$20 million donation from philanthropists Stephen and Bebe Saks to nonprofits serving both the Jewish community and greater Southwest Florida

Naples, Florida resident and philanthropist Stephen Saks, a retired Miami-Dade County car wash owner, made a $20 million donation to local nonprofits serving both the Jewish community and greater Southwest Florida.
The lead contribution is a $10 million endowment gift to the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, the largest donation in the organization’s history, with an additional $1 million for the local PJ Library, which provides free books to children.
Additional recipients are the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Educational Center, Baker Senior Center Naples for its lunch program, Jewish National Fund, Temple Shalom for youth programs and Golden Paws Assistance Dogs.
The endowment will allow the federation to further invest in Jewish event programming and organizational and community support for future generations, President and CEO Emeritus Jeffrey Feld said.
Stephen and Bebe Saks, operate the Stephen & Bebe Saks Family Foundation, a charitable organization focused on philanthropy and grantmaking in the Naples area.
The Sacks Family Foundation was established in 2001 in Illinois8. From its inception, the foundation has primarily focused on giving to arts, education, children’s services, social services, health, and Jewish organizations and temples.
In recent years, the Saks Family Foundation has significantly expanded its philanthropic reach and impact:
The foundation has substantially increased its charitable contributions.
In 2019, the foundation reported $198,500 in contributions received.
By 2022, this figure had grown dramatically to $6,810,0004.
The foundation’s grant-making activities have grown considerably:
In 2022, the foundation made 55 grants.
Notable grants included:
$1,050,000 to Northwestern University for the Osborn Endowed Professorship Fund
$1,000,000 to The Obama Foundation for building the Presidential Library
$500,000 to The University of Chicago to support Urban Labs
While maintaining its core focus areas, the foundation has broadened its support to include:
Educational institutions (e.g., Northwestern University, University of Chicago)
Political and social initiatives
Urban development and research (e.g., UChicago Urban Labs)
Their giving include grants to Naples’ Holocaust Museum & Cohen Educational Center, the Jewish National Fund, and Temple Shalom’s youth programs.
This latest large-scale donation demonstrates a continued commitment to supporting Jewish causes and local community initiatives.
The evolution of the Saks Family Foundation’s philanthropic efforts shows a trend towards larger donations, more diverse causes, and a growing impact on both local communities and national initiatives.