In this Issue:

• Meet Jacob.

• Lewis Summer Intern Program winds down

• UIUC Hillel's Joel Schwitzer Named to Forty Under Forty by Central Illinois Business Magazine

• Benefit 2009

• Celebrate the launch of the Jewish Alumni Network of the University of Illinois

• Help Ensure the Future of the Hillels of Illinois

Join other supporters of Jewish campus life in The Hillels of Illinois Facebook group.

Hometown: Oak Park, IL
School: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Major: Political Science
Graduation date: 2011
Hillel involvement: The Hillels of Illinois Lewis Summer Intern Program participant

“Whether it’s being a social worker or not, I want to do something now where I can finish a day and say I helped someone.”

Read more about Jacob »

After another successful summer of social service and learning, The Hillels of Illinois Lewis Summer Intern Program (LSIP) ends this week. This year's program gave 29 students--including two from Ukraine and two from Israel--the opportunity to work in various fields in agencies and departments of Jewish Federation throughout the Chicago area and also learn together in Jewish and social service-related seminars. The interns also participated in a three-day orientation at the outset of their LSIP summer, touring Federation agencies and strengthening their group through a fun team-building course. Later, they set out on a weekend retreat at the Perlstein Resort & Conference Center where they worked together to create an inclusive Shabbat experience in a beautiful setting.

Read more about LSIP »

Joel Schwitzer, the Executive Director of the Hillel Foundation at the University of Illinois has been recognized for his outstanding commitment and measurable successes as a community leader in Illinois. Central Illinois Business Magazine has included Joel in its annual Forty Under 40 Awards to honor his dedication to non-profit causes. In his sixth year in Champaign-Urbana, Joel manages a million dollar budget in programming and outreach efforts for Jewish Illini. Together with a team of dedicated volunteers and professionals, Joel worked to secure the funding and oversee the building of the Margie K. and Louis N. Cohen Center for Jewish Life, a state-of-the-art facility to better serve the varied needs of Jewish students on campus. Reaching beyond Hillel, Joel has volunteered with and fostered extensive relationships with other community and university leaders, including the Champaign-Urbana Diversity Network, Religious Workers Association, among others. Joel shares his commitment to community affairs with his wife Beri and their daughters Zoe and Mira.

The Hillels of Illinois Benefit 2009, co-chaired by Dana Gordon and Frances H. Krasnow (pictured above) was a fun evening of great food and drink, mingling with Hillel supporters and students, a silent auction, hilarious entertainment from ComedySportz, and a decadent dessert reception featuring hand-made chocolates. Thanks to all our guests for making the evening such a success, and thanks to all our supporters for ensuring that Jewish student life continues to thrive throughout Illinois.

SlavZinger Photography donated their services for the evening in support of The Hillels of Illinois. Click here to view all the great photos from the event and enter in "hillel benefit 2009".

Special thanks to all of those businesses, organizations and individuals who donated goods or services for the Silent Auction: Wendy & Scott Abrams; Campus Colors of Highland Park; Jill & Jeff Cherner; the Cohen Center for Jewish Life at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign; Elizabeth & Jerry Ettinger; the Fiedler Hillel at Northwestern University - Jewish Theater Ensemble; Dana & Lee Gordon; Ted Kahan of Alagem Capital Group – Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort; Dr. Colman R. Kraff of the Kraff Eye Institute; Fran Krasnow & Seth Pines; the Levine Hillel Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago; Mona Michelsen, MS, Certified Message Therapist and Certified Yoga Instructor; Larry Plawsky of Beam Global Spirits & Wine; Lynn Reisner; Fred Rosenwasser of New York Jewelers; Lynda Ross of Rent-A-Chef, Inc.; Judy & Bill Siskel; Vadim Molochinkov and Slav Zinger of SlavZinger Photography; and Barry Weiner.

Announcing the Jewish Alumni Network, an official affiliate partner of the U of I Alumni Association. Help celebrate its establishment with other Jewish Illini at our kick-off. This event is for all alumni and friends of the University of Illinois.

Thursday August 6, 2009
Vertigo (the Dana Hotel), 660 N. State Street, Chicago
Event begins at 6pm

Door prizes include a pair of tickets to the Homecoming Game against Michigan State.

Cost is $5 in advance or $10 at the door. Register now!
Contact jewishalumninetwork@illinoisalumni.orgfor more information.

Endowment Giving often begins with a Declaration of Intent. This is a moral commitment, made in writing, to provide an endowment gift to benefit the Hillels of Illinois either in one's estate plan or through a deferred lifetime gift. A donor can designate if the gift is unrestricted or to benefit a particular Hillel or program. While this commitment is not legally binding, those who sign it realize that the community is relying on their promise. Donors are encouraged to contact their qualified estate planners to discuss the best method of fulfilling this commitment. Jewish Federation staff is also available to discuss with the donor and his/her tax advisors the various vehicles available to achieve particular estate planning objectives.

Signing a quantified Declaration of Intent allows for lifetime recognition of the donor and his/her commitment. Donors are thereafter recognized as donors to the Jewish Federation's Centennial Campaign; and those who provide gifts of $100,000 or more will be permanently inscribed on the The Centenial Wall at the Jewish Federation.

For further information, please contact Deborah Samuels, Director, Agency Endowment Program, at 312-357-4853 or legacy@juf.org.