Jim Joseph Foundation Welcomes Dr. Jeffrey Solomon & David Agger as Members of Board of Directors
June 3rd, 2015
Each brings unique expertise to San Francisco-based foundation committed to Jewish education
San Francisco, CA — The Jim Joseph Foundation today announced that Dr. Jeffrey Solomon and David Agger have joined its Board of Directors. The new Directors bring fresh perspectives and expertise to the San Francisco-based foundation committed to fostering compelling, effective Jewish learning experiences for youth and young adults in the United States.
Dr. Jeffrey Solomon joins the Board after an illustrious and deeply impactful career dedicated to Jewish philanthropy. He served for 18 years as President of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies. Among the Philanthropies’ innovative launches were Birthright Israel and Reboot (two initiatives also supported by the Jim Joseph Foundation), which connect young Jews to their tradition. He previously was Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of UJA-Federation of New York and was an adjunct associate professor at New York University.
“I admire the Jim Joseph Foundation’s commitment to Jewish education and its effective working partnerships with grantees and other funders,” says Dr. Jeffrey Solomon. “The Foundation has affected the lives of literally tens of thousands of Jewish youth and young adults. This is an exciting time to join the Foundation’s Board of Directors. I am truly honored to help pursue the vision set forth by Jim Joseph, z”l.”
David Agger is a highly successful financial investor who volunteers extensively in both the Jewish and secular communities. He currently is a Trustee of the Bernard Osher Jewish Philanthropies, a foundation with which he has been involved for 25 years. David also is Past President of the Mt. Zion Health Fund. He is the recipient of the Lloyd Dinkelspiel Award for Young Leadership from the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco. For the past year, David served as a member-at-large of the Jim Joseph Foundation investment committee, a committee he now will chair.
Agger notes, “The Bay Area is a hub of innovation in both the secular and Jewish communities, and the Jim Joseph Foundation embraces this creative thinking. Undoubtedly, this approach helps to catalyze compelling Jewish learning experiences and dynamic new initiatives. I am privileged to join the Board of Directors to further pursue the Foundation’s mission and advance Jewish education.”
Adds Al Levitt, President of the Jim Joseph Foundation: “Jeffrey Solomon offers a wealth of experience and talent that really is a remarkable addition to the Jim Joseph Foundation Board of Directors. We know that David Agger’s deep involvement in vibrant Bay Area Jewish life, and his service to other philanthropic and not-for-profit organizations, enable him to make valuable contributions to the Foundation’s governance.”
Agger and Solomon join the current Foundation Board of Directors comprised of Levitt, Phyllis Cook, Dvora Joseph Davey, Alisa Robbins Doctoroff, Susan Folkman, Ph.D., Joshua Joseph, Dan Safier, and Jerry Somers.
A dedicated Jewish philanthropist, Jim Joseph, z”l, believed that focusing on young people and instilling in them pride in their heritage was the best way to preserve a strong Jewish faith and to ensure a successful future for the Jewish people.
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By investing in promising Jewish education grant initiatives, the Jim Joseph Foundation seeks to foster compelling, effective Jewish learning experiences for young Jews in the United States. Established in 2006, the Jim Joseph Foundation has awarded more than $340 million in grants to engage, educate, and inspire young Jewish minds to discover the joy of living vibrant Jewish lives.