Project H.O.M.E. Receives Matching Gift Challenge From Epstein Family In Honor Of Mom's 104th Birthday
DECEMBER 15, 2009PHILADELPHIA, December 14, 2009 Bucks County philanthropists, Gene and Marlene Epstein, have teamed up with Dr. D. Walter Cohen, Project H.O.M.E. Trustee, with a challenge to the community to celebrate two milestones in their lives. The first milestone is the 20th anniversary of Project H.O.M.E., and the second milestone is the104th birthday of Matilda Epstein (or “Billie” as she is known), Gene’s mother and Dr. Cohen’s cousin. To mark these amazing milestones, the Epsteins and Dr. Cohen have started The Matilda Epstein Community Development Fund that will support Project H.O.M.E.’s revitalization work in the North Central Philadelphia community known as the “St. Elizabeth's/Diamond Street” neighborhood. The family is hoping to raise $100,000 for the Fund and will match dollar-for-dollar all new gifts made to the Fund (by end of January 2010, Billie’s birthday month) up to $50,000.
Billie Epstein, born and raised in North Philadelphia, has always cared about giving back to her community and has raised her children to do so as well. In fact, Billie likes to tell the story of Little Gene Epstein, who in 1st grade, took 25 cents from her bag everyday for recess and divided the money for all the children could not afford recess money. When Gene’s teacher told Billie that that her son had given away all his recess money, Billie told her she was very proud of Gene. That desire to always help others has continued over the years. The Epsteins believe that, as Jews, it is their responsibility to tikkun olam (repair the world). It is for this reason that they are involved with Project H.O.M.E.; the Matilda Epstein Community Development Fund will work to repair families, homes, blocks and the North Central Philadelphia community at large.
Sister Mary Scullion, Executive Director of Project H.O.M.E., says that “This is an incredible tribute to an amazing woman, and a creative way to honor Billie’s legacy of giving back to the community! Challenges like these are so important in these difficult financial times and will provide much needed funding for our community development work.” Both the Epsteins and Dr. Cohen have been true believers in Project H.O.M.E.’s motto that “none of us are home until all of us are home.” In discussing their motivation for making the matching gift challenge grant, Gene Epstein said, “What could a woman of 104 really need at this point? I wanted to make a more meaningful gift to my mother and I feel a moral obligation to support Project H.O.M.E.’s work and make my money work" by providing an opportunity to encourage others to do their part.” As Billie Epstein recently wrote in a poem: “Don’t let bigotry or hate dominate your heart and soul. It is a devastating disease. . . . . The Lord our God will bless you when there’s kindness in your heart and charity to the best of your ability.”
