JEWISH ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION OF LOUISIANA RECEIVES MORE THAN $6 MILLION,
LARGEST GIFT IN FOUNDATION HISTORY
Gift from Dorlene Alaynick estate to benefit four
New Orleans-area nonprofit organizations
The Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana (JEF) announced at its annual event on April 24, 2022, that it recently received the largest donation in its 55-year history—a legacy gift worth more than $6 million from the late Dorlene Lauferski Alaynick. Following her wishes, one-time grants will be distributed to 33 nonprofit organizations across the country. The remainder of Alaynick’s gift will be separated into four designated funds for long-term growth and philanthropy for the benefit of JEF, Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, Hadassah New Orleans Chapter, and the Louisiana SPCA.
Prior to her death in January 2021, Alaynick worked with Sandy Levy, JEF’s previous Executive Director, and Carole Neff, a partner with Sessions, Fishman and Nathan, to create her lasting legacy. Through her extraordinary planned gift, she will support and endow the organizations she cherished long after her lifetime.
“We are pleased to carry on Dorlene’s history of giving to the local, New Orleans community,” said JEF Executive Director Bobby Garon. “These designated funds provide us the opportunity to honor her thoughtful philanthropic planning and foresight to leave generous funds for tomorrow’s needs.”
Alaynick moved to New Orleans in the early 1960's, utilizing her enterprising business acumen and creativity to become the cosmetics buyer for the Maison Blanche department stores. Throughout her life, she was an active and devoted member of Temple Sinai; past president of the Hadassah New Orleans Chapter; part of the New Orleans Garden Society; a volunteer at East Jefferson Hospital; and life-long supporter of many animal rights organizations.
Alaynick was passionate about animals, her friends, and supporting the New Orleans Jewish community. She was preceded in death by her husband, Moise Alaynick, and her two sisters, Dorothy and Ruth.
“Anyone who was acquainted with Dorlene knew her to be kind and generous, even though she was never one to seek recognition for her actions,” said Levy. “The magnitude of her gift was quite unexpected coming from such a humble woman, but these transformative gifts will truly create a legacy that will be recognized for years to come.”
Neff, Alaynick’s estate planning attorney, added, “Although Dorlene made many changes to her estate plan over a number of years, one aspect never changed—her desire that the bulk of her estate world be left to her beloved charities.”
JEF will invest and manage the four designated funds so they will grow over time, while also distributing the income annually to each of the four organizations to support their charitable work. After 20 years, the principal and any accumulated income of each fund will be distributed outright to each organization.
“Our mission is to ensure a secure future and an enduring legacy by serving as an essential resource for Jewish and non-Jewish philanthropy,” added Garon. “Dorlene’s estate gift is an example of the power of planned giving, advancing JEF’s capacity to meet the community’s most immediate needs and making the world a better place for future generations.”
For more information about JEF, please visit jefno.org.
About the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana:
Founded in 1967 to serve as a repository of funds to support a strong Jewish community in New Orleans, JEF has grown into a statewide organization with more than $100 million in assets under management for Jewish and secular fundholders. Serving as a repository of funds for a rainy-day reserve, JEF exists to care for the needs of the Jewish community for the long term, to address both the Jewish and non-Jewish philanthropic wishes of our donors, and to put a safety net under our Jewish institutions.
