The board of directors of the Jewish Heritage Foundation of Greater Kansas City has announced that Rita Cortes will become the new executive director of the organization. Cortes will be the third executive director in JHF history as she succeeds Ellen Kort who is retiring after more than a decade of leadership.
According to Frank Sterneck, JHF president, “Rita’s business and leadership skills, along with her commitment to the ideals and values upon which JHF is built, will serve our grant recipients and the greater Kansas City community well.”
Following an extensive search process, Cortes was recommended to the JHF board by a search committee co-chaired by Dr. Daniel Scharf, a JHF past president, and Sharon Loftspring, a current board member.
“We were fortunate to have many outstanding candidates express interest in the position,” said Loftspring. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}“We believe that Rita best represents the objectives we established for our next executive director. We are very pleased that JHF and the community will have the benefit of her professional and personal skills.”
“It is an honor to be selected to lead the Jewish Heritage Foundation and carry on the tradition of dedication to the community and leadership established by the board, Steve Israelite (JHF’s first executive director) and Ellen Kort,” said Cortes. “Ellen and Steve’s leadership set a high standard and I look forward to building on that foundation in my new role.”
Cortes is an attorney and shareholder with Seigfreid Bingham, P.C. Prior to joining Seigfreid Bingham, she served as president of Hoffman Cortes Contracting Company. Her community involvement includes board service and leadership roles with diverse organizations such as the Menorah Legacy Foundation, Truman Medical Centers, Kansas City CARE Clinic (formerly the Kansas City Free Health Clinic), Congregation Beth Shalom, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, Kansas City Human Rights Commission and the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri. In addition, Cortes serves as a mentor in the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program and tutors B’nai Mitzvah students at Congregation Beth Shalom.
The Jewish Heritage Foundation was formed as a result of the sale of Menorah Medical Center to Health Midwest in 1993. Its mission is to enhance health and human services within the Greater Kansas City community, with a priority to serve the Kansas City Jewish community.{/mprestriction}
