner
Dr. Edward and Phyllis
Zissman & Family
$5,000 – $9,999
Marian & Edward Bromberg
Andrew & Michelle Feinberg
Henrietta & Marc Katzen
Craig & Rhonda Pearlman
Allen & Sandra Saft
Stanley Shader
Bob & Judy Yarmuth
$1,000 – $4,999
Burt & Barbara Chasnov
Stuart & JoAnn Farb
Rhonda Forest
Gary Gould
Brad Jacobs
& Eve Homburger Jacobs
In the spring of 2016, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando launched the Campus 2020 Debt Retirement Campaign. Our goal was to eliminate the $4.5 million debt carried by the Jewish Community Campus by January 1, 2020, thus freeing up hundreds of thousands of dollars annually that could be put to better use in our community.
Today our campus is debt-free for the first time in more than 30 years! This achievement was made possible by the limitless generosity of the individuals, couples, families, businesses and Jewish organizations listed on this page.
Our financial debt may be erased, but we are indebted to all of you for the investment you have made in our community’s future.
We give special thanks to those who led the way:
The Harris Rosen Foundation
Your $1 million matching grant gave us the boost we needed to launch this campaign – and it inspired others to join our cause.
Jewish Capital Alliance
Your participation in our campaign provided $300K in matching grants while also benefiting every Jewish agency in Greater Orlando with matching gift funds paid directly to them.
Our Campus 2020 $100,000 Donors
Harriett Lake Z”L & Shelley Lake
Susan and Jerry Roth & Family
Mark & Caryn Israel
$1,000 – $4,999
(cont’d)
Diane Jacobs
Joseph & Dara Lahav
Ryan & Amy Lefkowitz
Nancy & Craig Ludin
Ming & Hilary Marx
Ethel & Barry Portnoy
Ian Robinson
Elise & Henry Schilowitz
Eric & Lisa Schwartz
Roz Fuchs Schwartz
Dr. Marc Sharfman
Eric Sugarman
Ben and Maura Weiner
$18 – $999
Anonymous
Anonymous
Rene Brent
Adam Tanielian
& Afi Eframian
Carol Feuerman
Noel & Judy Galkin
Larry & Deborah Gendzier
Mark Glickman
Martin & Emily Glickstein
Barry & Penny Gold
Drs. Julio & Vicky Hajdenberg
Farlen & Jackie Halikman
Jacob Hara
Ilana Ivan
Paul & Faye Jeser
Joey Korman
Michael & Danielle Krise
Shlomo & Anne Krudo
Dr. Robert & Loren London
Lawrence Gutter
& Debbie Meitin
Rachel & Darren Pierce
Emily Raij
Audrey Sandford
Anne Simonson
Dr. Louis & Sara Stern
Rabbi Avraham
& Nechama Wachsman
Jonathan & Laura Waldbaum
Harriet Weiss
Brenda Fisher Wetmore
THE NEW NORMAL: Life without debt
Retiring the Jewish Community Campus debt early will result in annual savings of $381,400 to the Jewish community.
Our campus can once again grow and thrive as a hub of Jewish life for Greater Orlando. With the debt retired, we can now redeploy much-needed funds into our Jewish community. Indeed, the benefits of debt retirement will have a positive ripple effect far beyond our Maitland campus.
Q&A: How it started, What’s next?
Q: How much was the debt?
A: The principal balances of the two loans that comprised the debt stood at $3,692,500 (3.75% interest) and $1,068,000 (2.45% interest), for a total of $4,760,500 on December 31, 2015. Thanks to money raised through the Campus 2020 Debt Retirement Campaign (launched in early 2016), regular loan payments made by the Federation, and the sale of a vacant campus building, the debt was retired nearly a decade early.
Q: Now that this campaign was a success and the debt has been retired, what assurances can you make that new debt will not be incurred?
A: As a condition of accepting certain matching grants for the debt retirement campaign, JFGO has committed in writing that it will not borrow money for any capital improvements for the 10 years following retirement of the debt.
Q: Where did the debt come from?
A: As our community grew in the 1970s and ’80s, the demand for the programs and services offered on campus grew as well. The campus underwent a major expansion from 2002 to 2005, with construction of a new building for the Jewish Academy of Orlando as well as renovations to Jewish Community Center (JCC) facilities such as the senior lounge and auditorium. Construction costs totaled $12.3 million. Existing mortgages and associated expenses, such as loan fees, interest and carrying costs on bonds, brought the total expansion cost to $13.86 million.
How the debt stifled growth
Our campus suffered
Servicing the debt consumed financial resources that could have been used to pay for needed upgrades to modernize our facilities. Retiring the debt allows us to replenish our campus reserve funds and make needed upgrades.
Our community suffered
The cost of carrying the debt limited the resources that could be released into the community in the form of grants and other allocations that address the critical needs of all our constituents.
Innovation was hindered
Central Florida is a thriving, growing region. JFGO, The Roth Family JCC and the JAO must grow along with it or risk falling short of fulfilling our respective missions. Unfortunately, budgetary constraints brought on by the debt have kept us in a mode of maintaining the status quo rather than creating new engagement opportunities.
Resources were stretched
The JFGO, The Roth Family JCC and the JAO had to devote valuable staff hours each year for fundraising just to maintain existing programs and services, often at the cost of forgoing potential outreach efforts to underserved members of our community.
A debt-free campus means:
Investing in our community
JFGO allocations such as collaborative grants represent a valuable investment in the people of the Greater Orlando Jewish community. Retiring the debt has freed up funds for these purposes.
Expanding our reach
A debt-free Federation is now better positioned to provide assistance and meaningful programming for Baby Boomers, the elderly and other important but currently underserved constituents.
Refocusing our mission
Retiring the debt will allow all of our campus agencies to dedicate themselves to their missions, rather than devoting resources to capital campaigns and debt payments. It is central to JFGO’s mission that the money we spend directly benefits our constituents and that our donors’ contributions do as much good as possible for the greatest number of people.
Revitalizing our community
The availability of the funds that have been consumed by servicing the debt will be a game changer for our community. As we reclaim the time and resources that were devoted to shoring up stressed finances, volunteers and staff will be freed up to serve, create and innovate with new programming and services.
407-645-5933 ext. 236
Jewish Federation offices
851 N. Maitland Ave.
Maitland, FL 32751
GET IN TOUCH WITH FEDERATION
Let us know how we can help you!