Jewish National Fund announces Kenneth Segel as Capital District President

Contact: Sara Hefez • JNF Senior Campaign Executive • 617-423-0999 • shefez@jnf.org

Ken's love and commitment to Israel began in 1970, as a student at the University of Tel Aviv, where he spent his junior year of college. Ken has visited Israel many times since that first experience and he has never returned without feeling incredible love for the country and people.

Ken's Jewish community involvement began shortly after graduating from Law School, when he returned to Albany with his wife, Nancie. He became active in the United Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York, holding several leadership positions, including President, General Campaign Chair, and most recently, Chairman of its Community Endowment Fund.  He is currently Chairman of the Israel Bonds Cabinet for upstate New York.

Over the past two years, Ken has helped revive JNF in the Capital District, after not having a presence in the region for over 14 years.

"Amongst my goals and objectives as the new President are to develop recognition and awareness for Jewish National Fund’s critical projects in Israel,” shared Ken. “In over 107 years, JNF has evolved into a global environmental leader; built over 1,000 parks and recreational areas; constructed security roads; created new communities so that Jews from around the world would have a place to call home; built over 200 reservoirs and water recycling centers, increasing Israel’s water supply by 10%. I feel privileged to have this opportunity to help educate the people of the Capital District and to help raise much needed funds to continue this crucial work. "

Ken chaired the 2008 Tree of Life Dinner honoring Jane Golub and Rabbi Paul & Faye Silton. The evening was a tremendous success, raising over $50,000 for Green Horizons, a youth enrichment and leadership program, in the Eshkol region of Israel.  Our 2009 Tree of Life dinner will honor Malka & Eitan Evan and Susan & Martin Farber on May 14th.

Being a strong supporter of Jewish education, Ken was also active in the Bet Shraga Hebrew Academy while his two daughters, Julie and Amie, attended the school. There he held several leadership positions, including becoming its President. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Daughter's of Sarah Nursing Foundation and his Synagogue, Temple Israel of Albany.

On a local community level, Ken is a member of the Board of Trustees and Secretary of Seton Health Care Services, a multifaceted health care organization operating St. Mary's Hospital in Troy, New York, along with 20 offsite locations in upstate New York's Capital District and a nursing home.

Ken is an attorney who, while practicing law, specialized in the areas of employee benefit planning, commercial and corporate law and taxation. Today he is a Principal of Schuyler Companies, a commercial real estate developer specializing in developing and owning retail shopping centers throughout New York State and New England.

JNF is honored that Ken has accepted this position and through his dedication, Zionism and generosity will help develop recognition and awareness of JNF’s critical work in Israel. 

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JEWISH NATIONAL FUND (JNF) began in 1901 as a dream and vision to reestablish a homeland in Israel for Jewish people everywhere. Jews the world over collected coins in iconic JNF Blue Boxes, purchasing land and planting trees until ultimately, their dream of a Jewish homeland was a reality. JNF gives all generations of Jews a unique voice in building a prosperous future for the land of Israel and its people.

JNF embodies both heart and action; our work is varied in scope but singular in benefit. We strive to bring an enhanced quality of life to all of Israel’s residents, and translate these advancements to the world beyond. JNF is greening the desert with millions of trees, building thousands of parks, creating new communities and cities for generations of Israelis to call home, bolstering Israel’s water supply, helping develop innovative arid-agriculture techniques, and educating both young and old about the founding and importance of Israel and Zionism.

JNF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and United Nations NGO, which continuously earns top ratings from charity overseers.

For more information on JNF, call 888-JNF-0099 or visit www.jnf.org.