Eddie Kramer | Jewish News

The will to build, together

Eddie Kramer — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:13:17 +0000

As we complete another incredibly successful year at Tidewater Jewish Foundation, I am heartened by the faith, trust, and confidence that is placed in us to safeguard personal heritage ideals.

This past year, we grew our assets under management by 17%; 2% better than the prior year, while maintaining strong levels of distribution. None of this would be possible without our clients’ and partners’ continued belief in our mission. For a deeper look at the impact individual generosity makes possible, check out our 2025 Annual Impact Report included as an insert in this issue of Jewish News.

I cannot say enough about our exceptional staff. Small though it is, this team manages significant community assets with tremendous fiduciary responsibility. Year after year, we receive outstanding audits and accolades for exceptional performance. Under the leadership of our CEO, Naomi Limor Sedek, the team continues to strengthen and expand its reach across our community. Naomi and Amy Weinstein work closely with all our member organizations to help them meet—and often exceed—their financial goals.

Ann Swindell oversees our grants process and committee calendars with professionalism and care. Each year, we distribute more than a quarter million dollars to community programs through this process, and Ann ensures these dollars land where they can do the most good. Behind the scenes, Randy Parrish and Craig Bailey manage the back-office operations that make our perfect audit record possible. And, of course, Kim King binds the entire team together as executive assistant. Every person listed here does far more than can be captured in one article, and our community is unquestionably stronger because of their work.

TJF has served our community remarkably well, but I believe we can—and must—do even more. Naomi has set us on a promising path with board succession planning and is now developing employee succession planning to prepare us for the years ahead. To broaden our donor base, we must reach into financial areas we have not yet accessed, and we will be adding to our team to help us do so.

I have long believed that the role of our community foundation is to protect our institutions by securing their futures through endowment. Our next major milestone should be to expand our assets and promises under management from $230 million to $500 million. It’s a lofty goal, but an attainable one. We have the capacity. Now let’s find the will together.

Ed Kramer is chair of Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s board of directors.

Why I believe in Tidewater’s Jewish tomorrow

Eddie Kramer — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 20:53:35 +0000

A year ago, I became chair of Tidewater Jewish Foundation. I am extremely honored to be in this position, especially considering all of those who have previously served in this role. I only hope to fill their shoes while trying to help guide this amazing organization in ways I hope they approve. I am also extremely grateful for our donors and partners, and this wonderful community I try my best to serve. We are truly blessed by each one of you. We are a small and vibrant community that truly understands the necessity of planning and building for our future.

I became active at TJF because I believe in our community and its future, and I want to help us preserve our Jewish community. We have the opportunity and obligation to strengthen our organizations by building on the foundations that will keep them running for years to come and making sure they will be around to serve our children and grandchildren.

This legacy commitment is one I hope every member of our great community can endorse. Our goal is to triple our current assets under management from $160,000,000 to $500,000,000 – and those aren’t just numbers. This is our promise to each other: that every child will have access to a Jewish education; that every Jewish organization will have the best available security so that their practice can go on uninterrupted; that every family in need will have that support available, that every institution we cherish will have the resources to not just survive, but thrive.

This tripling of our assets under management represents the combination of what we have today, and what promises have been made for tomorrow. It’s a long-term strategy built on short-term trust. That is trust you have placed in our Tidewater Jewish Foundation and in some respects, your trust in me. Our Foundation has the most incredible professionals. Naomi Limor Sedek, Randy Parrish, Amy Weinstein, Craig Bailey, Ann Swindell, and Kim King tirelessly endeavor to make our community stronger and help us reach these lofty goals. Our board of directors are some of the best, brightest, and finest of our incredible community. I get the honor of serving with Paul Peck, Sandra Porter Leon, Richard Saunders, Neil Rose, Jay Klebanoff, Kim Fink, Byron Harrell, and Charlie Nusbaum as my executive committee, to name just a few.

As a Foundation, our focus this year has been crystal clear: be the best possible stewards of this community’s generosity. That means smarter investing. Stronger partnerships with our agencies and congregations. Deeper relationships with our donors. And a renewed commitment to education, helping families and advisors alike understand how legacy giving can turn private values into public good.

We’re also thinking about the future in new ways, creating tools and conversations that speak to the next generation of philanthropists. We’re helping young people understand that giving isn’t something you wait to do when you’re older. It’s something you grow into, and we’re showing them how.

Our job isn’t just to manage money. It’s to inspire movement and to build bridges between generations. We need to make sure that when the torch is passed, it’s burning even brighter. One thing my Eagle Scout father, Pete Kramer, inculcated in me was to leave everything behind in better shape than you found it.

On behalf of TJF’s board, thank you. Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your belief in what we’re building together.
Let’s keep going.
Let’s keep giving.
Let’s keep growing.

Eddie Kramer is Tidewater Jewish Foundation’s board chair.

“Man Smart, Woman Smarter”: The witty influence of a mom, wife, and daughter

Eddie Kramer — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 17:09:11 +0000

I’ve been trying—unsuccessfully—to get Naomi Limor Sedek, president and CEO of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation, to listen to this song for weeks now. Man Smart, Woman Smarter, by Grateful Dead, has always made me smile, not just because of its catchy tune, but because it so perfectly reflects the dynamic of my life. I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by brilliant, funny, fiercely loving women who have shaped me in ways I can only begin to explain. And truthfully, they’ve made me smarter—whether I liked it or not.

It started with my mother, Florence Kramer, who had more talents than I could ever list. She gave me my love of gardening, my competitive streak, and a can-do attitude that refuses to back down. One of my favorite memories of her happened at one of my brother Jeff’s wrestling matches. It wasn’t going well—so badly, in fact, that she could barely watch. But when two men nearby started yelling “kill him!” in reference to Jeff’s opponent, she sprang into action. All five feet, two inches and 120 pounds of her marched straight up to them, pointed her finger in their faces, and said, “Mister, that’s my son you’re telling him to kill!” They didn’t say another word for the rest of the meet. That was my mom—sharp, courageous, and unwavering when it came to defending her family.

My wife, Anne, on the other hand, takes a slightly different approach. Through the years, she has been my most enduring source of grace and wisdom. Her patience grounds me. Her sense of humor matches mine, which keeps us laughing—even when the going gets tough. But what really sets her apart is her quiet intelligence. I’ve always joked that she never says anything unless she knows she’s absolutely right. In 45 years of marriage, I’ve maybe won five arguments—and none of those were even worth winning. These days, before I make a questionable decision or say something debatable, I run it by her. And if I have to ask? My kids will be the first to tell me I already know the answer.

This brings me to my daughter, Carra, who is every bit as fierce and brilliant as my mom. She works harder than anyone I know. By age 12, she had already outpaced me intellectually. I remember a friend once confiding in us, concerned that her newly graduated son still didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life. I tried to reassure her, saying, “At 42, I’m not sure I know what I want to do either.” And, without missing a beat, my daughter chimed in, “Then why do I have to listen to you?” Thank goodness wisdom usually trumps intelligence, because I looked her straight in the eye and said, “Because your mom said so.”

Through it all, we’ve navigated life with humor, love, and a shared belief in the importance of community. These women have inspired me to grow, to serve, and to lead by example.

As chair of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation, I carry their influence with me every day. The strength, clarity, and conviction they bring to our family have helped shape my values and how I approach leadership. They’ve taught me that legacy isn’t just about what you leave behind—it’s about how you live, how you lift others up, and how you use your voice to build a stronger, more secure community for the next generation. Their impact is woven into the initiatives we support at TJF and into the very fabric of the Jewish future we’re working together to sustain for my children, your children, their children, and beyond.