By Lisa Zaslow Segelmanm
I’ve found that when it comes to charity, people either have time or money: time to volunteer but not the deepest pockets to donate, or plenty of resources but no time to hand out water to marathoners on the Boardwalk.
I call myself a “regular person.” Sure, my husband and I have our favorite charities. We also try to be there for the runners and bikers who are pacing themselves and pedaling for their cause or bike/walk ourselves.
Then there’s the kids and great nieces and nephews fundraising for their schools, bands and teams. But somehow, there’s still not a Zaslow-Segelman wing of a hospital or university library.
That’s why when Beth Joseph, Jewish Family Service senior director of communications and donor relations, approached me last spring about opening up our 102-year-old home (now 103) for the 2023 JFS House Tour, I listened with interest.
Beth said they needed just a few more homes to round their number up to seven, and that they were looking for some older homes; they had plenty of newly constructed homes slated for the tour.
We live in the St. Leonard’s Tract, an eight-block historic area between Suffolk and Cambridge avenues in Ventnor, so I suspected that our corner brick home, built in 1921, might fit the bill.
Beth assured me that she would take me step-by-step through the process of hosting, that we would feel comfortable, and that our home would be protected from damage. And we were.
The attention to detail provided by JFS was impressive. They sponsored a seamless event by taking great care to respect the owners’ properties and requests, providing quality lunch, snacks, and drinks, and fostering a sense of fun and fundraising. There were so many moving parts but still, the word that comes to mind is flawless.
A one-day-only insurance policy was provided by JFS and more than 10 volunteers arrived in the morning, keeping a close eye on our 4-bedroom home, including hallways and stairs, on the lookout for even the slightest infraction.
The volunteers were briefed on the history and special features of our home (it once belonged to the founder of the much-loved Ireland Coffee Company) and served as docents as much as they did security guards. The Louvre, Prado or Stockton Garage Art Museums would be lucky to have them.
The JFS House Tour is in its 35th year. It was founded in 1988 by Lois Rothenberg and Golda Wood as a way to raise money for The Lynn Kramer Village by the Shore, which isn’t a place, but a community initiative providing educational programs, support services and socialization opportunities to older adults in our community.
“JFS was founded in the early 1900s to assist the elderly in all socioeconomic levels so the House Tour stays true to our roots,” Joseph said. “The House Tour is our longest running fundraiser. It started small and has grown exponentially. We listen and adapt. For instance, we added lunch as guests found that the robust touring schedule didn’t give them any time to relax and refuel. Besides the funds raised from ticket sales, the program also offers great sponsorship opportunities for businesses looking to reach more than 500 attendees at one time.”
Year after year, the House Tour offers locals and summer visitors an exclusive look inside some of the area’s most interesting and luxurious Downbeach homes. I like luxury, but as a summer resident since 1960 (full-time resident now), my parents, grandparents, and siblings, lived in five different homes in Atlantic City, Ventnor and Brigantine. Three of them were historic.
I became particularly interested in the older homes thanks to my real estate broker/artist father and my Atlantic City paper route in the 1970s. In addition to tossing papers onto porches, my brother, Jeff, and I went door to door weekly to collect subscription fees.
We peered into many vintage, elegant shore homes with exquisite molding, stained-glass windows, wide stairways with landings, solid wood doors and architectural details that would be cost prohibitive to put in these days.
Two of the homes we lived in were built in the 1920s.The house on Aberdeen Place was first owned by William S. Cuthbert, the commissioner of Atlantic City during prohibition. When we moved to Aberdeen in 1969, there were 300 empty liquor bottles under the floorboards. It wouldn’t have looked too good for an elected official to have liquor bottles in the trash can every week. That got me hooked.
What other interesting histories were part of these stunning old homes? Aberdeen was sold in 1973.
After a nine-year break from history in a Ventnor townhouse, my folks moved to the St. Leonard’s Tract home that’s been in our family for 37 years now. Just weeks after a major renovation, and moving into ‘this old house’ for good, we agreed to let it be a JFS House Tour home.
To host an event of this scope, and to make the day memorable, JFS relies 100 percent on the generosity of homeowners and volunteers.
For 2024, JFS is still in search of two historic homes to round out the tour, which is being held on Monday, Aug. 5. “At JFS, we’re thankful to everyone who’s made the House Tour a success in past years. We couldn’t be more pleased that the event has become a must-attend summer fundraiser,” said Andrea Steinberg, JFS chief executive officer. “We hope a few residents on the island may consider showcasing their historic home as part of the tour. We’re also looking for volunteers to serve as hostesses and guides.”
This year, the house tour committee who donate countless hours of their time and expertise, includes: Suzanne Bruce, Barbara Cohen, Rande Dubrow, Jodi Finkelson-Reece, Kim Forte, Beth Fox, Pam Frank, Lori Garber, Martha Karasick, Audrey Levine, Hope Morgan, Hanna Newcomer, Linda Novelli, Eileen Perice, Jane Pressman, Sarah Rosenthal, David Schwartz, Pam Sinderbrand, Beth Shor, Taylor Shivers, and Lesley Weinberg.
For those not familiar with Jewish Family Service (JFS), the agency lives up to its name. It encourages strong families, thriving children, healthy adults, energized seniors, and vital communities.
With dozens of program areas, it specializes in counseling, mental health support, homeless services, vocational programs, and older adult services. JFS also hosts an on-site food pantry.
JFS is known and loved for providing its services with integrity, compassion, respect, and professionalism, regardless of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, or background.
When it comes to us regular people donating, perhaps I can speak for the rank and file. Writing a check without too many zeros works, as does calls for blankets, clothes and canned goods.
I’m a little math-phobic, but if JFS raised $90,000 last year and our home was one of seven of the tour, that means, along with the staff and scores of volunteers who help with the tour, we were in part responsible for helping to contribute $12,857 for seniors. That’s a nice number for leaving our home from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in very capable, loving hands.
To reach out to improve the lives of Lynn Kramer Village seniors without reaching into your pocket, contact:
JFS Senior Director Beth Joseph at bjoseph@jfsatlantic.org or 609-822-7409. To volunteer, contact volunteer@jfsatlantic.org or call 609-822-1108, x166.
Lisa is an advertising copywriter (think ‘Madmen’ without the men), journalist and columnist. Claim to fame: Lou’s waitress for four teenage summers. For column comments, story ideas, or to get on her “quote” list for future columns: redshoeslzs@gmail.com
Celebrating 35 years of the House Tour
JFS will open the doors of gorgeous homes as it celebrates the 35th Anniversary of House Tour on Monday, Aug. 5. Guests will stroll through breathtaking homes from the bay to the beach.
This fundraiser, presented by Surroundings Interiors, provides attendees with the rare opportunity to explore state-of-the-art gourmet kitchens, unique décor and lighting, and beautiful landscaping as well as a glimpse of history and a look at some fine antiques.
In addition to a complimentary lunch sponsored by Oasis Property Group, attendees will enjoy a Peace Pie ice-cream sandwich for dessert. Fountain View at Logan Square and BAYADA Home Health Care are proud to support the dessert sponsorship. The event also includes an auction of dining certificates, sports tickets, hotel accommodations, and health and wellness products.
Early bird tickets are available from Memorial Day Weekend through June 30 for $65. After July 1, tickets are $75, if available. VIP tickets, which include transportation between the homes, are $100. Visit jfsatlantic.org for more information.
