Surely there is something symbolic about the fact that I am writing my final message as The Good People Fund’s Executive Director in the midst of our 18th year celebration! What a ride it has been. I feel deeply grateful to have had the zechut, the honor, to act as your Shlicha Mitzvah — your messenger of acts of kindness. And I am tremendously excited to pass the baton to Julie Fisher, who will assume the role of Executive Director on July 1st. I have every confidence that Julie will carry out our mission with love, clarity, and deep compassion. In the 2+ years that she has been by my side, she has already created many new programs to benefit our grantees as well as strengthen our internal structures. I know that in Julie’s hands, The Good People fund will continue to grow, thrive, and catalyze more good.

When I think  back to 2008, the year this adventure began, I remain grateful to The Good People Fund’s founding board for sharing my vision and bringing it to fruition by adding their talents and generosity. I am also indebted to our current board, whose foresight and commitment has made it possible for the work to continue. Together, we have all built something truly unique in the Jewish philanthropic world. We have invested in so many extraordinary people in exciting and impactful ways, almost too numerous to mention … helping feed those who are hungry, welcoming the stranger to a new country, empowering women too often left behind, or combating hatred and bigotry in Israel and in the US.

Thanks to your generosity, we have sparked hope and goodness in a world that is often consumed by despair. This work has given me the oxygen to breathe each day, and is an antidote to the depletion many of us are feeling at this moment.

No organization can succeed without a staff that is also deeply committed to its mission and while the The Good People Fund’s staff is small, it is also mighty — and more than a little fun! From Jordan Namerow and Randi Cairns (the first former grantee who fulfilled a lifelong dream to work for The Good People Fund), to Sandy Ungar, Sondra Kasdon and though no longer here, Glenn Rosenkrantz, z”l, our former Communications Consultant who died tragically last December — thank you for the many talents you have brought to our work. And, finally, to Andrea Good our Director of Operations whose title barely describes her many talents and her deep commitment — thank you for embracing the true meaning of this special work.

For me, the new titles of Executive Director Emerita and Master Mentor mean that I will continue to be part of the family that I helped create, and do one of the things that I most enjoy — mentoring our grantees as they build their programs.

The greatest joy of my life, aside from my beautiful family, has been the chance to meet both our inspiring grantees and the generous people who believe in a modest experiment and helped transform it into a meaningful force in Jewish philanthropy today.

I am deeply grateful to all of you for joining me on this remarkable journey. Together, we have touched and changed countless lives — and we have much more work to do together! I will always treasure the role each of you plays in The Good People fund, and look forward to championing the next chapter.

Naomi