Feb 20, 2025

Joan Kasner: Teaching by Example

Teaching daily at the same Miami school for 60 years, 89-year-old Joan Kasner sets an example for her commitment to helping others, which is also evident in her longtime philanthropic support of Federation and our Jewish community. An enthusiastic and generous Federation donor for more than four decades, Kasner took her philanthropy to the next level in 2002 when she and her husband, David, z”l, endowed their annual Federation donation, which made her a Forever Lion and both of them Forever Pacesetters. Their fund has grown exponentially over time and will support our Jewish community into the future, further touching countless lives. Kasner’s passion for making a difference has also impacted synagogues and several organizations in our Jewish community. At the school where she teaches, she is an inspiring presence to everyone around her, whether she is writing stories for children with reading difficulties, creating instructional materials for teachers or educating school volunteers. Click here to read Joan Kasner’s full story in the Book of Life.