The Jewish Federation of Ottawa is excited to launch Genesis, a new donor recognition society that brings families together around shared values of tzedakah, philanthropy and Jewish communal responsibility.

Created for Ben Gurion Society (BGS) alumni with children under 18, Genesis recognizes families who contribute $1,000 or more annually to the Annual Community Campaign. Through meaningful experiences and opportunities to connect, Genesis helps parents pass on the importance of giving back and inspires the next generation of Jewish community leaders.

“This is a chance to establish a family giving culture,” explains Lindsay Newman, Federation’s Manager of Donor Relations and Strategic Partnerships. “Genesis will provide families opportunities to participate in hands-on activities together and adolescents to lead with their families.”

Genesis offers families opportunities to connect with one another and with Federation throughout the year. Newman explains that regular activities and communications help equip parents with the tools to discuss Jewish values, including tzedakah and community responsibility, with their children.

“We’re going to introduce children to charitable decision-making and impact through events … to highlight our community agencies and the breadth of needs we address through the Campaign,” explains Newman. “We want to create an understanding of the role each family plays in advancing the culture of our organization and in our community fabric."

The idea for Genesis grew from recognizing that many young adult donors continue supporting Federation long after their BGS years, often as they begin raising families of their own.

“We realized that there was something missing for the children of those families to understand their parents’ giving habits and to create an opportunity to discuss that,” Newman says. “We’ve also heard from our participants in the Lion of Judah program, for example, that Lions are getting younger and younger.”

Genesis also introduces families to the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation and opportunities to establish family funds that support the community for generations to come. For high school students, the program offers opportunities to earn volunteer hours through service projects within the Jewish community.

One planned activity builds on the Hanukkah “Fifth Night of Giving” tradition, encouraging families to give back rather than exchange presents. Previous Hanukkah activities have brought children together to prepare gift and blessing bags for people supported by Jewish Family Services and other community organizations.

Ultimately, Genesis is about more than recognizing generous donors. It is about passing the values behind their giving on to the next generation. By bringing families together to learn, volunteer and explore philanthropy, Genesis aims to build a lasting culture of generosity and strengthen the connections that sustain Ottawa's Jewish community.

To learn more about Genesis, email Lindsay Newman at [email protected].