Finding True Partnership in Philanthropy: Judith Creed and Robert Schwartz

Robert Schwartz and Judith Creed

Judith Creed and Robert Schwartz are passionate about children at risk, the elderly, the developmentally disabled, the State of Israel and one another. A shared commitment to non-profit organizations sparked a personal and philanthropic partnership, and inspired the launch of a new initiative in the Philadelphia Jewish community.

The couple are founding members of the Philadelphia Initiative, a vehicle that enables men and women to pursue their own philanthropic passions. Schwartz explains that the Initiative is donor-centric, allowing members to target contributions to any agency they choose that's funded by Federation locally or globally.

"Federation staff and leadership will communicate with donors on an ongoing basis, enabling them to track how their dollars have impacted critical community needs," he said, adding, "our donors-to-be, known as Ambassadors, will have the satisfaction of giving in a manner that is transparent and outcome-driven." The Ambassadors will represent the current and future leaders of the Jewish community, and will be role models for others to follow.

Set for a September 2008 official launch, the initiative is the result of two years of extensive research involving trips to the Jewish communities of Detroit, Chicago and Toronto to study other innovative strategic philanthropy models.

The name "Ambassadors" was inspired by Schwartz's involvement three decades ago in the Ambassador's Dinner, an annual event sponsored by the Federation of Jewish Agencies of Greater Philadelphia, which was hosted by the late philanthropist Walter Annenberg. Annenberg's passion for Israel, young people and higher education mirrors that of Schwartz, who currently is involved in a leadership role with the Central Agency for Jewish Education, Politz Hebrew Academy and the Jaffa Institute in Israel, a private, non-profit social service agency that serves thousands of severely disadvantaged children and their families. His private foundation supports after-school enrichment activities for children at risk, both Jewish and non-Jewish, locally and in Israel. "Almost everything I do philanthropically revolves around children," he said, explaining, "They represent the very future of our community."

"Robert and I want to educate people about the many opportunities available to make a difference in the lives of Jewish elderly, developmentally disabled, poor and hungry individuals here in greater Philadelphia, in Israel and around the world through their support of Federation," said Creed, adding, "We created this initiative out of concern that, without the broad support of the entire Jewish community, Federation may be forced to cut back on funding to its partner agencies, placing many of its good works at risk."

Like Schwartz, Creed is deeply involved in charitable causes. She is an accomplished entrepreneur, helping to start several not-for-profit organizations. Two were deeply personal. The Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation -- the first local organization to address breast cancer as a serious and widespread disease threatening the lives of women living in the Delaware Valley -- was founded in 1987 to honor the memory of Creed's cousin, Linda, a Philadelphia songwriter who died at the age of 37 after waging a 10-year battle with the disease. That same year, Creed helped mobilize a group of parents who wanted to find a place where their developmentally-disabled adult children could live independently in a supportive family-like setting and practice their Jewish faith openly. Their efforts resulted in JCHAI, a network of three, full-service residences in Wynnewood, Elkins Park and Northeast Philadelphia, plus a program at the Presidential Apartments in Philadelphia's City Line Avenue neighborhood for those who require less supervision. Creed's son, Jonah, was one of JCHAI's very first residents and relishes the opportunity to live both independently and Jewishly.

Through a Federation grant, JCHAI can now support independent living in independent apartments for the developmentally-disabled. Creed estimates that some 3,000 Jewish individuals with developmental disabilities in the greater Philadelphia area could immediately use JCHAI services because their current caregivers are either elderly or ill.

She is optimistic that these disparities might well be reversed if the Philadelphia Initiative meets the couple's expectations. Both Creed and Schwartz envision an initial group of 15 Ambassadors, each contributing $150,000 over a three-year period. Each Ambassador will be expected to recruit three others, towards the goal of creating a group of 60 new Federation contributors over the next three years. They hope that this infusion of new cash will enable Federation to meet important Jewish community needs now and in the future.

Board Chair Leonard Barrack is excited about this new initiative and believes that it "eloquently expresses the mission and vision of Federation." He explains that "our organization is charged with identifying and prioritizing the important issues and needs of our local and global community, then organizing and mobilizing human and financial resources to successfully impact them." Barrack asserts that the success of the Philadelphia Initiative will allow Federation to remain focused on Jewish education, human services, family and economic needs, and enhance its support for Israel and for Jews at risk elsewhere in the world.

For more information, call Carol Parlin Prushan at 215-832-0842 or email her at cprushan@philafederation.org.