HARTFORD—Gayle and Steve Temkin of West Hartford have announced that they will designate an after-lifetime gift of $1 million to Greater Hartford’s Jewish community, officially launching the area’s “Life & Legacy” program, a four-year partnership with the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford  and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. The program is designed to promote after-lifetime giving to build endowments that will help provide financial stability to 14 local Jewish organizations.

“We’ve chosen this community to plant our family’s roots – so that our children, and our children’s children, and everyone who comes after will have not only a strong community, but one that will always remember those who came before them,” explained Gayle, whose commitment to Jewish life dates back to her participation as a girl in Unites Synagogue Youth, and her professional career with State of Israel Bonds in Rockland County and, later, the UJA Federation of New York in Westchester.

Today, the Temkins and their two teenage daughters, Alyssa and Lily, participate in Jewish life at the Mandell JCC, Solomon Schechter Day School, Beth El Temple, JTConnect, Friendship Circle, and other Jewish organizeations.

The Temkin daughters play a major role in their parents decision to participate in the Life & Legacy program. 

“We want Alyssa and Lily to understand the importance of paying it forward, and want to help our community organizations remain vital and vibrant. A legacy gift will let us make a difference – far beyond the measure of one lifetime – and offer a joyous Jewish life for all,” Steve said.

Since the Temkins’ commitment, 63 after-lifetime commitments from 50 Legacy donors have been made to Greater Hartford’s LIFE & LEGACY program in just two months, including members of Congregation Kol Haverim in Glastonbury, Temple Beth Hillel in South Windsor, Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation in Simsbury, and Hebrew Senior Care, Congregation Beth Israel and the Mandell Jewish Community Center in West Hartford.

Anyone can help provide long-term financial stability for the Jewish organization of their choice by leaving an after-lifetime gift in their will, trust, retirement account or life insurance policy. Once funded, these Legacy gifts are placed in an individual or collective endowment fund at the Jewish Community Foundation, which invests and manages them to yield a consistent source of income for Jewish organizations for generations to come.For more information, contact Elana MacGilpin at emacgilpin@jcfhartford.org.