Memphis Buisness

“Highland Capital Management, LLC always wants to make sure that we give to institutions who act as careful stewards of the community’s money by consistently making a positive impact,” said Steve Wishnia (pictured above), CEO of Highland Capital, a wealth management company that has been providing investment advisory services to clients since he founded it in 1987. “When we give, it’s to partners who have a mission that we agree with and lines up with our company’s morals.”

In 2021, Highland Capital became an official Corporate Partner of Jewish Community Partners, which manages the Jewish Foundation of Memphis and Memphis Jewish Federation. By investing in efforts to serve the Jewish community in Memphis, as well as those in Israel and around the world, Highland Capital demonstrates a profound commitment to tikkun olam.

“The work that non-profit organizations do is essential for strong, vibrant, well-balanced communities. Non-profits exist to meet needs, and the best of them do their work in ways no other organization or program ever could,” said Steve. “Federation and Foundation have a symbiotic relationship through Jewish Community Partners, working together to improve, enrich, and empower Jewish lives around the world, but most importantly for us our friends and neighbors in Memphis. This city’s amazing Jewish community is important to us, which is why we choose to support JCP as Corporate Partners.”

Dedicated to the practice of investment management, Highland Capital has offices throughout Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama, all run from its Memphis headquarters. Nearing its 40th anniversary, Highland Capital currently has more than $3 billion in assets under management.  

“We’re only able to support this wonderful Jewish community because of donors’ support of what we do,” said Sheri Gadberry, Senior Philanthropic Officer & Executive Vice President of the Jewish Foundation of Memphis. “This is true of the donors who hold funds at the Foundation and of those who make gifts to Federation’s Annual Community Campaign. Corporate Partners like Highland Capital are an important part of this dynamic, and we are grateful for their contributions to our shared goals.”

In addition to the company’s formal Corporate Partnership, Highland Capital team members find other ways to support Federation and Foundation. Many of their staff make family gifts to Federation’s Annual Community Campaign and hold Foundation Donor Advised Funds. Senior Vice President of Private Wealth Scott Notowich also serves on the Memphis Jewish Federation Board of Directors as its Vice Chair of Israel & Overseas.

“What inspires me are the non-profits doing important work that other agencies can’t,” said Scott. “Highland Capital chooses to support Memphis Jewish Federation and the Jewish Foundation of Memphis because of their ability to empower engaged community members to make a difference locally. For example, Federation’s educational programming and senior services are vital community resources. And Foundation Funds support non-profit efforts all over the country, but with a heavy emphasis on the Memphis Jewish community. Our support is a no-brainer.”

Scott Notowich
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In an exciting community event in early October, Ken Steinberg, Chair of Jewish Community Partners and Jenny Herman, Chair of the Memphis Jewish Community Center announced the launch of a multi-million dollar endowment campaign for Jewish Family Service (JFS) and recognized philanthropists and major civic supporters Wendy and Avron Fogelman for their transformational lead gift of $2.5 million.

In recognition of their generous gift, Jewish Family Service has been renamed “Wendy and Avron B. Fogelman Jewish Family Service.”

“Caring for the needs of the most vulnerable and less fortunate members of our Jewish community is one of the highest responsibilities anyone can have,” stated Mr. Fogelman when addressing the crowd of nearly 100 community leaders.  “Through our gift we envision a Jewish Family Service in Memphis that is accessible, well run, and totally responsive to the needs of every member of our Jewish community in order to be assured that every Memphis Jewish family has a place to turn when help is needed.”

Also recognized were long-time community leaders Judy and Larry Moss, who stepped forward with a gift of $1 million toward this effort. 

“This is an exciting time for our community and for Jewish Family Service,” reported Mr. Steinberg. “We are so grateful for the generosity of Avron and Wendy Fogelman and Judy and Larry Moss.  We are off to a great start.”

The community has set a goal to raise $7.5 million for the newly created Jewish Family Service Endowment Fund of the Jewish Foundation of Memphis.  The fund will ensure that JFS is able to meet the needs of Jewish families for generations.    “The Memphis Jewish community has a long history of stepping up with generosity when the community is in need,” said Ms. Herman.  “This is again one of those times.” 

Jewish Family Service has a 150+ year history of caring for Memphis’ Jewish families with services that have ranged from supporting those stricken with yellow fever, providing financial support for immigrants at the turn of the century and post-world war II, resettling Jews from the Former Soviet Union in the 1980’s and building 100’s of families through adoptions.

