Nadine Foldes
Nadine Foldes Presented by The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
I am a first-generation American. My mother came to the United States from Egypt in 1949 at the age of 16. My Bubbe was originally from Palestine and I am told that our family tree can be traced back 10 generations (in Palestine). I was raised in an English-speaking, Zionistic household (my father was American) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, influenced by Middle Eastern culture.
Steve and Nadine Foldes
My first visit to Israel at age 19 was life changing in many ways and left me with a forever love of all things Israeli, including the land itself. In Harrisburg, the Jewish Community Center was the center of my family’s Jewish life. When my husband, Steve, and I moved to Miami, it was only natural that our first entrée into the Jewish community was the Dave and Mary Alper JCC. We raised our kids (Tracy, Adam and Craig) there and made lifelong friends
there. We started getting involved in Federation and in 1991, Steve and I participated in the Mega Mission II; we were on the south Dade bus, #16. It was through this experience we cemented life-long relationships and saw, firsthand, the impact of our annual gifts. Steve and I have always felt blessed in our life and felt strongly about the importance of giving back to our community. For our 20th wedding anniversary, Steve wanted to get me something really special and the most special thing I could think of is that he make me a Lion of Judah. And he did, happily. Although he jokes that it was probably the most expensive gift he has ever given me – the gift that keeps on giving. When I turned 60, Steve again asked me how I would like to commemorate this special birthday. And, after giving it serious thought, I told him that I wanted to endow my Lion. And he did, proudly. In 2014, Steve and I established the Foldes Family Philanthropic Foundation through the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. It was always a life-long dream of mine to do this and involve my children, and one day my grandchildren, in charitable giving. For me, family is the most important thing. Eating together every night as a family, was a high priority. Through Temple Beth Am, we would volunteer together during Mitzvah Day, by delivering meals to the homebound elderly and feeding the homeless. My family also supported me in the hands-on work I was doing as a social worker, child rights advocate and Guardian Ad Litem, volunteering for organizations that assist children in need: the
Family Resource Center; Casa Valentina and Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade. I am so proud of the legacy that I will be leaving to my children and my community, knowing that my Jewish values will forever be put into action through my Lion of Judah Endowment Fund and the Foldes Family Philanthropic Foundation.
Temple Beth Am AND Rambam Day School
Presented by The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
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