 Jewish Community 30 Wallingford Road |
 Giving Opportunities
Meet A Donor: Jeffrey Bilezikian from the Bilezikian Family Foundation
The Bilezikian family has a long tradition of giving back to the community. For over 35 years, they developed their business, The Christmas Tree Shops, beginning with their flagship store on Cape Cod. They demonstrated their commitment to Yarmouth and the surrounding area by supporting local organizations. As their business grew, so did their interest in creating a more formalized way to make charitable donations throughout Massachusetts. They established the Bilezikian Family Foundation. In the past few years, the family has sold the business and has turned its attention to developing a thoughtful approach to philanthropy. As trustees of the Foundation, Charles and Doreen Bilezikian, and their sons Greg and Jeffrey, frequently engage in conversations that go well beyond most dinner table discussion. “We talk about our values and ethics, thinking carefully about how to utilize our funds,” says Jeffrey. “We try to be strategic, but we also want to be able to respond spontaneously when we find a program or organization that appeals to us.” JCHE is fortunate to be one of those organizations! Jeffrey’s introduction to JCHE began with an invitation from JCHE’s Treasurer, Bob Helman. Intrigued by what he saw at the Brighton site, Jeffrey went to Golda Meir House in Newton. He was captivated by JCHE’s Generations Together programs. “I like the concept of intergenerational learning,” explains Jeffrey. “We don’t really know where it will all land, but we need to feed the fire. If we snuff out these interesting programs, we’ll never know the extent of their value.” According to Jeffrey, JCHE offers the right environment for the magic of intergenerational activities. “These programs can only be successful in a solid organization. Because JCHE is a quality agency, those who live there feel good about themselves. The sense of community leads to an elevated sense of pride and dignity that permeates throughout the buildings.” He describes the Generations Together programs as real. “They aren’t glossy or contrived. I like the fact that they aren’t designed to hit major home runs. They provide small victories that change lives.” The Bilezikians are particularly enthused about JCHE’s programs where residents mentor children from underserved neighborhoods. “This approach is an effective alternative to programs that match kids with successful, young professionals. Here, the children develop relationships with stable, seasoned individuals who have so much wisdom to share.” Contributing to JCHE has been a satisfying experience for Jeffrey Bilezikian and his family. “We know that our money is well spent because these are programs that work. We were lucky to discover that they are in our own backyard!” |
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