Los Alamos Community Foundation Founding Board Member, Board President and Chair David Izraelevitz thanks donors for their support at the annual LACF donor celebration Tuesday evening in the Atrium at the Duane Smith Auditorium. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
The crowd of donors and guests listen as Board President/Chair David Izraelevitz shares milestones the LACF has accomplished over the last four years. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
LACF Executive Director Rachel Kizielewicz speaks of her joy in working for LACF. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Each year in November, the Los Alamos Community Foundation brings together the 55 families who provided the start-up capital to get the foundation off the ground, known collectively as LACF’s “Founding Members”.
This year, the nonprofit organization celebrated four years of progress during a special gathering Tuesday evening in the atrium of the Duane Smith Auditorium. The event honored the 55 Founding Members and announced the formal kick-off of a partnership that will not only be transformational for the foundation, but have long-lasting impacts on the nonprofits in Los Alamos County.
“Tonight we celebrate the progress that the Los Alamos Community Foundation has made over the last four years due to the support of our donors, volunteers and the nonprofits who have inspired us with their dedication and vision,” Founder and Board President David Izraelevitz said. “The number of funds under management keeps growing, and we look forward to continued success and impact to make a real difference in all areas of need in Los Alamos.”
LACF Executive Director Rachel Kizielewicz served as the emcee for Tuesday’s event.
“I was honored to be hired as the first staff member of the Los Alamos Community Foundation in February 2018,” Kizielewicz said. “After spending time working in the field of philanthropy, one realizes what a rare treat it is to find this kind of opportunity: to lead a brand new organization with strong bones already in place, that has tremendously committed volunteer leadership, and is positioned to deeply impact it’s community by putting philanthropy to work in new ways. It is a ‘philanthropoid’s’ dream!”
Kizielewicz described the past two years of working at LACF as a “joy”.
“As the Board and I work together to keep this little engine that could moving ever-more steadily up its hill (literally!),” she said. “Our Founding Members came together a few years ago to pledge their support to what was little more than an idea, started by the foundation’s founder David Izraelevitz. It is a credit to David and the board members Don Cobb, Ken Milder, Cindy Rooney and Pat Soran, who did the heavy lifting during the earliest days that the foundation is as well positioned as it is to achieve our vision of ‘a thriving community where philanthropy makes a lasting impact.”
Kizielewicz explained that the start-up capital that the Founding Members provided has been crucial in being able to work towards that vision.
“We look forward to continuing to put the Founding Members’ financial support, and faith in us, to good use to ensure a strong, permanent future for the Los Alamos Community Foundation,” she said.
Kizielewicz introduced Enterprise Bank & Trust Private Banking Officer Elizabeth Bailey who spoke about the bank’s Community Endowment Challenge.
EB&T has created the challenge to benefit nonprofit organizations in the community of Los Alamos through the LACF. The bank has pledged a total commitment of up to $150,000 ($50,000 per year for three years) in matching funds.
The Enterprise Endowment Fund will be one of its unrestricted funds, meaning that the Foundation will have full flexibility to address the full spectrum of needs in the Los Alamos community based on the advice of its community advisory board.
Enterprise Bank President Liddie Martinez explained that EB&T selected the Los Alamos Community Foundation as a partner because “it was an excellent opportunity to help the organization build capacity towards service to others”.
“They have a solid foundation of support from local leadership and have proven to be excellent stewards with a deep understanding of the needs and challenges their community faces,” Martinez said. “Their ability to identify and provide non-profits with the training needed to support their individual missions while cultivating an environment that leverages talents and skill sets has been stellar.”
Izraelevitz recognized and thanked LACF Board Vice President Pat Soran, Board Treasurer/Secretary Cindy Rooney and members Frances Chadwick, Don Cobb, Linda Daly and Jenny McCumber.
UNM-Los Alamos Chancellor Dr. Cindy Rooney told the crowd that UNM-LA has received the first annual distribution from the Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF) Community Endowment for UNM-LA.
The Endowment was established with an initial contribution in 2018 from Pat Soran, UNM-LA Advisory Board member, and his wife Ann Hayes, to provide annual support to underwrite the needs of UNM-LA. Since its inception, the fund has grown to over $30,000.
According to the Endowment guidelines, the annual distribution is spent at the discretion of the campus leadership. This year the decision was made to support the new Certificate in Welding program by purchasing a Lincoln Electric Auto Darkening Welding Helmet. This program was launched in Fall 2019 to train workers to enter the workforce after one year of coursework.
“I am extremely thankful to Pat and Ann for establishing the Community Endowment for UNM-LA at the Los Alamos Community Foundation,” Chancellor Rooney said. “Through their initiative, and the generosity of other donors, our campus will be able to have an alternate stream of revenue to support initiatives on campus.”
