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DONORS
WHO GIVE: MARY ANN AND GEORGY SCHER
They started out as high school sweethearts in Fresh Meadows, Queens, New
York. Then, as well as throughout college, having fun was important. It still
is. But they have shared much more as a couple. And along the way Mary Ann and
George Scher discovered the significance of giving and sharing. It is in this
context that they speak about endowment.
"What we leave behind gives meaning to our lives; it's our way of helping
others in perpetuity. Members who can contribute endowment gifts make it possible
for those who are less financially able to fully participate, have their children
attend religious school and receive all the opportunities and services that go
with temple life."
The Schers' original entrance into the world of endowment was through the National
Women's Board when members were encouraged to play a leadership role by endowing
their Lion of Judah contribution in perpetuity. Mary Ann was the second woman
in San Diego to do this.
Later, Mary Ann and George were devastated by the death of her sister. "She
was a woman with means, but she made no provision in her will to benefit the
organizations that meant something to her. That rang a bell, and we immediately
understood that we needed to take care of things sooner rather than later."
"What concerns us now is the aging of the wonderful generation ahead of
us that is so tied to Jewish life and our community. If we don't encourage them – our
older congregants – to consider leaving a Jewish legacy, their potential
gifts could be lost to taxes."
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Once George and Mary Ann made their decision to benefit Congregation Beth Israel
and United Jewish Federation, their meeting with the attorney was easy.
"One, two, three," as they say,
"and it was done." Their contribution is unrestricted so that CBI can use
the money where it is most needed.
George: "Our lives have been blessed. We have celebrated life cycle events
at the synagogue. It is our family's Jewish home. Our children, Leslie and Bret
were consecrated, became Bat and Bar Mitzvah, confirmed and our daughter was
married there. Our children are now members of the congregation and our grandson
Joshua is in the preschool. This makes us a three generation CBI family!"
Mary Ann: "CBI has brought extraordinary meaning to my life. I grew up here
'Jewishly' speaking. This institution has nurtured me and taught me how to be
a good Jew, including the essence of tzedakah. We are thankful for our blessings
and grateful for the opportunity to share. People come and go, generations pass
but we are leaving our gift for the future of this congregation, helping make
sure it is here for our children, our grandchildren and others."
George enjoys Mary Ann's involvement and is proud of the leadership role she
has played, helping to develop Beth Israel and leading the Congregation in especially
difficult times. As a couple, George and Mary Ann have worked on fundraisers,
including a Beth El-Beth Israel joint event they co-chaired with Elaine and Murray
Galinson, which sold out Symphony Hall for a magnificent performance by Itzhak
Perlman.
If you can think of a volunteer activity, up to and including the congregational
presidency, Mary Ann has done it. Mary Ann was a key leader in our capital campaign
that resulted in our building our campus facility and, in 2004, received the
Carl Esenoff award for extraordinary community service. Through their shared
involvement they have met interesting people and made some of their best friends
along the way.
Having joined Beth Israel 29 years ago, Mary Ann recalls that George sent her
out to go "temple shopping."
"We wanted a good religious school for our children and I felt that CBI's
was the best in town. Also, with such a large congregation, I thought I could
get lost in the crowd and wouldn't have to get too involved." Lucky for
all of us, this didn't turn out to be true.
In a speech Mary Ann gave a couple of years ago, she excerpted from a statement
she had read about life's purposes "… to be useful and honorable, to
be compassionate, to matter … to have made a difference that you have lived
at all."
In leaving a legacy gift, Mary Ann and George are indeed fulfilling life's purpose.
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