Secure Investments for Uncertain Times

Date: September 1, 2009

The spring issue of ADL's Securing the Future features a story about an ADL donor from the Greater Chicago/Midwest Region. In the article he describes his experiences growing up in a small Pennsylvania town and how his childhood influenced his charitable giving decisions as an adult. He also explains the benefits of making a gift to ADL in the midst of the economic downturn.

Growing up in a small town in western Pennsylvania with only a handful of other Jewish families in the community, Dr. Allen K. saw manifestations of anti-Semitism and was constantly exposed to hate and bigotry at a young age. "I was called a 'Christ killer' and kids sang songs about me being Jewish," he says. "I was in fights because of statements made about Jews.

Cross burnings were not an uncommon occurrence." Given his life experiences, Allen understands the need for ADL to be able to continue its work fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry. As a result Allen has made multiple gifts to ADL over the past few years including two Charitable Gift Annuities and two IRA Rollovers.

Choosing ADL as a beneficiary of these gifts was done after much thought and research. According to Allen, he "learned that the amount of Jews giving to Jewish philanthropy is on average less than 10%." He emphasizes that, "there's nothing wrong with giving to non-Jewish philanthropies. But if Jews don't give to Jewish philanthropies, who will?"

The reason Allen chose a Charitable Gift Annuity as a way to give is because "it's security," he says. "It's beneficial that I have some money coming in now that I'm up in years. It's an added advantage that I took money from the stock market to give a gift to ADL. I'm getting an almost 10 percent return while my stocks dropped 50-60 percent."

After learning about the work being done by the Investigative Researcher in the ADL Chicago/Upper Midwest Region to expose hate and bigotry, Allen was intrigued and wanted to do more. He wanted to ensure that this work would forever have the funds needed to continue, so he established an endowment supporting this Investigative Researcher.

"For me it's basic. It starts out as simplistic, brutal hatred, espoused by people who don't hesitate to use strong-arm messages, physical hate and prejudice," Allen says. "We have to confront hatred in the beginning before it escalates, and ADL is the only one I know that is doing that."

When Allen is asked why he feels so strongly about supporting ADL's work he reflects: "ADL is a pro-active organization that I hope will diminish hostility and anti-Semitism, replacing it with respect and understanding. The gifts that I give to them can be used for this purpose. I can't do that but they can."

To learn more about Charitable Gift Annuities, IRA Rollovers or other charitable gift options, please contact the ADL office at 312-782-5080.