[by Shiela Steinman Wallace, Editor]
While the 2014 Federation Annual Campaign won’t officially get underway until the fall, the first steps to ensure a successful fundraising effort are being taken now. Jewish Community of Louisville Board Chair and Immediate Past Campaign Chair Karen Abrams and Jewish Federation of Louisville Vice President and Chief Development Officer Stew Bromberg announced that Doug Gordon will chair the 2014 Federation Campaign.
A third generation Louisvillian, Gordon said, “my family has always been involved” in the Jewish community and has consistently supported the Campaign. He feels great passion for both and wants to be sure other members of the community really understand what funds raised by the Campaign do in our community.
“I remember great Campaign stories from my grandfather,” Gordon recalled, “about how he and his peers got together and raised money. Those who participated believed in why they were giving money and stepped up and did it.
“We need to get that feeling back on the table for this year’s Campaign,” he continued. “I’m going to challenge my peers – especially those I consider among the lost tribes – to open their minds to our community’s needs today and to let go of any long-held residual feelings that are long overdue for burial.”
He challenged people to look at the work the agencies are doing today, to recognize what our community is today and to join the effort to move it forward.
“We all need to feel good about donating to worthwhile agencies,” he said, “and to realize that any excuse we use not to give only hurts those agencies and those they serve.”
Gordon is already working with Bromberg on the Campaign plan. He has lots of ideas and is eager to do things effectively and efficiently. He is going to push hard to complete the Campaign quickly possibly by the end of the year.
Gordon’s primary involvement has been with the JCC – indeed, he seems to have been born into it. His grandfather, mother and aunt all served as presidents of the organization, his father has taken an active role, and he and his siblings learned leadership and social skills growing up at the Center.
He has been a member of the Jewish Community of Louisville Board and its Executive Committee. He served as co-chair of the Republic Bank Golf Challenge that was held Monday and is a major fundraiser for the JCC and Jewish Family & Career Services.
Gordon co-chaired the Yachad Kadima effort that guided the merger between the Jewish Community Federation and the Center to form the Jewish Community of Louisville (JCL) and co-chaired the JCL Search Committee that hired Stu Silberman as its president and CEO. He figures he spent 15-20 hours a week over several months helping the fledgling organization find its footing.
Prior to that, he served the JCC Board as vice president. In 2010, he received the Arthur S. Kling Award.
Gordon is now employed by Neace Lukens Insurance. Prior to that, he ran his own agency, Douglas Gordon Insurance Services, for a number of years.
Gordon and his wife, Karen, have two children, Evan and Brian. They are members of Congregation Adath Jeshurun.