Jewish Community Foundation fundholders are turning their passions and visions into progress through their grants. These stories highlight the people, partnerships, and ideas that come together to activate these community investments.

Turning Gratitude into Action

For Steven Larky, philanthropy has always been rooted in a simple lesson learned early in life: those who have the ability to help others should do so. Over time, that belief has grown into a thoughtful and evolving approach to giving, shaped by curiosity, community, and a desire to make a meaningful difference.

After retiring from Qualcomm following a 37-year career, Steven and his wife, Alexis, became more deeply engaged in philanthropy through their Donor Advised Fund at Jewish Community Foundation. Following October 7, they strengthened their connection to both the Jewish community and the causes they support, viewing their giving as both practical and symbolic. For Steven, philanthropy is not only about providing resources. It is about showing up and being part of something larger.

Through opportunities like giv4 homelessness, Steven discovered new areas of community need and gained firsthand exposure to organizations working to address housing insecurity. Those experiences led to deeper involvement, volunteer leadership, and hands-on support alongside Alexis, who eagerly joined him in finding ways to help.

Today, Steven’s philanthropy spans local causes, the Jewish community, and Israel. He and Alexis have also opened donor advised funds for each of their sons, encouraging the next generation to begin their own giving journeys. As Steven reflects, while no one can solve every challenge, philanthropy offers an opportunity to move the world in a positive direction, one act of generosity at a time.