Providing Security: Debbie & Larry Haspel & The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

By Simone Knego | Photo by Nancy Guth | January 2023

Debbie and Larry Haspel are committed to helping our community. They are especially committed to helping our Jewish community. 

Before moving to Sarasota, Larry worked as an Interventional Cardiologist and morphed in mid-career to become the CEO of a healthcare system. Debbie started her professional life as a nurse and then went to law school and worked in civil litigation. 

Now married for 36 years, the power couple moved to Sarasota in 2009 from the Chicago suburbs to escape the cold Chicago winters and to be closer to Debbie’s mother. When not volunteering, you can find Larry on the golf course or gardening, while Debbie loves to read and knit. And together, they truly enjoy exercising. Although they came here to retire, they have been busier than ever, supporting our community. 

Debbie and Larry are the true definition of philanthropists, giving of their time and money to multiple organizations throughout the community. They are well known in Sarasota for their involvement in both community service organizations as well as the arts. 

Currently, Larry is a board member of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and is also involved at Asolo Repertory Theatre, Ringling College, and Embracing Our Differences. 

Debbie is a former board member of the Federation and was instrumental in helping amend the bylaws and the articles of incorporation. She is currently involved with Temple Beth Sholom, Aviva Senior Living, and Embracing Our Differences. Both Debbie and Larry are on the regional board of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), and Larry is a member of AJC’s national board. They are constantly on the go, working to enhance our community.

Shep Englander, CEO of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, stated, “For Larry and Debbie, community leadership and philanthropy is not an activity. It is their passion.  They understand at their core that combining organizational leadership and philanthropy can unleash powerful results—that it’s like 1 + 1 = 5.  And as smart and strategic as they are, it is their love for the organizations they lead that drives them.”  

In 2022, the Federation hosted an event featuring Michael Masters from the Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America. At that event, Debbie and Larry  knew that they wanted to be involved in the security initiative that was discussed at the meeting. 

With six children and five grandchildren, continuity and safety of the Jewish community are very important to them. Their family decided to create a security endowment at the Federation for the benefit of Sarasota-Manatee Jewish community. Further, they used their generous commitment to create a matching gift challenge that created a dollar for dollar all endowment gifts up to $500,000 for security needs in our region, including physical structure hardening, assessments and trainings, and live security officers. 

The training aspect was really important for Larry. “Our kids and grandkids have to go through active shooter drills now in schools because of all the shootings that are going on. Doesn’t it make sense that we would do something similar in our synagogues and other Jewish centers to keep our community safe?”

Larry continued, “Antisemitism has been around for thousands of years. Both Debbie and I felt pretty safe throughout our youth and most of our adulthood. We knew there was antisemitism and encountered it many times, but we never really worried about it. I think that has changed in recent years. We really wanted to create an environment where everyone feels safe.”  

Debbie went on to explain her reasoning for creating this endowment fund, “Some of my greatest memories of our children growing up were when they attended Jewish day camps or Jewish preschools. To see my children and other Jewish parents afraid to allow their children to participate in those types of Jewish life events is heartbreaking. What happens to our Jewish future if our children and grandchildren are deprived of these experiences? It just bothered me so much. We wanted to do something to ensure that people feel safe enough to allow their children to be Jewish.”

Although they could have made a one-time gift, they created the security endowment because they wanted to make sure that the dollars would be there for years to come. Their gift is inspired. It will not only safeguard the campus, but it will provide resources for our entire community. With the construction of the new campus, the timing could not have been better. 

“The facilities on our campus are nonsectarian,” Larry said. “Everyone is encouraged to visit our campus and enjoy what our community has built. We want to reassure the community that we are taking steps as citizens to support a more secure environment for all people who come to our campus.”

Bruce Udell, Board President of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, emphatically stated, “Larry and Debbie Haspel are two of the most compassionate, articulate, and inciteful people I know. The Sarasota community is a much better place to live because of their passion, commitment, and leadership.”

Due to his expertise, Larry has been instrumental in helping to build out the business plan for the new Morganroth Event Center, currently under construction at The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s campus. The Haspel’s security endowment is critical to safeguard the campus so that the entire community can enjoy the new facilities.

The Morganroth Event Center will be the heart of the Federation’s campus with multiple spaces for the community to utilize for a variety of events, including the Kaplan Community Hall, that will hold up to 1,000 people auditorium style and more than 500 people at rounds. The Event Center should be open in early 2024, with reservations available in late 2023

Hermione Gilpin, Chief Advancement Officer of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, stated, “Our vision is that the space will be a hub for community building for our region’s life cycle events such as weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, birthdays, etc.; nonprofit galas; performing arts; and corporate conferences and retreats.” 

Debbie and Larry are inspirational examples of Tikkun Olam, making the world a better place for all people. Their time and commitment to our community are exceptional. As Debbie so humbly said, “We just do what we can…And at the end of the day, we get more than we give.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, please visit jfedsrq.org or call (941) 371-4546.