Donor Spotlight

Meet a few of the people who make PJ Library possible.

This story appeared in the July 2022 issue of PROOF, a PJ Library magazine.

From left: Nancy Glesby, William Northington, Charlotte Northington, Tracy Northington, Gary Glesby, and Lauren Mahan.

Courtesy photo

Our family has always been deeply involved with the Jewish community. Our family learned about PJ Library from the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, and we found that the program connected our passions of supporting both the Jewish community and education. We knew of the local PJ Library program but didn’t realize how global it was.

We ultimately decided to make a lead gift to endow PJ Library in Houston. It’s a legacy that would make our grandfather proud.

Tracy Northington, Granddaughter of Morris Glesby

Trustees of the Spitz Tuchman Charitable Trust (from left): Warren Spitz, Jillian Tuchman, Erica Tuchman, Danielle Spitz Kolojay, Maren Spitz Kohl, and Lauren Spitz.

Photo by Roberto Falck Photography

Nearly 30 years ago, I married the love of my life, Jerry Spitz. We united our two families and our five children. Jerry and I shared similar views on Jewish family life, Jewish community, and philanthropy. Our kids? Not so much.

When Jerry was diagnosed with a terminal illness, we started planning for our family’s future. We knew our legacy was instilling Jewish philanthropy into the hearts of our children, and we started the Spitz Tuchman Charitable Trust. Our children were designated as advisers.

I soon learned about PJ Library and wanted to enroll my grandchildren in Denver, but PJ Library was not yet there. I had the books sent to my home in Connecticut and then forwarded them to Denver. The grandkids, their mother — Danielle — and I all loved the books.

The following year when it was time to decide on which gifts to give from our trust, Danielle made a great case for helping to start PJ Library in Denver. We offered Denver seed money in 2012, which inspired its bigger fundraising efforts.

Danielle attended the kickoff luncheon where PJ Library founder Harold Grinspoon spoke with passion. Danielle got it. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and since then our family has been passionate about funding PJ Library in our local communities.

This past year, I watched PJ Library expand globally at a breakneck speed. When we were asked to be founding donors of the PJ Library International Fund, we were all on board. This initiative provides a feeling of belonging to a larger family and of being a part of the worldwide community of Jews. If there is a pen-pal component, count us in!

Lauren Spitz, Spitz Tuchman Charitable Trust