By Brad Kaplan, JCFR Director of Principal Gifts
On December 6th, the Federation brought together a dynamic group of 20 men for a memorable evening at a VCU Men’s basketball game.
The evening aimed to foster community spirit, draw inspiration from philanthropic leader Stuart Siegel, and to simply have fun. This initiative aligns with the Federation’s mission to strengthen Jewish identity and serve as a central convenor for the community.
The night kicked off with an exclusive tour of VCU’s Basketball Development Center, a cutting-edge facility that plays a pivotal role in the practice and training routines of both the men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Stuart Siegel, a driving force behind these spaces, assumed the role of the evening’s gracious host. He guided the group through the intricacies of the facility before bringing everyone together over a kosher dinner to delve into an engaging conversation about philanthropy.
One of the participants was Evan Drucker, a young professional who recently relocated from Boston.
Evan shared, “the evening was a great way of connecting with the next generation of leaders and philanthropists in the greater Richmond area. Being able to connect with each other and learn from Mr. Siegel was incredible.”
Another participant Conor Shapiro offered, “I had the distinct honor of sitting courtside next to a Richmond legend, Stuart Siegel, at the VCU Men’s Basketball game. JCFR hosted a group of 20 men for an exclusive dinner and guided tour of the Basketball Development Center as well as tickets to what became the most exhilarating game of the season.”
Conor continued, “This event provided a unique opportunity to connect and network with other young professionals while hearing directly from a Jewish benefactor who made it all possible. Listening to Stuart’s journey really instilled the importance of giving back and sharing our successes and strengths with the broader community. As Richmonders, we are extremely lucky to have a vibrant Jewish Federation that consistently invests in the next generation of leaders.
He concluded, “I speak for all of us when I say how motivated and grateful we are to be a part of it.”
A third attendee, Chris Young noted, “I was honored to be asked to attend the event with Stuart Siegel at the Basketball Development Center and game. Through a behind-the-scenes tour of the VCU program and an exciting (if ultimately disappointing) overtime match-up, it was special to connect with other men from the Richmond Jewish community in a relaxed forum.”
He noted, “I enjoyed several conversations with other current and future leaders of the community, and I was afforded the opportunity to begin making connections that I look forward to building upon in the coming months.”
Following the exclusive gathering, the group transitioned to the Stuart C. Siegel Center to witness the VCU Rams host the Memphis Tigers. An initial group of three went down courtside to sit alongside Siegel, while the others gathered together.
Many of the guests did not know others and conversation picked up as people shared in the joy of being around each other.
As the second half commenced, a new group went down to sit courtside, this time three people who didn’t know each other, a beautiful microcosm of the event.
Beyond the enjoyment of the game and the camaraderie, the evening resonated with a deeper purpose – to inspire and identify the next generation of leaders within our Jewish community. As discussions unfolded throughout the night, many participants expressed a shared commitment to step up, get involved, and actively contribute to crafting the next chapter of Jewish life here in Richmond.
The event, mixed with enthusiasm and camaraderie, planted seeds of aspiration and collaboration for the community growth in the present and future.
