GLOBAL JEWISH PHILANTHROPISTS AND LEADERS RITA & CHARLES BRONFMAN GIVE $5 MILLION TO FEDERATION

One of the most prominent couples in the Jewish philanthropic world, Rita and Charles Bronfman, are donating $5 million to Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County to provide a safety net for Jewish Palm Beach’s future. The Bronfmans’ significant investment supports vital community services – giving Federation greater day-to-day impact as Palm Beach County continues to emerge as one of the largest and fastest growing Jewish communities in the country.

The gift is principally focused on supporting Federation’s unrestricted Annual Campaign, which Charles Bronfman described as “an investment that cares for people in need, inspires neighbors across Palm Beach County with connections to Jewish life, and mobilizes the Jewish community as a force for good.” This support includes a multi-year commitment to help the community today and tomorrow and an endowment that will forever provide annual contributions in the Bronfmans’ name, enabling the Federation to chart the future with bold confidence and enhanced ambitions. The remainder will provide opportunities for young adults to engage with Jewish life.

Bronfman noted that the Palm Beaches’ fast-growing, diverse Jewish community inspired him to step forward to ensure future generations have access to meaningful experiences that connect them with Jewish life and identity. “We must build and support a robust and secure network of services for the burgeoning Jewish population of the Palm Beaches, as we approach a remarkable 200,000 people living in Jewish households.”

Findings from recent community studies of the local Jewish community, conducted by leading researchers at Brandeis University, have found that the Palm Beaches’ demographics have shifted younger in recent years. Young families with children are the fastest growing segment of the local Jewish population. The studies showed increasing numbers of younger Jewish population, with one-third of the local Jewish population under the age of 50 in 2018. This study was conducted prior to a mass migration of families to the Palm Beaches during the coronavirus pandemic.

In light of these demographic changes, Federation and its partners have expanded programs and services supporting younger demographics, including teens and children. This includes increasing scholarships and financial aid to participate in Jewish programs; launching new programs that provide counseling as mental health challenges among younger generations; Jewish learning, leadership, advocacy and travel experiences for teens; and more.

The Bronfmans’ transformative gift serves as a nucleus commitment to Campaign for the Future, the largest fundraising campaign in Jewish Palm Beach’s history. This comprehensive fundraising campaign seeks to grow annual fundraising, increase the number of multi-year pledges, and create new endowments to meet the needs of our growing community – Today, Tomorrow, and Forever. The campaign integrates many forms of giving, including the Annual Campaign and Targeted Giving—both to support our community’s short-term needs of Today and Tomorrow, and long-term needs through endowments at the William A. Meyer Jewish Community Foundation.

To discuss your involvement in this bold effort, contact your Federation representative or Matt Kernkraut, Chief Development Officer, at 561.242.6640 or matthew.kernkraut@jewishpalmbeach.org.

The Bronfmans are residents of Palm Beach Island. Among their historic accomplishments, Charles is the co-founder of Birthright Israel (a partner organization of Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County). This global nonprofit is among the most significant and innovative in the Jewish world, having provided free 10-day travel experiences in Israel for more than 800,000 young adults.

Born and raised in Montreal, Charles moved to the United States in 1996. He spent his 50-year professional career with Seagram Company, Ltd., where he served as Co-Chairman. For 22 years, he was also the Chairman and Principal Owner of the Montreal Expos, the first Major League Baseball team to exist outside of the United States; he and his partners sold it in 1991. Bronfman also served as Chairman of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies (ACBP) for 30 years.  Its core programs encouraged young people to strengthen their knowledge and appreciation of their history, heritage and cultural identity.

Charles married Rita Mayo in 2012. A longtime resident of Montreal, Rita Mayo Bronfman is the former Chair of the Saidye Bronfman Cultural Centre and Combined Jewish Appeal, among others. She has supported Feeding South Florida, The Society of the Four Arts, Planned Parenthood, and other humanitarian causes in Palm Beach.