On March 26, a record-breaking 90-plus degree afternoon in St. Louis, about 50 people gathered under a small blue tent outside the Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Kaplan Feldman Complex. They stood before a brand-new ambulance, ready to be dedicated before its journey to Israel, where it will join the fleet of Magen David Adom, the country’s emergency medical and ambulance service.
The life-saving gift came from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. A member of the St. Louis Jewish community and a donor-advised fund holder through the Federation, he believes giving should shine the spotlight on those in need, not on the giver.
At the dedication, Federation President and CEO Danny Cohn told those in attendance: “This ambulance, which will soon be on the ground in Israel, represents the very best of who we are…To our donor, the impact of your generosity will be felt by countless individuals you will never meet. Your gift reflects a deep love for our people and an enduring commitment to the safety and well-being of Israel.”
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Richard Zelin, director of strategic philanthropy at American Friends of Magen David Adom, also thanked the donor in his address to the crowd. He later explained that the ambulance, which the donor gave $115,000 to build, was constructed at the Wentzville General Motors plant, then retrofitted in Indiana. It will be shipped to Israel on a container ship out of Baltimore. Zelin said about 85 to 90% of Magen David Adom’s ambulances come from American donors, adding that Israel does not manufacture ambulances.
For the donor, the decision to act came in the aftermath of Oct. 7.
“Oct. 7, 2023, was a horrible example of the hate that fills our world, especially directed toward the people of Israel,” the donor, who lives in Creve Coeur, explained.
Like many, he watched events unfold from afar. Although he’s never been to Israel, his connection to the Jewish state is deeply felt, even from a distance.
“I am Jewish. It is the Holy Land,” he said. “I wanted something that the people of Israel could use and could help save lives.”
As the scale of destruction became clearer, so did the need.
“I saw all the destruction and the need for medical help,” he said. “I read an article about the need for ambulances, so I talked with [his significant other] and decided to donate one.”
An ambulance is a tangible, immediate form of aid—something that meets people in moments of crisis and can mean the difference between life and death. For this donor, it was the right way to respond.
Giving has long been part of how he moves through the world.
“We try to support the charities that do the right thing and help as many people as we can,” he said.
A donor-advised fund through Jewish Federation made that possible in a focused and effective way. The fund is like a charitable savings account: donors contribute when they wish, get an immediate tax benefit, and recommend grants — or in this case, a gift — to their favorite nonprofits over time.
“I can invest my money to get maximum benefits, which helps me give more to the charities and help as many people as we can,” the donor said.
It also made the process straightforward. “The Federation made it easy to support the organizations of my choice.”
Even now, the impact of the gift is something he thinks about often.
“Yes, I think about it every time a news story about Israel is in the news or see the constant destruction in Israel,” he said.
His choice to remain anonymous is intentional.
“It is about helping the people in need, not the personal recognition, but embracing my family’s spirit of giving,” he said.
And the message he hopes others take from his story extends beyond this act.
“I want people to focus on the need of others in this world of negative values,” he said. “It’s not always about monetary contributions but what you can do for your fellow community members.”
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