Today, JFS is funded by Memphis Jewish Federation and operated by the Memphis Jewish Community Center, a change that was made in 2015 in response to service needs identified through Federation’s 2014 Needs Assessment Study.  “After seeing the results of the study, we knew that a change was needed,” said Steve Libby Past President of Jewish Family Service.  “The JCC stepped up and took the reins and created an organization that served more than 450 people in its first year.”  Over the past 5 years Memphis Jewish Federation has provided $1.6 million to support the new service model through a combination of grants from its annual campaign and bridge funding from “above and beyond” contributions from community donors. 

 “Today’s Jewish Family Service looks very different from the JFS of a hundred years ago,” said Judy Bookman current chair of the JFS Advisory Committee.  “We have to be nimble in order to address the changing needs of Jewish families.” She then described the current service offerings of the agency which includes Senior Services, Special Needs Support, Information and Referral and Emergency Assistance. “We have an aging community, so demand for services such as transportation, case management and socialization will continue to grow,” she concluded.

In concluding, Mr. Fogelman stated, “we feel this responsibility deeply and it has inspired us to make this transformational gift to the Jewish Family Service that will benefit and care for the needs of any less fortunate member of our Jewish community in Memphis.”

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Keep an eye on your mailbox for the next JCP printed newsletter, coming soon! Here’s a preview of one of the articles. 

By Laura Linder

 

In a ruined dance studio on the lowest floor of the Houston JCC, I felt the trauma of disaster. Touring flood damage with a group of Federation Executive Directors, I saw the warped barre that so many tiny hands had gripped, and I imagined generations of little girls struggling to master an Arabesque. Few, if any, would become professional dancers. But a JCC isn’t about that.

Jewish agencies and synagogues provide spaces to gather, to live, to grow and learn Jewishly. A community’s Federation provides something else. We provide the fuel, the heart, the passion, the means.

When I use that word, ‘we’, I don’t mean those executive directors gathered in the Houston JCC. I don’t mean my team at Memphis Jewish Federation. The ‘we’ I mean is us- you and me, your parents and their friends, your grandparents, your children. Their children.

When Hurricane Harvey saturated Houston with 40 inches of rain, we responded. In a week of flash-fundraising, Memphis collected $24,000, leading the way in disaster relief fundraising for cities our size.

Mobilizing quickly, Jewish Memphis donated $24,000 to Hurricane Harvey relief through a mini-campaign set up by Memphis Jewish Federation in the days after the disaster.

This wasn’t the first time we led the pack with our response to disaster. When the Syrian Civil War ripped Aleppo apart, we answered. When the earthquake and tsunami washed over Japan, sinking the Fukushima reactor, we answered. When the Al-Aqsa Intifada erupted with Molotov cocktails, suicide bombers, and brutal violence, we answered. The earthquake in Haiti, unrest in Ukraine, September 11, rescuing Jews from oppression and anti-Semitism in the Former Soviet Union- we always answer.

One campaign in particular stands out to me. It was 1991 and I was in my first years of Jewish philanthropy. Ethiopian Jews were in danger, as the nation’s government sat on the verge of collapse, and dangerous political destabilization loomed. Mounted in secrecy, Operation Solomon transported 14,325 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in 36 hours.

I was overwhelmed with pride the moment I saw the dramatic news coverage. Babies being carried off the plane, elderly grandparents dressed in traditional robes- finally after centuries of praying, they were home in Israel. The best feeling was knowing that in my small way, I had been part of the collective effort to bring them home.

In that mildewed space in the heart of Jewish Houston, I savored these memories, trying to imagine every life we’ve touched with our collective willingness to send good outward from our Memphis community. It was impossible- the number is too great. Instead, I thought about the room where I stood. The barre would be replaced. The walls would be repaired. Classes would resume.

These problems would be fixed, because that’s what we do.

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By Sarah VanderWalde

 

The worlds of philanthropy and investing are converging. On Thursday morning April 26, the Jewish Foundation of Memphis, in partnership with BNY Mellon, Village Capital, and the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, hosted a panel discussion on the inequities in the venture capital process and how to fund ideas that create sustainable change.

Jewish Foundation of Memphis Professional Advisory Group (PAG) members Jason Salomon and Steve McDaniel discuss the benefits of joining the PAG to Lindsey Donovan.

