30 Years of Commitment, Impact and Meaning
By Jeffrey Savit
30 is a terrifically significant number for me. You see, my mother was 30 years old when she gave birth to me. I met my wife Lori when I was 30 years old. My brother Michael and I created a leukemia research foundation in memory of our beloved father almost 30 years ago. My older daughter Mollie is turning 30 later this spring and is newly engaged to my 30-year-old son-in-law to be Derek. My younger daughter Chloe and I text each other at least 30 times each day. And unbelievably, I am celebrating my 30th anniversary with the most magnificent social service agency on the planet, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston (JBBBS).
For someone like me who has an attention span of about 30 minutes, 30 years is an incredibly long time to stay focused and committed. But remarkably, my focus and commitment at JBBBS have never wavered during my three decades at JBBBS.
Thirty years ago, I applied to become a Big Brother at JBBBS, but I was asked to join the Board of Directors instead given that I was about to become a new father. And how fortunate I was to have joined the JBBBS Board. I was able to experience first-hand the joy and magic of mentorship, friendship and connection between the Bigs and Littles and the Friends with their Friends at the various JBBBS Children’s and Adult community events and holiday celebrations. On the Board, I learned about the necessity of raising funds to benefit the wonderful JBBBS matches and programming and took such great pleasure in the agency’s ability to provide significant camping and college scholarship funding to our Littles. JBBBS became part of my fabric. In time, I became chair of the JBBBS Board of Directors, and then chair of the JBBBS Endowment Board.
Not surprisingly, my great fortune in being intimately involved with JBBBS prompted me to abandon my legal career in order to become a social worker. I only wanted to provide professional support and acumen to those less fortunate than I. So how lucky was I five years ago when I was asked to become the CEO of JBBBS as the agency celebrated its 100th anniversary. The last five years have proven to be the pinnacle of my professional career. And gratifyingly, I proudly became a volunteer Friend in our Friend 2 Friend Program 3 (ok not 30) years ago!!!
I am extremely proud that during my 30-year tenure with JBBBS, we have doubled the number of matches and families we serve and tripled our revenues and operating budget. And there are not too many people anywhere who have had the unparalleled great fortune to be the lay, professional leader, and volunteer for a remarkable social service non-profit agency.
Please join my wonderful family and me in celebrating our incredibly special JBBBS 30th anniversary at our Big Bash on May 2nd at the Artists for Humanity in South Boston. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported JBBBS and me, and made my JBBBS journey so meaningful and inspiring, during the past 30 years.
Jeffrey Savit has been the President and CEO of Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston (JBBBS) since 2019. Prior to leading JBBBS, Jeffrey proudly served as the initial President and CEO of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, the Dwares JCC and the Jewish Federation Foundation of Rhode Island, then as Chief Development Officer of Prizmah Center for Jewish Day Schools. Before becoming a Jewish communal professional, Jefrey practiced trust and estate law for 18 years, and then worked as a geriatric social worker for Hebrew Senior Life for four years. Jefrey also has extensive experience as a lay leader, having served as the board chair of JBBBS, the JBBBS Endowment Fund, and JCC Greater Boston. He also volunteered for several years as a trustee on the boards of the Miriam Hospital in Providence, RI and the Home and Hospice Care of RI. Jeffrey was born in New Bedford, MA, and attended Phillips Academy, Harvard College, Boston College Law School, and Boston College Graduate School of Social Work.
loved reading this Jeffrey!
what a beautiful journey! thank you for sharing.
Ditto‼️ Mazel Tov Jeffrey‼️✡️ So Proud to know you & be on the Board w/ you‼️ All of us who KNOW & LOVE YOU look forward to honoring you and your lovely family this coming Thursday night‼️ So glad that you will still stay involved w/ the JBB/BS Org after you step down as our Chairman‼️
Sincerely, Dean Cohen— F2F Volunteer & Board Member