By Matt M. Bronfman
I recently had the good fortune to attend the Women’s Philanthropy Fall Event featuring Ana Sazonov as a speaker. Ana was born in Ukraine, and with the support of the Jewish Federation, her family immigrated to Israel when she was six years old, where she began her Jewish journey. Through a fascinating series of twists and turns, Ana now is the Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Columbia, South Carolina—one of the youngest Federation leaders in North America.
Her story, from being a beneficiary of services to working to ensure other Jews receive the services they need, drives home the importance of paying it forward.
It is now campaign season, and I hope when you receive the call, you will think of the unknown future Ana of the world. I also hope you realize that your gift to the campaign benefits not merely the individuals and organizations that directly receive funding, but also lays the foundation for the next generation of donors and doers in the Jewish community.
