Cardin School Recipient of Long-Term Gift

Cardin School Recipient of Long-Term Gift
A $50,000 annual donation for 90 years will stand test of time.August 28, 2009Neil RubinEditor
The Shoshana S. Cardin School has received a most unusual gift in memory of a most unusual person.

The multi-denominational Jewish private high school announced last week that Ethel Blumenfeld of Washington, D.C., has given $4.5 million — payable in $50,000 for 90 years — to the school’s Jacob “Jack” Sokoloff Scholarship Fund, named in memory of her late brother whose estate she controls.

Sokoloff, who died in 2002, was known in local philanthropic and communal circles for occasionally eccentric behavior, asking numerous questions at various board meetings and donning a wide-brimmed hat wherever he went.

“Most people didn’t realize that he had serious thoughts as well,” noted Shoshana S. Cardin, the school’s chairman emeritus and namesake. “He used to ride around town on his bicycle and people thought he was a clown and didn’t realize who he was.”

Sokoloff always held an interest in Jewish education, seeing how as children he and his sister received scholarship funds to attend Hebrew school, Mrs. Blumenfeld said. In later years, as Sokoloff gained success in real estate investments, he became increasingly generous.

Mrs. Blumenfeld fondly remembered her brother for taking her to lunch and giving waiters “an unusually large tip,” as well as recognizing people at bus stops with little means and stopping to give them money.

“What Jack never forgot was his roots,” she said.

Prior to the school’s opening, Mrs. Cardin was discussing the venture with Sokoloff. “He really cared about people and most of all he wanted respect between the Jewish denominations,” she said. “He said he would want to do something to help.”

But not long after that he became ill and died. Apparently, however, he had discussed a major donation to the school with his sister. Mrs. Cardin, however, was unaware of that until she was called by the estate’s attorney.

The bequest will help the Cardin school fund roughly $360,000 this year in tuition assistance, Mrs. Cardin said. While that’s only slightly above last year’s number, it is significantly up from three years ago, she added.

She also is hoping that it encourages other funders, as the Cardin school seeks to fund a permanent home. “It shows confidence in the school,” Mrs. Cardin said.

The school has held classes at Temple Oheb Shalom on Park Heights Avenue since opening in 2003. When it finds a location of its own, its beit midrash (study hall) will be named in Sokoloff’s memory.

Why 90 years for the donation? No one is quite sure.

“It didn’t strike me as unusual because he did unusual things,” Mrs. Blumenfeld said with a chuckle. “Jewish education will be taken care of even when I’m gone. This is what he wanted to do and I think it’s a wonderful thing.”

This is taken from the Jewish Times: http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/news/jt/local_news/cardin_school_recipient_of_long-term_gift/

Let Them Eat Cake!

It's back to school for everyone at The Shoshana S. Cardin School! Freshmen and new students arrived today for an orientation and team building activities. Meanwhile, the faculty anxiously await the return of the full student body on Thursday.

In this blog, the Cardin School faculty, staff, and students will document and comment on daily occurrences. This will give you, the reader, a glimpse into our world. At the Cardin School, we experience several activities togethter - learning, sharing, singing, playing, debating, and eating cake on Fridays!

THE SCHOOL

The Shoshana S. Cardin School, founded in 2003, is the
first pluralistic independent Jewish high school in
Baltimore. Cardin began with 32 students in grade 9.
Currently there are 58 students enrolled in grades 9-12,
The school integrates Judaic studies with a challenging
college-preparatory program.

A teacher student ratio of 1:2 enables each student to
develop meaningful relationships with the faculty,
providing students with opportunities for significant
interactions with superior educators.

A Cardin School education combines academic excellence
with individual discovery. All courses—AP, honors, and
standard—are grounded in structure and integrity while
challenging students to create their own meaning.
Cardin students are inspired to explore beyond the
classroom.

The Shoshana S. Cardin School is accredited by the State
of Maryland. The school is a member of: the National
Association of Independent Schools; the Association of
Independent Maryland Schools; RAVSAK: The Jewish
Community Day School Network; Partnership for
Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE); National Staff
Development Council; Maryland Association of Nonprofit
Organizations; and the Independent School Management
Consortium.