The JNF Parsons Water Fund
Over the past two decades, Jewish National Fund (JNF) has worked to alleviate Israel’s chronic water shortage, primarily through the construction of recycled water reservoirs that have increased the water supply by 12%. The JNF Parsons Water Fund, with a $100 million fundraising goal, was established to expand upon this vital work.
The Fund supports initiatives that address the water shortage, issues of water quality, and trans-boundary challenges, with a focus on recycling, developing alternative water sources, education, stream and aquifer restoration, and research. One of its unique approaches is to operate largely as a revolving fund, lending capital for water projects and using repayments for future investments. In addition, the Fund identifies projects where its philanthropic contributions can leverage three to five times the invested sum by drawing matching funds from public sources. Read more about the Fund's water projects.
The JNF Parsons Water Fund is overseen by a 28-member board of directors, each of whom has contributed a minimum of $100,000. Working closely with the Israeli Water Authority, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, local water associations, education and research institutions, and the Israel Defense Forces, the board is responsible for managing the selection of projects and overseeing implementation.
The Fund is named for the late Natan Parsons z”l of Boston, who served as JNF’s vice president for water projects and spearheaded the initiative before he passed away. An inventor with over 100 worldwide patents, Parsons was also co-founder of a charitable trust set up to fund scientific and social endeavors in Israel and the U.S.
JNF PARSONS WATER FUND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Mort Mower
Chair
Amy Parsons
Vice Chair
Laureine Greenbaum
Vice Chair
Zevi Kahanov
National Director
Jerry Berko
Ed Blank
Bruce Cohen
Lou Cohen
Steven Crystal
Marjorie Federbush
Franklin M. Fisher
Bob Friedland
Harold L. Kaplan
Andrew Klein
Jeffrey Klein
Michael G. Lederman
Alan Levenson
Bill Miller
Leonard Miller
Toby Mower
Todd Patkin
Marvin Rosenberg
Howard Rosenbloom
Andrew Rubenstein
William Rubenstein
Rob Rubin
Geri Shatz
Evelyn Spritz
David Sterling
For more information, contact Zevi Kahanov at zkahanov@jnf.org or 212.879.9305 x241.
Get involved and Donate to JNF Parsons Water Fund. For naming opportunities call your local office at 888-JNF-0099.
