Photo credit: Hartong Digital Media
L Dianne Cummins; R Pearl Schwartz
Submitted by Foundation for Cincinnati Jewish Seniors
After nearly three decades of devoted service to Jewish seniors in Greater Cincinnati, The Friends of Cedar Village has formally dissolved, transferring its remaining assets to The Foundation for Cincinnati Jewish Seniors (FCJS). The transition ensures that the organization’s legacy of compassion, community and care will continue to benefit local seniors for generations to come.
The milestone was marked at a tribute event on March 29, where community members gathered to honor the Friends’ impact and recognize its final officers, Pearl Schwartz and Dianne Cummins. Also honored was Carol Leshner, of Blessed Memory.
“Today, we are here to thank Pearl, Dianne, Carol and everyone who donated their time to the Friends of Cedar Village,” said Sally Korkin during the program. “The Friends always said ‘yes’ when asked to sponsor an event or fund a purchase that would enhance the quality of life for the residents.”
Founded in 1997 when Cedar Village opened — through the merger of auxiliaries from the Orthodox Jewish Home and Glen Manor — the Friends of Cedar Village became a vital force in enriching the lives of residents. From an initial $250,000 pledge to support dementia care, to funding a handicap-accessible van, the organization consistently focused on dignity, connection and joy.
Among its most visible and enduring contributions was the Sadye and Albert Harris Gift Shop, which evolved into a central hub of life within Cedar Village. Nina Perlove, Executive Director of FCJS, reflected on its deeper meaning to the community.
“The gift shop was so much more than a place to make purchases,” Nina said. “It brought Yiddishkeit to these walls — the Judaica in the store reminded us of the blessings of Jewish lifecycle events and served as a statement that this building is not just a home, but a proud Jewish home.”
She described how the shop became a gathering place for residents, families and the broader community. “People came to the shop because they believed in what it represented,” she said. “For residents, it was a reminder that there was a community of Friends embracing them.”
Behind the scenes, the shop — and the broader work of the Friends — required constant dedication. “Building and maintaining the shop took time, attention and management,” Nina added. “It meant showing up on snowy days and during difficult moments like the pandemic. That level of commitment speaks volumes.”
In addition to running the gift shop, Friends of Cedar Village volunteers organized weekly Oneg Shabbats, monthly birthday celebrations, bingo games, holiday initiatives and signature events such as the Cedar Village Golf Classic and Mitzvah Day.
Rachel Hodesh reflected on the spirit behind those efforts, noting that the work of the Friends was rooted in something deeper than programming alone. “This was about showing up with intention and care,” she said. “It was about creating moments of joy and belonging for every resident.”
At the center of this enduring commitment were Pearl Schwartz and Dianne Cummins, the organization’s final two officers. Together, they ensured that the Friends continued to operate with purpose. Nina praised their leadership and commitment to gemilut chasadim, acts of loving kindness. “You were caring and supportive not as a strategy, but as a way of being,” Nina said.
As Cedar Village evolved and the organization approached its conclusion, Schwartz and Cummins made a deliberate and thoughtful decision: to ensure that the Friends’ remaining assets would continue serving Jewish seniors in a meaningful way.
“It is not a hard goodbye,” Nina explained. “This is a handoff — one rooted in the same values that guided the Friends from the beginning.”
That handoff will take the form of a new annual grant: the Friends of Cedar Village Award, created by FCJS in honor of Pearl Schwartz, Dianne Cummins and Carol Leshner, of blessed memory. The award will recognize local organizations that exemplify enhancing the quality of life for Jewish seniors — continuing the Friends’ core mission.
The Foundation for Cincinnati Jewish Seniors, which originally built and operated Cedar Village before becoming a grantmaking foundation in 2018, focuses on investing in impactful programs and services for Jewish seniors across the region. Since 2020, FCJS has awarded more than 100 grants totaling over $4.8 million.
Throughout the tribute event, speakers emphasized that while the Friends of Cedar Village as an organization is concluding, its legacy will endure. Nina echoed that sentiment in closing, invoking a familiar Jewish phrase: “L’dor v’dor — from generation to generation. The Friends built something worth passing forward. And we are committed to honoring that legacy with the same care and purpose.”
