Why They Do It
Walter and Dianne Harrison
“We are interested in perpetuating things that will make the world better in the future.” That is just one reason why Walter Harrison, and his wife Dianne, have created an after-life legacy gift for the Mandell JCC. The Mandell JCC’s 1915 Legacy Society is an opportunity for our community to create an after-life gift of permanence through an endowment that will sustain a vibrant Mandell JCC in perpetuity. These lasting legacy gifts help the JCC continue to build connections between generations and sustain our strong community.
“What I envisioned for this after-life gift, along with those I have created for other institutions, is pretty similar to the way I view my personal legacy. I believe in the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam, to repair the world. I tried to achieve that in my life. Maybe this sounds a little schmaltzy, but what I tried to do in my life and in my career, is to always try to leave the world or wherever I am, a better place than I found it.”, says Walter.
As former President of the University of Hartford, Walter first learned about the Mandell JCC in 1998. “When I came to Hartford, I knew that the JCC was a valued neighbor and at the center of a very strong Jewish community that the University would benefit from.”
During his tenure as the Chair of the neighborhood networking group, University Park Association, Walter gathered colleagues and staff from non-profits, businesses and groups in the University corridor. That marked his initial connection with JCC staff, including Frank Resnick, retired JCC CFO, who brought Walter to the JCC.
Upon retirement as the university president in 2017, Walter began to spend more time at the JCC. While he currently serves on 10 local, national and international boards, he is also a devoted swimmer, enjoys many fitness activities and values health and wellness. Recently, the avid sports fan has had the opportunity to engage with the players from the Hartford Athletic Soccer team when they trained at the JCC. He also attends arts and culture events like the Greater Hartford Jewish Film Festival. “I wanted to maintain the sense of being in a community, having new experiences and meeting interesting people.” Walter is also a supporter of the JCC Scholarship Golf Tournament. “The JCC Golf Tournament is vital because it provides the opportunity for scholarships so that all people will be able to experience the JCC.”
A true believer in the idea of community, Walter appreciates the diversity of members and offerings at the JCC and always relishes seeing the preschoolers, the kids in swim lessons, and young basketball families as much as he does the Active Adult exercise classes.
As someone who feels a sense of duty to give of their time, talent and treasure, Walter, who serves on the Board of Directors for Trinity Health of New England and as the Chairman of the Saint Francis Hospital Board of Directors, was thrilled to learn of the strong connection between the Mandell JCC, St. Francis and Mount Sinai Rehab Hospital. Recently Harrison was charged with recruiting new board members to serve on the Mount Sinai Board of Directors and recruited Annie Keith, COO of the JCC. “During my board interview with Walter, I learned that we both shared a strong affinity for both hospitals and their faith-based mission, and I also wanted to do my part to ensure that they were valued and respected in our community.”
Keith and Harrison, both 1915 Legacy Society donors, believe that community organizations like the JCC are critical to improving overall physical and mental wellness in our community with strong partnerships from the medical community and hope that their gifts will support this effort for future generations.
Walter sums it up this way: “I think there are so many institutions that we take for granted. We don’t really think about why they’re there. But we need to support them so that they can continue in perpetuity. I have enough confidence in the human endeavor that in the end, we all want to make the world a better place.”
