Howard Rosenhoch Receives 2022 Endowment Leadership Award

The Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies awards its 2022 Endowment Leadership Award to Howard Rosenhoch in recognition of his commitment to LIFE & LEGACY® at Buffalo as well as his long-standing efforts to strengthen and support Jewish Buffalo.  The Endowment Leadership Award is the Foundation’s highest honor.

Through LIFE & LEGACY® at Buffalo, Howard is supporting three participating agencies and organizations to help build their endowments, ensure their sustainability, and more broadly strengthen the Buffalo Jewish community for generations to come. Howard’s legacy gift will benefit the Buffalo Jewish Federation, Kadimah Scholars, and Temple Beth Zion so they endure.

Born and raised in Manhattan, Howard moved to Buffalo, earning his bachelor’s and law degrees at the University of Buffalo.  It was during his time as an undergrad at UB that Howard met Valerie, his wife of 47 years.  They remained in their adopted City of Buffalo, enjoying the close-knit community, and raising their sons Alan and David while Howard pursued a career in law.

Howard and Valerie were inspired to connect with Jewish Buffalo by international and community events, particularly Israel’s successful hostage rescue mission in Entebbe, Uganda as well as the community’s Israel Expo, both occurring in 1976. These events led Howard and Valerie to pursue a personal connection to Israel, visiting together six times starting in 1979 including three trips with their children.  Since Valerie’s untimely passing in 2018 from a lengthy illness, Howard has traveled to Israel twice more, once in 2018, and again in 2019 as part of the Western Galilee Partnership Discovery Trip with his partner, Jody Goldstein, who serves as one of Federation’s Partnership leaders.

Howard has been active at Hillel of Buffalo where he served as President in the late 1990’s; Kadimah where he and Valerie were Capital Campaign ambassadors and Valerie served on the Board; Temple Beth Zion, where Howard served as President from 2010-2012; and Buffalo Jewish Federation where he was President from 2015-2016, and currently serves as Chair of its Life & Legacy Team.

L-R: Valerie, Howard, David, Gabby & Alan

Howard explains why he has named Kadimah, TBZ and Federation as recipients of his and Valerie’s legacy: “Valerie’s and my son, Alan, graduated from Kadimah, served as President, and continues to sit on the Board.  I see the Kadimah Scholars program and its innovative partnership with Park School, as an integral part of our community’s Jewish education infrastructure.  For decades, Temple Beth Zion, where our son, David, who has Down Syndrome, became Bar Mitzvah and graduated from and served as a Madrich and teacher’s aide in the religious and pre-schools for many years, has been my family’s Jewish spiritual home and source of close social connections.  Further, Buffalo Jewish Federation is the overarching pillar of the structure of Jewish Buffalo; it is the engine that makes everything Jewish Buffalo go!”

Over time, as Howard and Valerie became involved in the Buffalo Jewish community, they saw various agencies and organizations struggle financially and recognized the way to positively impact them: through legacy giving.

“Valerie’s and my life experiences were Jewish-centric, and philanthropy followed,” Howard explains. “Philanthropy, especially legacy or planned giving, makes a lasting impact that helps ensure the strength and continuity of the organizations – and the community – that we love.”

Howard continues the focus he and Valerie developed together, supporting the Buffalo Jewish community in words and in deeds: “What better way to teach children than by doing; by serving as an example and a role model.  Being actively engaged in Jewish Buffalo, and supporting foundational agencies and organizations of the community, involves during-life efforts and after-life commitments.”

Join us on Wednesday December 7, 2022 as Howard receives his award at the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies and Buffalo Jewish Federation Annual Award Ceremony and Business Meetings.  RSVP: bit.ly/celebratejewishbuffalo2022