Charles Jalenak, President of the Jewish Foundation of Memphis board, welcomed over 70 Memphis community members to the program. The Foundation holds events like this for its Professional Advisory Group (PAG) throughout the year. Members of the PAG include attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, insurance agents and trust officers.

Scott Barron, Associate Wealth Manager at BNY Mellon, introduced the keynote speaker, Ross Baird, CEO of Village of Capital, who traveled to Memphis from Washington DC.

Ross Baird began his presentation by talking about the civil rights movement and how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. advocated for income equality. Baird quoted Dr. King saying “Now, our struggle is for genuine equality, which means economic equality. For what does it profit a man to be able to eat at an integrated lunch counter if he doesn’t have enough money to buy a hamburger?”

In his new book, The Innovation Blind Spot, Baird highlights investor blind spots and new strategies in finding, developing, and investing in entrepreneurs where most people are not looking. Two percent of startup investment goes to women and one percent goes to people of color. 98.7% of venture capital/private equity investors are white men, yet 30% of the top quartile are women and 20% of the top quartile are people of color.  Baird points out that solving real problems is also good business. Unfortunately in today’s business landscape, most investors do not see this. This led to the panel discussion moderated by Leslie Smith, president and CEO of Epicenter.

Leslie Smith is a nationally recognized entrepreneurial and business development leader who moved to Memphis from Detroit to start Epicenter in 2015. Epicenter is the nonprofit hub for the greater Memphis entrepreneurial movement.

(L-R) Leslie Smith, CEO of Epicenter Memphis, Shelby Peranich, Community Manager of Start Co., and Esra Roan, Co-founder/CEO of SOMOVAC Medical Solutions meet prior to the start of the program.

The panel consisted of two female entrepreneurs — Dr. Esra Roan, CEO of SOMAVAC Medical Solutions, and Kayla Graff, CEO of SweetBio. Dr. Roan, an engineer by profession, talked about leaving her tenured professorship at the University of Memphis to jump into the unknown world of starting a new business. Graff worked in corporate America in Minneapolis and Silicon Valley before moving to Memphis. When asked about barriers, both entrepreneurs mentioned funding and fundraising as their biggest hurdle. This circled back to Ross Baird’s presentation where he cited statistics for the percentage of funds invested in female owned startups – a mere two percent.

The investor on the panel was Jan Bouten, Partner at Innova, and former executive of two startups with more than 15 years of experience at seed and early-stage venture capital firms. Bouten prides himself in investing in innovative ideas and products. Bouten cares deeply about Memphis and is excited for the startup growth in Memphis, which can ultimately address local issues.

The panel closed by taking a few questions from the audience. Attendees walked out with a copy of Ross Baird’s book, Innovation Blind Spot, and a few extra copies remain. To request a book or ask any questions about the event, please contact Sarah VanderWalde, Endowment Development Manager, at the Jewish Foundation of Memphis. She can be reached at svanderwalde@jcpmemphis.org or 901-767-7100.

 

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With year-end quickly approaching, now is the time to consider establishing a donor advised fund (DAF) with the Jewish Foundation of Memphis.

A popular charitable giving vehicle, many philanthropists open DAFs before year-end, most often after discussing the tax advantages and benefits with their financial advisors, CPAs, and attorneys.

“When you give, you want your charitable donations to be as effective as possible,” said John May, a tax professional with Dixon Hughes Goodman PLLC and a member of Jewish Foundation of Memphis’s Professional Advisory Group. “Donor Advised Funds are one of the fastest-growing charitable giving vehicles in the United States because when you contribute cash, securities or other assets to a donor-advised fund, you are generally eligible to take an immediate tax deduction. Then, those funds can be invested for tax-free growth and you’re able to make gifts to any IRS-qualified public charity whenever you choose. Donor Advised Funds at Jewish Foundation of Memphis are one of the easiest and most tax-advantageous ways to give to charity.”

A number of members of JFOM’s Professional Advisory Group attended our most recent Annual Meeting in June. With their legal and financial expertise, these advisors help guide fund-holders to the best possible philanthropic outcomes.

When a DAF is established at the Jewish Foundation of Memphis, donors are given the opportunity to name the advisors to the fund as well as name successor advisors.  These individuals can make recommendations to the board of directors of the Jewish Foundation regarding the investment of the assets and the grants that are awarded.  As a further benefit, DAFs can be created or added to with any marketable asset including cash, securities and even illiquid assets such as real estate and collectibles. Making donations using appreciated stock or mutual fund shares is one of the most tax efficient ways of giving because donors not only get a tax deduction for the current value, they also eliminate paying any capital gains tax.

