Ken Weintraub is a familiar name within St. Louis’ Jewish community, having spent decades in leadership roles at the Jewish Community Center and Jewish Federation of St. Louis. But he said his most meaningful work has come in the past nine years as a volunteer with the Kaufman Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans and their families.
For his tireless efforts and the profound impact he has made, Weintraub is being honored as an Unsung Hero.
“I’ve had my share of accolades in my life, but this one took me by surprise,” Weintraub said. “I’m just one of many outstanding volunteers for the Kaufman Fund, some of whom, in my opinion, deserve this more than I do.”
His humility is striking, given the tremendous contributions he has made to the organization, helping veterans and their families in countless ways.
Weintraub’s path to volunteerism is rooted in his long career of service within the Jewish community. For more than 30 years, he held various roles at the J and Jewish Federation, becoming known for his skills in development and fundraising. After his formal retirement, Weintraub faced a pivotal question: How would he use his experience and energy moving forward?
That question was answered when Wayne Kaufman, founder of the Kaufman Fund, asked Weintraub to meet him for lunch and invited him to get involved with their work.
“I’ve always had great respect for Wayne,” Weintraub said. “And the more I learned about the challenges veterans face, the more passionate I became about helping.”
Though he never served in the military, Weintraub felt a strong responsibility toward those who did. He grew up during the Vietnam War, witnessing friends go off to fight while he, by chance, avoided the draft.
“I’ve always felt fortunate for avoiding the draft, while so many people I knew didn’t have that choice,” Weintraub said. “That sense of survivor guilt stayed with me for years, motivating me to give back in any way I could.”
Weintraub’s first major contribution to the Kaufman Fund came in 2018 when he founded the Mental Health Collaborative. This program provides veterans with access to mental health services, particularly for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Weintraub played a pivotal role in recruiting 13 licensed therapists to work pro bono with veterans, filling a critical gap in services that the VA often cannot provide.
“The VA can see veterans, but they cannot do therapy with their spouses or families,” he said. “And I know enough to say that when someone needs therapy, there’s a system around them. You can’t treat just the individual. You have to look at the whole family.”
Weintraub’s background as a certified social worker helped him understand the complexities of veterans’ mental health needs, even though he is quick to remind people he isn’t a clinician. What he does bring is persistence and determination, describing himself as “a dog with a bone” when it comes to making sure veterans’ needs are met.
“I’m a persistent son of a gun, particularly when I see something that needs to get done,” Weintraub said. “At this stage in my life, I know where I can be of value — pushing things forward when others might not have the time or resources.”
When the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, Weintraub saw another opportunity to help. With veterans facing unprecedented challenges, he started a Food for Vets program, which provided food to veterans and their families during the pandemic.
“We couldn’t send veterans to therapists due to COVID restrictions, but we could hand them food,” Weintraub said. “It was a simple but necessary way to keep in contact with veterans and ensure they were supported.”
Weintraub chaired the initiative but is quick to credit the volunteers who have since expanded the program.
One of Weintraub’s most significant achievements was securing Missouri Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credits, which generated $200,000 to support the Kaufman Fund’s Pro Bono Dental Program. This initiative provides dental care for veterans and their families. It is a service that is often out of reach for many veterans, as the VA covers dental care only for veterans who are 100% disabled.
“It’s heartbreaking to see veterans who can’t afford basic dental care,” Weintraub said. “When we started the Food for Vets program, we noticed so many veterans with serious dental issues, and that motivated us to push for a dental program.”
His fundraising expertise ensured that hundreds of veterans’ families received essential dental care, improving not just their health but also their quality of life.
Weintraub’s talent for building networks has been another cornerstone of his volunteer work. Over the past several years, he has recruited more than 115 pro bono lawyers to assist veterans with legal issues and played a key role in developing a network of therapists through the Mental Health Collaborative.
“We rely on professionals who are willing to volunteer their time for these veterans,” he said. “It’s about finding people who care and want to give back.”
Weintraub’s ability to mobilize these professionals has had a far-reaching impact, ensuring that veterans receive free legal and mental health services to which they may not have had access.
At 74, Weintraub remains active in his work with the Kaufman Fund, even offering guidance to Master of Social Work (MSW) interns, offering advice to the board and always looking for new ways to help veterans.
“I’ve been a catalyst for a few programs,” Weintraub said. “But the real credit goes to the volunteers who do the heavy lifting.”
For nearly a decade, Weintraub has been a driving force behind some of the Kaufman Fund’s most effective programs, and his work has touched the lives of hundreds of veterans and their families. His dedication continues to inspire those around him.
“I’ve always had this spark, this desire to help where I can,” he said. “It might sound trite but, even in my 70s, I still want to make the world a better place, one small step at a time.”
