It’s a classic American love story—football player meets a pretty girl. They begin a courtship, marry, and the rest is history.
Sixty-four years later, Helen and Warren Aleck still tell that story with a gleam in their eyes. Who knew that a chance high school romance would become the foundation of a lifelong partnership—one rooted in love, humility, and a quiet determination to give back?
From their hometown of Norfolk to their home in Florida, the Alecks have built a life steeped in values. But they’ve never preached those values. “We never told our daughters to be generous,” Helen says. “They saw it. In how we lived. In what we did.”
Their daughters, Debra Aleck and Audrey Aleck Koltun, grew up watching the steady rhythm of giving in their home—fundraisers, volunteer work, and donations made without a second thought. Giving was not an event. It was a way of life. They watched their parents act and mirrored what they saw – starting with selling Girl Scout cookies, organizing fundraisers, and dropping off a donation. Living their values. Warren recalls his own father quietly delivering groceries from their family business to families in crisis. “If someone lost their home in a fire, my dad sent food. No questions. No recognition.” That model shaped Warren’s lifelong belief. “I didn’t wait to be called on to help—I made the call to help.” Helen grew up in a household that welcomed guests at the Shabbat table and taught her that giving wasn’t reserved for those with abundance—it started with intention. “It’s not the amount,” she says. “It’s the intent. Start where you are.”
That same clarity of purpose now guides their charitable giving. Whether it’s a natural disaster, or a promising nonprofit advocating for disability access, the Alecks look for ways to respond to needs — but never hastily. That’s where Tidewater Jewish Foundation comes in. “TJF has made our giving smarter and easier,” says Warren. “They’ve vetted the organizations. They know the landscape — Jewish and secular — and they understand where our dollars can do the most good.” With TJF’s help, the Alecks have been able to streamline their giving, track their contributions, and make an even greater impact—without the paperwork and guesswork.
Their story is a quiet reminder that values—when lived consistently and passed down—create legacies that endure. Whether through charitable funds or simple acts of kindness, Warren and Helen have taught their family, and by extension, their community, what it means to live generously. “We’re not flashy people,” Warren says. “We just believe in doing what’s right.”
Tidewater Jewish Foundation is ready to help wherever each person is on their philanthropic journey. Visit foundation.jewishva.org to learn more.