The Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JF&CS) Tree of Life Society will honor the family and board members of the Harvey Kornblum Foundation at a dinner at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13 at the home of Barry and Shari Glantz. The evening pays tribute to honorees and donors to the organization at the significant gift levels. 

Chairs for this year’s dinner are Cindy Hyken, JF&CS board vice president of financial development responsible for overseeing the Tree of Life Society and fellow board members Rick Rovack and David Weiss.

The Harvey Kornblum Foundation, established after the death of the late Harvey Kornblum, concentrates on the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry and other worthy interests. However, the recognition that night will be for the impact the foundation has had on the food pantry, in particular.

“The foundation has been a consistent, sustaining source adding to the scope and depth of the food pantry program,” said Louis Albert, executive director of JF&CS. “Funding from the foundation has paid to expand the professional staff, which enables the pantry to operate at high efficiency. It pays for drivers and cost of deliveries that would not otherwise be available, and it helps to build our capacity to help more people.”

Albert noted that the food pantry’s Share Your Harvest program, which encourages those who have backyard gardens to bring the overages to the food pantry, was conceived by a foundation member who keeps actively engaged in the food pantry.  

The enormity of what has developed can be traced back to its namesake. “Harvey Kornblum was a true visionary. He abhorred hunger, so he left enough money to feed thousands of people,” said Fred Steinbach, JF&CS board president. “His legacy has grown as the need has expanded.”  

To find out more about helping feed those who are in need through volunteering or donating, contact Joan Robinson, program manager at the food pantry, at 314-812-9337. To learn more about the event honoring the Harvey Kornblum Foundation, contact Laura Hass at 314-993-1000.