When Jacob (Kovi) Smolack returned to Winnipeg after more than a decade in New York, it wasn’t just the weather or his father Cantor Smolack calling him back. Kovi, his wife Iris Rosenfeld and their two young children moved to Winnipeg for the sense of community and quality of life that would be available to them as a dual working-parent family. They quickly became active community volunteers, with Kovi sitting on the Federation Board and chairing the Audit Committee in addition to serving as Treasurer for his synagogue, and Iris involved with children’s programming at the synagogue. Professionally, Iris is a physician with the Workers Compensation Board, and Kovi is an audit manager with Deloitte.

One of the corporate values that attracted him to Deloitte is the corporate commitment to supporting the communities in which employees work and live. On September 28th, Deloitte professionals across Canada will take part in a firm-wide day of volunteer service, and Kovi will be leading a team of eight colleagues in painting the Shalom Home residence at 5 Seven Oaks Place. They will also do some light yard work for winter clean-up. The entire Winnipeg office will working at different projects throughout the city that day.

As Kovi says,”Impact Day is one of the ways Deloitte demonstrates that we care about our local communities and that helping others and making an impact is important to us. This day is also a lot of fun and gives us the chance to work with people in a whole new way. Each office carefully considers a wide range of possible partners, including organizations such as Shalom Residences. Our goal is to help facilitate projects that the organizations wouldn’t otherwise have had the time or resources to complete.”

The Smolacks are one of several young families who have moved back to Winnipeg to raise their children. Reasons vary, but the common themes are a vibrant and dynamic community, the overall quality of life, affordable and quality Jewish education, family connections, and short commute times. These are many of the same reasons why immigrants are flocking to Winnipeg, and why the Jewish population here is now approaching 17,000!

The Combined Jewish Appeal’s Annual Campaign is underway, and donors have pledged almost half of the $5.780 million target. Funds will be used primarily to help our community agencies meet the increased demand for service that a growing community requires. Donors who have not yet been contacted by volunteer canvassers are encouraged to contact Financial Resource Director Elaine Goldstine at 204-477-7427, or visit jewishwinnipeg.org.