By Deb Silverthorn

Since its founding in 1973, the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation has served as a resource for philanthropic advice and expertise. It now provides those services at its Byrna and Joe Funk Family Philanthropy Center, at 12222 Merit Drive in North Dallas.

DJCF has held a series of community and fundholder events to celebrate this and other milestones.

On Thursday, Aug. 22, DJCF hosted an open house at its new space. Guests enjoyed art curated by the Texas Jewish Arts Association as part of a newly launched, rotating exhibition, from which visitors can purchase works on display.

On Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Temple Shalom, Larry Schoenbrun was honored at a reception and recognized with the Meyer L. Bodoff Memorial Award, which was presented to him the following morning at the 29th annual DJCF Professional Advisors Seminar.

“We’ve been transforming our operations to support growth. I’m proud of the team and the community in which we are embedded,” said DJCF CEO Megan Hyman. “DJCF led a 48% increase in annual grant making from funds held at the foundation, representing $37 million to charity in the last fiscal year.”

The Bodoff Memorial Award was initiated by Sandy Kaufman, DJCF treasurer and life trustee, and endowed by the Stanford M. Kaufman Family Fund of DJCF, to perpetuate the legacy of the agency’s former leader. Bodoff, who served as DJCF’s president and CEO from 2010 until his passing in 2022, lived up to his Hebrew name, Meyer Leib, which translates as light and heart. The award is given to an outstanding professional adviser, nominated by peers, who has made a meaningful impact on the foundation’s work within the community.

Hyman was seated at the dais along with Kaufman, Schoenbrun and Dr. Russell James III, Texas Tech University’s CH Foundation chair of personal financial planning and charitable giving program director.

“Larry is a personal mentor and respected leader who has devoted more than 50 years to our community,” said Hyman. “He deserves this recognition and we are thrilled to honor him. Larry is one of the most vocal promoters of endowments and he doesn’t just talk, he walks the walk.”

Involved with the Foundation since 1985, while it was still a committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, Schoenbrun was honored for his leadership and support of the organization and the community-at-large. A former DJCF board chair and a life trustee, Schoenbrun has sat on many committees of the organization and seen the foundation grow from one employee and $15 million in assets to its now more than $360 million. His support has also benefited the Anti-Defamation League; CHAI: Community Homes for Adults, Inc.; the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum; the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas; and the Texas Hillel Endowment Foundation at UT-Austin.

“The solution for our community is a strong endowment. It’s the difference between survival and flourishing. I am excited by the new leadership, both professional and those on our board, and the focus on how we ensure our viability. I am optimistic for the future. Our organizations that are thriving are those building their endowments,” said Schoenbrun.

The Professional Advisors Seminar, DJCF’s cornerstone annual event, offers the opportunity for industry professionals to learn from a nationally recognized expert, to earn continuing education credits and to network with colleagues across several fields.

In addition to hearing from Hyman and DJCF Board Chair Louis Zweig, attendees learned from James, the event’s keynote speaker to the approximately 300 guests at the event.

“We are the original host of these types of seminars locally and we’ve gained a reputation for excellence,” said Mona Allen, DJCF’s chief impact officer. “It was special to have a record 29 sponsors in our 29th year.

“Our role is to keep charitable giving top of mind. We want to educate those who are, or who should be, having those conversations with their clients,” she added.

DJCF, in its new space with a respected history, connectivity and experienced team, is reaching out to individuals and organizations, working to sustain and preserve Jewish charitable legacies.

“We are deepening our relationships with philanthropists, building community capability that will ensure the long-term viability of the Dallas Jewish community,” said Zweig. “We are excited about welcoming everyone into our new offices. We are executing a strategic plan focused on growth, being a great partner to our fundholders and stakeholders and building an infrastructure and team that will enable the next 50 years of success.”