Donor Advised Funds provide a low-cost and simple way to make tax-deductible contributions of assets, empowering donors to recommend grants to charitable organizations from their DAF account when and how they want. DAFs provide many of the advantages of a private foundation, without the complexity, cost, or public disclosure of a private foundation. In addition to their ease of use, there’s also potential for your funds to grow. While you’re deciding which charities to support, your donation may grow based on your investment preferences, making available even more money for charities.

Currently, more than 300 families have established DAFs with the Jewish Foundation and last year more than $8 million was distributed from these funds to Jewish and non-Jewish qualified charities.

“When donors need a charitable deduction, they don’t have to think: ‘What do I want to give to now?’, said Sheri Gadberry, Senior Fund Manager with Jewish Foundation of Memphis. “They can deposit assets, receive a charitable deduction right when they deposit the funds, and make their gifts to organizations that are meaningful to them any time they choose; a month from now, six months from now, a year from now. Donors get the tax benefit the year that they need it, and are able to make meaningful, impactful gifts at anytime.”

“DAFs help the entire Jewish community because the small fee that’s assessed covers our costs and enables JFOM to accomplish its primary mission of raising endowment funds for Jewish Memphis,” said Gadberry.

While there is still time to establish DAF accounts this year, it is beneficial for donors to speak with their advisors to determine the most advantageous timing.

To learn more call JFOM at 901-767-7100 or email Sheri Gadberry for more information. Learn more about Donor Advised Funds on Forbes.com. Here’s an excerpt: “The tax cut underway in Congress is still up in the air and might remain there until the end of the year. But it seems likely to pass, and very likely to include changes in itemized deductions that will make philanthropy more expensive. So maybe you should accelerate your deductions for charitable donations.“

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Update: Both of these positions have been filled! Look for notices and profiles of the new team members to appear on JCPConnect soon. 

Jewish Community Partners is excited to announce two new initiatives that will deepen Memphis Jews’ engagement with and connections to their culture, traditions, and historical homeland.

As JCP evolves to meet community demand for senior services and for increased Jewish content in social service delivery, Memphis Jewish Federation applied for and was awarded a Fedovation impact grant to hire a roving Jewish Activities Coordinator to visit isolated Memphis Jewish seniors.

Secondly, this year marks the 70th anniversary of the birth of the State of Israel. To celebrate this historic milestone and to deepen Israel engagement in our community, MJF also received a Lemsky Endowment Fund grant to hire an Israel@70 Project Coordinator, who will work with local Jewish agencies to coordinate programming celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel.  

“We continually turn to the 2014 Community Needs Assessment Study as our blueprint for setting communal priorities and meeting needs in the community,” said Bluma Zuckerbrot-Finkelstein, JCP’s Director of Community Impact. “The Jewish Activities Coordinator position grew out of the relatively new Senior Services Collaborative and the Israel@70 project complements our community’s new partnership with Shoham and together, they all directly address three of the study’s recommendations: Expanding Jewish-infused support services for our seniors, deepening Israel engagement, and Strengthening collaboration across our congregations and organizations.”

“Since the study is a reflection of community attitudes, we should all take pride in our collective success in meeting these needs of the Memphis Jewish community,” she added.

JCP is seeking a warm, personable, and highly organized individual who is comfortable around older adults to serve as a roving Jewish Activities Coordinator (JAC) to provide Jewish content and engagement opportunities to isolated Memphis Jewish seniors. Visiting senior living facilities and homes of home-bound seniors, the JAC will provide content directly to people in their living space and, drawing on community resources, coordinate others to do so.

In addition to bringing Jewish programming to isolated seniors, the JAC will work with the MJCC to bring isolated Jewish seniors to the MJCC’s senior programming, and other programming relevant to Jewish seniors. Previous experience working with seniors a plus but not required.

The JAC will work closely with JCP’s Senior Services Collaborative (SSC) which includes all agencies serving Memphis Jewish seniors and our congregations. In particular, the JAC will work with Jewish Family Service (JFS) to identify and service home-bound seniors and those in facilities.

The JAC position is a part-time, 10 hours a week, contract position that runs from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. Compensation is $10,000. A car is required and mileage outside the environs of the JCP office will be reimbursed at the standard IRS rate.

The Israel@70 Project Coordinator will manage JCP’s Israel@70 community-wide initiative running from July 2017 to April 2018.

