40 Under Forty 2020: Steven Schimmel
Photo | Matthew Wright
Steven Schimmel
- Title: Executive director
- Company: Jewish Federation of Central MA, in Worcester
- Residence: Worcester
- Birthplace: Conroe, Texas
- Colleges: Manhattanville College, Rutgers University
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On his 27th birthday, Steven Schimmel became the youngest executive director of the Jewish Federation’s 148 offices. He is still charging full steam ahead a decade later, having spent six years at the Jewish Federation of Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties in New Jersey, and then four as the head of the Central Massachusetts office.
In Worcester, he oversaw a $400,000 campaign to beautify, refurbish and dignify three Jewish cemeteries in Central Massachusetts, as well as increased the number of donors contributing to the Jewish Federation’s annual fundraising campaign by 10% in the past year. Some 390 legacy gifts valued at $10.3 million have been promised to Central Massachusetts Jewish organization endowments over the course of his tenure. Schimmel is responsible for supervising operations at Clark University Hillel, Rachel’s Table, Jewish Federation’s Israeli Young Emissary Program and the Jewish Community Endowment Fund. He has spent the coronavirus pandemic working to ensure local organizations have the resources needed to serve their communities, including working with distributors to get protective masks to area nursing homes and elder care facilities.
What four people would you want as year-long travel companions? Niall Ferguson to explain the history and economics of the places we visit. During the long plane rides, we would brainstorm with Oprah and Elon Musk to develop new ideas and create solutions, and Bill Bryson would give comedic insights into the everyday mundane experiences of life and travel.
After months of pandemic life, have you realized you want to work from home more? I miss the personal contact and interaction in the office, and I like the work environment there. And I miss shining my shoes everyday.
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