Jun 13, 2023

Thanking Steve Foldes for His Philanthropic Leadership

“My wife, Nadine, and I have so much to be thankful for, and we feel a responsibility to give back to our community. And, it begins with Jews helping Jews,” said Steve Foldes, immediate Past Chair of The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. As the child and grandchild of Holocaust Survivors, Steve has a family history that has influenced both his Jewish identity and charitable giving.

His and Nadine’s community involvement began nearly 25 years ago, in the South Dade Jewish community, through the Alper JCC Miami and Temple Beth Am. Through a community mission to Israel, the Mega Mission II, they became involved with the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, with Steve first serving as Chair of The Foundation’s Investment Committee. In that role, he co-founded the Jewish Federations of North America Investment Institute, which brings together leadership from Jewish Federations all over North America to learn from experts about a variety of cutting-edge investment topics. Steve’s involvement deepened when he made Nadine a Forever Lion in honor of her birthday in 2013. The following year, they established the Foldes Family Philanthropic Foundation as a meaningful way to involve their children, Tracy, Adam and Craig and their families, in charitable giving.

In 2017, Steve became Chair of the Foundation. Under his leadership, the Foundation set a very ambitious goal to close 90 new legacy commitments at $100,000 or more as part of a three-year plan to dramatically increase investment in The Foundation by Pacesetters — Federation donors who pledge at least $10,000 annually to the Annual Greater Miami Jewish Federation/UJA Campaign. Thanks to Steve’s leadership and unwavering commitment, that goal has been surpassed with 93 legacy commitments totaling more than $28 million in current and future estimated gifts. “It’s incredible that we were able to achieve such a lofty goal, especially during COVID-19, when we weren’t able to engage with donors face-to-face,” said Sidney Pertnoy, The Foundation’s current Board Chair. “We are so indebted to Steve’s gentle persistence to ensure that Miami’s Jewish community remains strong and vibrant far into the future.”

To read more about Steve’s Jewish journey in the Book of Life, please click here.