The Project Coordinator will work with all Memphis Jewish organizations- including but not limited to synagogues and schools- to coordinate and market Israel programming under the Israel@70 brand, as well as create additional programs and events deemed necessary to celebrate Israel@70.

Responsibilities will include convening and staffing a diverse committee that will collaborate to help brand, plan, and execute Israel@70 activities and programs, working with JCP staff to integrate Israel@70 into existing programs and initiatives and engaging in outreach to the broader Memphis community, where appropriate, for participation and endorsement of the celebration.

Knowledge of Israel and the Memphis Jewish community is a must. A bachelor’s degree or higher is preferred. The position is a project-based, contract position with Jewish Community Partners with a project completion date of April 19, 2018 – Israel’s Independence Day. Compensation is $15,000.

Both positions will report directly to JCP’s Director of Community Impact and will have the infrastructure/resources of JCP for support.

For more information on both positions, visit our website. For consideration for both positions, send a cover letter and resume to Bluma Zuckerbrot-Finkelstein.

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YOU can help us save more than $13,000 in credit card processing fees!  Pay your Federation gifts via automatic withdrawal.

Last year, we spent more than $13,000 covering the costs of processing payments for MJF gifts made online with credit cards. We’ve set up a new pathway that preserves 100% of donors’ gifts, maximizing the impact of your philanthropy.

In addition to helping us cut down on administrative fees, the benefits are tremendous:

Contact JCP Team Member Abbey Cowens for more information. Send an email to acowens@jcpmemphis.org or give her a call at 901-767-2525

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By Jason D. Salomon (Pictured above, second from left)

The Kay Usdan Saslawsky Institute of Ethical Leadership was named in memory of Kay Usdan Saslawsky, an ethical leader who was instrumental in creating the vision for Jewish Community Partners – the bringing together of  Jewish Foundation of Memphis and Memphis Jewish Federation operations to better serve the long term needs of the Memphis Jewish community.

Kay set the standards for leadership in the Memphis Jewish and broader community. The program is JCP’s investment in our community as an ongoing and long-term tribute to the leadership that Kay modeled.

Jason D. Salomon was a member of the first cohort of fellows to complete the course. 

 

I never had the privilege to know Kay Saslawsky personally, but I did hear her speak at special events and meetings.

I remember thinking the first time I heard her how well she presented herself and how everyone showed her a great deal of respect. The admiration seemed to come from men, women, clergy, leaders in the community and visitors to our city. I thought to myself: “Wow, that’s not an easy thing to do! She must have something important to say.”

I’m sure she did have something important to say, whether it was about the Memphis Jewish Foundation, Jewish Community Center, Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab, or another organization where she volunteered. Quite honestly, I can’t remember what it was she talked about, but what I do remember is how she held herself. I remember thinking how distinguished she was in her leadership. She was quite the asset to our community.

When the opportunity arose to enroll in the Institute I was honored to be nominated and I jumped at the opportunity to glean a piece of Kay’s leadership style. Unfortunately, Kay wouldn’t be there, but her good friend Rachel Shankman would be.  So would Rabbi Feivel. Two people I hold in the highest regard.

I was not disappointed. The classes were engaging. They challenged me to think of my own leadership goals; my strengths and weaknesses; things I could improve upon and leadership skills that required more attention. In particular, I enjoyed the lessons from the religious texts. I’ve studied King David and Moses as religious champions. I never consider their qualities as leaders, both positive and negative. I thank Rachel and Feivel for their excellent instruction.

JCP President and CEO Laura Linda, second from the right, spoke to the inaugural cohort of fellows at a ceremony marking the end of the course.

I also want to show my admiration to my fellow students. Yes, we had our good days and bad ones. I agreed with a lot of what was said in the class, disagreed with some, and probably missed a lot due to a lack of sleep or a crazy day at the office. I really enjoyed our diversity. Yes, we are all Jewish, but we represent all areas of the Memphis Jewish community. Our ages vary from recent college graduates to, well, much older. This diversity offered opinions and aspects on leadership from many different perspectives of life. I think we all gained from it.

However, what struck me most about our group is that everyone signed up and attended the classes. The seats were full every week and, as I soon learned, these are some of the busiest people in the City of Memphis. I’ve been in groups of busy people before, but normally they can turn the crazy off when they get home. Not this group. Not only do they have important professional roles, some have new babies at home, a few are buying houses, some are selling, others have older kids that need babysitting or are out playing sports. Some have other business and volunteer roles that require attention after our Tuesday night classes were over. One was even willing to walk 5 miles one-way to make the class. I know there is no rest for the weary, but we had a pack of worn out.

