Jewish Federation next-generation leader profi

“I think the funders got what they were looking for out of me,” said Jeremy Applebaum, in what seems like an understatement about his trip to Israel nearly 10 years ago as part of Birthright 2000. “It completely changed my Jewish way of living, I think for the rest of my life.”

Upon returning from Israel, Jeremy got more involved in Jewish life at KU, where he was an undergraduate. After completing his MBA there in 2003, he moved back to Kansas City to join his family’s business in residential real estate and construction and development.

Applebaum looked for ways to meet Jewish people and make new friends and was asked to join a group of young adults the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City was convening to revamp programming for that age group.

Not everything for everyone
Applebaum has served as co-chair of the Federation-sponsored Christmas Eve Bagel Bash for the past four years, studies with the Kollel and was recently accepted as a Helzberg Leadership Fellow. He’s also the marketing co-chair of the Federation’s Business and Professional (B&P) Series. B&P is an initiative of the Federation whose goal is to connect Jewish professionals, ages 25 to 45, to each other and the community around them. Flyers for B&P programs – like the one scheduled for March 4 featuring a panel of mayors including Mark Funkhouser, Peggy Dunn and Carl Gerlach — always remind participants to “bring plenty of business cards!”

“Federation realized that not everything is for everyone,” says Applebaum. “They have to get people interested in different ways, and in a market like Kansas City it’s important to keep young Jewish adults involved in the business community. B&P provides a place for that.”

Breaking it open
As committed as Applebaum was after Birthright 2000 and as excited as he is about subsequent Federation-related activities, he says it was his trip to the Ukraine in October 2008 that “broke everything open” for him.

“I had no idea there were 250,000 Jews still in the Ukraine alone, many living in horrible conditions where something as simple as a warm home visit could elicit tears of joy.”

Applebaum returned inspired to educate people about the needs of Jewish people around the world. He gave presentations about the Ukraine trip at retirement homes. In May, he hosted an educational gathering for more than 50 young adults at his home with guest speakers from the former Joint Distribution Committee director in Moscow and the UJC director of next generation programming in New York. Now, with the Federation’s support, he’s planning and fundraising for a young adult service trip to Romania and Bulgaria, Kansas City’s sister communities in Eastern Europe, later this year.

A family affair
Applebaum’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. Last July, he was one of 40 Americans whose applications were accepted to attend the Return on Investment Conference for young Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, sponsored by the Shusterman Foundation. “It was the most amazing conference I’ve ever been to — it was almost like learning how to run a nonprofit,” he says.

Applebaum comes by his desire to give naturally. In 2006, the Applebaum family built a Habitat for Humanity home in Kansas City, Kan., completing the project in a record-setting five days.

“Growing up we were always donating coats, hats, gloves,” he says. “My parents always taught us that we’ve been given something special — we’ve been lucky — and we need to give back, Jewishly and non-Jewishly.”

Jeremy Applebaum
• Born in Overland Park, Kan., 1978
• Blue Valley Northwest High School, 1997
• MBA University of Kansas, 2003
• Owner/Operator, American Dream Homes and Neighborhoods
• Resides in Overland Park, Kan.
• Just finished reading “What is the What,” by Dave Eggers
• Enjoyed the movie “Everything’s Illuminated”
• Favorite Jewish Food: Anything my mom cooks.
• Trips to Israel: 3

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