There wasn’t one defining moment that Matthew Goldblatt said sparked his philanthropy. Instead, it was rooted in the values he grew up with.
When his family moved to Orlando, his mother helped found Temple Shir Shalom to ensure her children would have a strong Jewish community. His father, an engineer, led a life grounded in process, and doing things the “right” way.
“That's not just about home projects but translates to doing the right things, which includes volunteering and helping when in a position to do so,” Goldblatt said.
Following what was modeled for him, Goldblatt was part of founding a BBYO chapter in Orlando while he was in high school, which he said had a profound impact on his life. He wanted to pass that experience on to the next generation and has been a BBYO adviser for the last five years and has won four consecutive “Regional Advisor of the Year” Awards.
His involvement in Jewish Nashville has been both personal and intentional, increasing his presence in recent years through NowGen, Nice Jewish Runners, and other Federation events. In the past, he would contribute here and there, but following October 7 he realized there was a shift in funds toward overseas and wanted to ensure support locally.
“If I enjoy attending local events and want these types of things to keep happening, why shouldn't I support them financially?” he said “It starts with the individual. Your actions reflect your priorities. If we want Jewish community and institutions to exist moving forward, it's time for the next generation to step up.”
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