To my partners and teachings during the process, I thank each of you for your commitment. I look forward to the chance to work with you in the future. You will certainly make our community better for your knowledge gained through the Institute and your leadership efforts.

And to the next batch of leaders, I know you’ll bring much to the table when the next cohort is chosen. And I know that what you gained during your cycle through the course will influence you for years to come.

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Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab is an integral part of the Memphis Jewish community, touching almost every family in some way. For 90 years, they have helped families of all faiths, providing rehabilitation and senior housing care with compassion and expertise. JCP is proud to be a partner in the care they provide their patients, providing vital funding for MJHR’s ambitious and necessary work.

MJHR’s new video series beautifully shows how their programs change lives for the better, and we’re thrilled to be able to share them with our audience. Joel Ashner, MJHR’s Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement, provides some context for each segment.

Enjoying Every Day- 

Rosalee Newman is a resident of Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab. Her husband Marshall visits her every day. After 67 years of marriage, being together as much as possible is important to them.  See how MJHR helps improve the quality of life for both of them as individuals and as a couple.

 

Mr. Goto’s Reunion–

Nathan Goto came to Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab after an injury left him partially paralyzed, unable to walk or eat on his own. After his full recovery and a new lease on life, he reunites with his therapists for the first time in a year.  He says their care and love made him work harder to get better.

 

The Father of the Bride–

John Wheeler suffered a devastating stroke just weeks before his daughter’s wedding. Thanks to his incredible determination and the therapists at Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab he was able to be there to give his daughter away.  The moment was so emotional, there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd.

 

Rob Tucker: Getting Back On His Feet–

When Rob Tucker came to Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab he was in agonizing pain and couldn’t walk…but the caring therapists worked to get him back on his feet and, more importantly, back home to his family.  While at MJHR, he says, “I felt like I was part of a family.”

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By Alyson Chensasky

Professional advisors play a unique and important role in the development of current and planned charitable gifts by helping you make informed decisions about charitable giving. Through our Professional Advisory Group (PAG), the Foundation encourages professional advisors to promote charitable giving with their clients, using the Foundation as a resource when appropriate. 

This week in our Advisor Spotlight, read on to learn about one of our professional advisors, Renee Castle.

 

Member of the Jewish Foundation of Memphis’ Professional Advisory Group

It can be difficult for a Texan, even a transplanted Texan, to call any place but Texas home. But after living and working in Memphis for more than 30 years, Renee Castle considers the Home of the Blues her home.

Originally born in New Jersey, Renee and her family moved to Dallas, Texas when she was young. After high school, she received both her undergraduate and law degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Fresh out of law school, Renee took a position in Memphis with Wildman, Harrold, Allen, Dixon & McDonnell, then one of the largest firms in town. Renee began her career as a litigator, but quickly developed a love for business law and estate planning, and she focused her practice in these areas. Her hard work paid off and she became the second woman partner at this firm. Today, Renee and her brother Michael Pfrommer have a law practice together, Pfrommer & Castle.

When asked about her introduction to the Jewish Foundation of Memphis, Renee says, “I was familiar with the Memphis Jewish community through my law practice and clients with whom I worked. Also, my ex-husband and I adopted two girls and Jewish Family Service handled the home studies. We had the good fortune of working with Penny Glatstein,” said Renee. “I met Laura Linder [President/CEO] several years ago through some of my clients and through professional organizations of which we were both members. I was very impressed with the Jewish Foundation and how it was run. I knew I could refer my charitably minded clients and they would receive the attention they needed. I enjoy partnering with the Foundation because my clients are able to streamline their charitable giving through the use of donor advised funds and other planning vehicles.”

Through her years of law practice, Renee has gained extensive experience in estate planning, probate and trust administration, family business succession planning, all business transactions involving acquisitions and sales of businesses, and commercial real estate with a special emphasis on hotels and the hospitality sector. Renee worked hard to gain the expertise and excellent reputation she has in the legal community in Memphis and the southeast.

In 2011, Renee married her current husband, Larry Crawford, who is an attorney/partner with Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs. She and Larry enjoy doing a variety of activities together, including going to the symphony, ballet and events at the Dixon and working out. Renee considers herself very fortunate to be married to her best friend and to have both her girls living and working in Memphis post-college.

 

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