A Good Life

When his grandfather told 11-year-old Jerold "Jerry" Glassman at a temple fundraiser in Newark, "If you give to charity, you will have a good life," the boy immediately offered to donate his allowance. While his grandfather gently told him he should wait until he was older, Jerry never forgot this conversation.

Jerry became an attorney and specialized for over 50 years in employment and labor law. For more than 20 years, most recently in 2018, he was included in the list of "Best Lawyers in America", a peer-review source for legal referrals with its annual compilation of leading lawyers from across the nation.

As his success grew, he was increasingly able to help a number of non-profits, both as a donor and a volunteer. Initially, his activities were centered in the New Jersey area, as while Jerry and Joan have had a home in Florida for 33 years, they became full-time residents of Florida eight years ago, which was the impetus to significantly expanded their activities in this community as well.

Jerry became involved with the Boca Raton Regional Hospital as his knowledge of the Hospital grew and he and his family benefited from the skilled and compassionate care they received at the Hospital. Eventually, Jerry became a member of the Board where he also serves on Oversight and Ad hoc Committees.

Jerry and Joan's first major gift to Boca Raton Regional Hospital was to the Marcus Neuroscience Institute where they were part of the initial group of donors who joined Bernie and Bili Marcus in the capital campaign to build the premier institution of its type in the region. Jerry and Joan were inspired to give because of their long-time friendship and admiration for Bernie and Bili, as well as knowing the importance of this clinical area particularly for the health of older members of the community.

In addition to his service to Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Jerry is heavily involved with the Boca West community where he served on the board for many years and in 2013, became the new chairman of the board and CEO of Boca West Country Club, the top volunteer role in this community of 3,300 families.

Jerry and Joan's latest gift to the Hospital is an irrevocable charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) funded initially with Home Depot stock. Jerry and Joan will receive a percentage of the Trust's asset value each year with the remainder going to Boca Raton Regional Hospital at their passing. "It is a win-win-win. We get an immediate tax benefit, income for life, our children will not have to pay the capital gains tax and the Hospital will receive additional resources for its mission. These types of instruments are particularly useful for older donors," says Jerry.

Jerry is looking forward to further expansion and progress of the Hospital and the value it will bring to the community and its residents. It is one of the reasons he is a member of the task force headed by Dick Schmidt, which is overseeing the search for a strategic partner for the Hospital. Jerry has been extremely impressed by the candidates. "I know that the partnership will help to move the Hospital to an even higher level of excellence, while preserving our warm, community-centered culture of care and giving."

You, like Jerry, can make a difference at the BRRH Foundation. To learn more about making a gift for the future, contact Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation at 561-955-4142 or BRRHFoundation@baptisthealth.net.