Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) staff and fundholders gathered for an evening hosted by the Krigel family at the home of Lara and Ben Pabst.
The Oct. 29 event, part of JCF’s Connecting Our Giving Community series, centered around the theme of family philanthropy and showcased the Krigels’ model of intergenerational giving.
Susan and Scott Krigel welcomed guests and introduced their children, Steven Krigel, Lara Pabst and Ari Krigel (joining in spirit from Chicago), along with their spouses Ilana Silverstein, Ben Pabst and Beth Krigel. Susan Krigel shared how she and Scott structured their JCF donor advised fund to reflect two core goals: contributing to tikkun olam (repairing the world) and strengthening family bonds across generations.
“Our donor advised fund allows us to meld our desire to make a difference with our hope to stay connected as a family,” she said. “We know we can’t solve every problem, but we can empower our children to continue the work.”
Scott Krigel elaborated on the mechanics of the fund which provides an annual allocation for their adult children to distribute collaboratively. With guidance from Beatrice Fine, JCF’s director of grantmaking and impact, the siblings identify causes that resonate with their values, both locally and in Ari Krigel’s Chicago community.
This year, the Krigels are expanding their philanthropic circle to include the third generation. Their grandchildren, ages 6 to 16, will receive their own allocation to distribute with the intent of fostering a sense of agency and compassion from a young age.
Throughout the evening, the Krigel family emphasized how instrumental JCF, and Fine in particular, has been in helping them navigate the giving process, from identifying high-impact nonprofits to facilitating meaningful conversations.
For more information about how JCF can help engage families in philanthropy, those interested can contact Suzanne Galblum Dicken at or (913) 327-8286.