Established in 2015, the focus of the Los Alamos Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life in our community by inspiring, facilitating and supporting enduring philanthropy, and building the capacity of our local nonprofit organizations. The Los Alamos Community Foundation currently stewards six local endowment funds and total assets of more than $266,500. Donations to UNM-LA may be made by linking to the Community Endowment for UNM-LA listed as an available fund under the Giving tab. More information about UNM-LA is available at losalamos.unm.edu.
Several other community philanthropists spoke at Tuesday’s event including Leon Heller about the Rosalie Heller Lecture Series and Jill Cook who together with her husband Paul established a sports endowment for local athletes.
LACF Mission: Our mission is to improve the quality of life in our community by inspiring, facilitating and supporting enduring philanthropy and building the capacity and success of our nonprofit organizations. LACF Vision: A thriving community where philanthropy makes a lasting positive impact. Learn more at www.losalamoscf.org.
The LAFC Founding Members, listed below, were committed to the mission of the Los Alamos Community Foundation from its inception and were willing to make a long-term financial investment to support the operating and administrative expenses of the organization.
Los Alamos Community Foundation Founding Members:
Lewis and Margaret Agnew, Charles and Linda Anderson, Ken and Karyl Ann Armbruster, Robert and Susan Benjamin, Ed and Amy Birnbaum, Steve and Kathy Boerigter, Richard and Anne Browning, Christine Chandler, Carol A. Clark, Don and Connie* Cobb, Paul and Jill Cook, Judy Crocker, Laura A. Crotzer, Enterprise Bank & Trust Randy and Laura Erickson, David and Anne Fox Andrew M. Fraser J. Arthur Freed Janet and James Hall Ann Hayes and Pat Soran Lori Heimdahl and Robert Gibson, June Gladney, Philip H. Gursky, John C. Hopkins, David and Terry Izraelevitz, Mark and Lynn Jones Cindy Lawton and Jon Bernard, Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation, Dara McKinney and Mike Steinzig, Ann McLaughlin and Bill Wadt, Ken Milder, Lewis and Janice Muir, Evelyn and David* Mullen, Chris and Kristy Ortega, Evelyn Petschek, Morrie and Cheryl Pongratz, Positive Energy Solar, David and Irene Powell, Bill Priedhorsky, Stan and Joan Primak, Rick and Deborah Reiss, R. Anthony and Beth Riker Randy and Teri Roberts, Brian and Cindy Rooney, Katie and Richard Sayre, Susan Seestrom and Christopher Morris, Rabbi Jack and Beverly Shlachter, Becky Sims, Kurt and Jo Beth Steinhaus, Steve* and Barbara Stoddard, Sharon Stover and Steven Girrens, Wendy Swanson and Randall Ryti, Carroll Thomas, Joe and Wendy Tiee, Gary and June Wall, Michael and Kyle Wheeler, Ron and Sally Wilkins and Bradford and Rozelle Wright.
*deceased.
LACF Executive Director Rachel Kizielewicz unveils the Donor Marker to honor the 55 Founding Members of LACF. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Some of the 55 Founding Members of the Los Alamos Community Foundation gather Tuesday evening around the Donor Marker in the Atrium at the Duane Smith Auditorium. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Founding Members are invited to sign the Donor Marker including John Hopkins at left. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Enterprise Bank & Trust Private Banking Officer Elizabeth Bailey speaks about the Bank’s donation to LACF and its community challenge. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Donor and Los Alamos Public Schools Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Donor and LAFC Board Treasurer/Secretary and UNM-LA Chancellor Cindy Rooney. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Donor Leon Heller. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization Executive Director Bernadette Lauritzen. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Donor Jill Cook. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Donor Kelly Myers. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Scene from the annual Founding Members celebration. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Scene from the annual Founding Members celebration. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Scene from the annual Founding Members celebration. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Scene from the annual Founding Members celebration. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Scene from the annual Founding Members celebration. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Donors from left, Debbie Reiss, Rick Reiss, Ron Wilkins and Jill Cook. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Donors LAPS Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus and Kelly Myers. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Donors from left, Deb Huling, Diana Martinez, John Hopkins and Cindy Rooney. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
LACF Founding Members Ed Birnbaum, left, and Don Cobb. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Donor Leon Heller, left, chats with LAFC Board Chair/President David Izraelevitz. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
EB&T Wealth Manager Eric Loucks and CB FOX Co-owner Dave Fox chat with LACF Executive Director Rachel Kizielewicz. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
LACF Bookkeeper Rick Reiss and his wife Debbie Reiss chat with Pig & Fig Cafe Chef and co-owner Laura Crucet who catered the event. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
