Ilene Zwick, MN JCF Investment Committee Chair Extraordinaire
Ilene Zwick has been a valued resource within the Minneapolis Jewish Community for several decades. During this time, she has lent much of her insight to the Minnesota Community Foundation (MN JCF) and just recently stepped down as Chair of MN JCF’s Investment Committee. Ilene left a lasting impression that will carry forward into the future and her leadership elevated MN JCF’s stature in our local community and beyond.
Becoming a Volunteer in the Minneapolis Jewish Community
The Zwick family moved to Minneapolis from Chicago in the summer of 1991. They were fortunate to establish early friendships in the Jewish community. Within a month of arriving Ilene was asked to co-chair the National Council of Jewish Women’s 100th anniversary where she and the family met extraordinary people, doing wonderful work.
Many of those same friendships also introduced Ilene to Minneapolis Jewish Federation, where they enjoyed working together to strengthen the community. So, when a volunteer role on MN JCF’s Investment Committee was available, she accepted gladly.
Taking the Helm of the Investment Committee
Ilene has been both a MN JCF Board member or a MN JCF Investment Committee member since 1997.
Since accepting the role of Co-Chair then Chair over 10 years ago, Ilene has made a significant impact on the MN JCF’s Investment Committee. She prioritized developing a more formal decision-making process, elevating MN JCF’s investment-related communications, diversifying the investment committee members, and growing the corpus of MN JCF. Under Ilene’s leadership, the Investment Committee not only met, but exceeded, the set goals.
“For all of Ilene’s tenure as investment chair she gave generously of her time and her insight. Over the years Ilene built up a highly competent investment committee that provided thoughtful oversight of our financial assets,” says MN JCF Board of Governor’s Chair, Ken Raskin. “Ilene consistently worked hard to include best in class investment strategies in our portfolio. We owe a big thank you to Ilene for her leadership and for leaving our portfolio in excellent shape.”
Ilene has led and been key in developing and determining investment strategy throughout her years as Chair. Her attentiveness, quick response, countless hours spent, and unparalleled commitment was a valuable resource and played a significant part in enabling MN JCF to grow into what it is today with assets currently over $150 million.
The Next Phase
After a long tenure as Chair of the Investment Committee, Ilene recently passed the baton to her successor, Steve Monto. She plans to stay on the MN JCF’s Board of Governors for 2023 as she continues with exciting plans associated with her Financial Advisor role with the Fernhill Group at Morgan Stanley in Wayzata.
Ilene is grateful for the friendships she made and the opportunities she had when she and her family moved to Minneapolis many years ago. Because of those friendships, Ilene and her family were able to quickly learn about their new community while also supporting their neighbors. As Ilene’s time volunteering with MN JCF and MN JCF’s Investment Committee comes to an end, she is looking ahead to the future and is eager to see the younger Jewish generation make its impact on the Minneapolis Jewish community with their new ideas.