Teen Israel Experience Blogpost
March 26, 2024
Sderot and Be’eri: One grantmaker’s visit to the South of Israel after Oct 7
May 20, 2024
| SEATTLE, April 18, 2024 – The Samis Foundation welcomes Deva Hasson to the Samis Board of Trustees and celebrates the announcement of David Ellenhorn as Board Chair. Samis also extends deep gratitude to lifetime Trustee and immediate past Board Chair Eli Genauer, and Dana Behar who completed his final term on the board after 12 years of service. Deva joins 18 board members in stewarding the resources and strategic grantmaking of the foundation which has surpassed $125 million in grants awarded since its inception in 1994. Deva brings a wealth of professional expertise and passion for volunteerism to the Board. She will begin her service as a member of the Samis Endowment/Investment Committee. Deva serves as the President of Laird Norton Properties the real estate division of Laird Norton Company, a Seattle-based eighth-generation family-owned company that invests in private businesses and real estate. Prior to joining Laird Norton Properties, Deva was a Principal and Investment Director for Heartland LLC, a Laird Norton Company investment. She received her MBA, Honors degree with a concentration in Real Estate and Finance from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Arts, Highest Distinction, in History and Urban Planning from the University of California, Berkeley. Deva previously served as the Immediate Past Chair of the Bellwether Housing Board of Directors. She is an alumna of Leadership Tomorrow and a long-term volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, having completed four global village builds around the world. Deva lives in Seattle with her husband, Orin and two children, Naomi, and Ari, both of whom attend a Jewish day school. Samis’ new Board Chair, David Ellenhorn has served on the Board for the past 12 years. He is a partner at Ogden Murphy Wallace, specializing in corporate and real estate law. David previously served on the board of the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle and was a long-time board member and officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. He is a proud graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center and the University of Washington. “We are excited to welcome Deva as a new trustee of the Samis Foundation and congratulate David on his appointment as Board Chair.” said Connie Kanter, Samis CEO. “Deva’s extraordinary professional experience will be instrumental in propelling the work of our Endowment/Investment Committee. We are fortunate to have David step into this leadership role at a crucial time for the Jewish community locally and in Israel.” To learn more about the Samis Foundation and Board of Trustees, click here. |
| About the Samis Foundation: Founded in 1994 to fulfill the charitable mission and vision of Samuel Israel, the Samis Foundation is Washington State’s largest Jewish philanthropic organization. Since its inception, the Samis Foundation has granted more than $115 million to support intensive, immersive Jewish education for youth in Washington State and strategic initiatives in the State of Israel. Key funding priorities in Washington include Jewish day schools, overnight Jewish summer camps, teen Israel experiences, and youth enrichment and engagement programs. Priority program areas in Israel include support for people on the peripheries of Israeli society and investments in archaeology and wildlife conservation. |
