Shirley and Barnett C. Helzberg, Jr. were honored for their decades of philanthropy and community impact at Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City’s Major Benefactor and Lion of Judah luncheon on May 10.
“This was a decision that was not comfortable for either of us, to be recognized for what we believe is so important,” Shirley Helzberg said in her remarks. “...With that said, we are humbled to be recognized and to share with all of you in this room, to celebrate the joy that really has been received by the tremendous success of this most generous community.”
Barnett Helzberg has been a donor to the Jewish Federation since 1954, and Shirley Helzberg has been a donor since 1964.
In addition to their support of Federation’s annual campaigns, the Helzbergs also make an annual challenge gift to match any new or increased gift to the annual campaign. As a tribute to the Helzbergs, Federation reached out to a group of their friends and asked them to match the Helzbergs’ match. The Helzbergs were touched when they heard this and raised their matching gift.
“I was filled to tears at this meeting,” Shirley Helzberg said.
Along with the Jewish community, Kansas City as a whole has benefitted from the generosity of the Helzbergs through projects such as the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program and Shirley Helzberg’s work with the Kansas City Symphony and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Last year, the Helzbergs cut the ribbon on the new Sobela Aquarium at the Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium, a project that they proposed and funded.
“You know their impact goes far beyond the Jewish Federation and the Jewish community,” said Frank Friedman, one of the luncheon’s co-hosts and a longtime friend of the Helzbergs. “What we’re really honoring today is who they are, the generosity that they show, and the impact that they have on the city and will continue to have on the city.”