Finker-Frenkel Legacy Foundation Sponsors Police Memorial

The Finker-Frenkel Legacy Foundation is defined by its commitment to community. Since arriving in Jacksonville, Lazar Finker, Raissa Frenkel, and the rest of their family have embraced the city and the people that live in it.

Funding from the Foundation recently allowed for the creation of a memorial for the 61 police officers killed in the line of duty in Jacksonville’s past 178 years. The memorial includes three statues, a granite wall of remembrance, and an eternal flame and was conceived in 2011 by Eagle Scout Adam Resch.

The unveiling of the memorial was accompanied by a ceremony attended by the families of fallen officers. During this event, the fallen received a twenty-one gun salute and a missing man flyover by Sheriff’s Office helicopters. During the ceremony, Lazar Finker spoke about the importance of community, both in Jacksonville and throughout the country.

“In my mind this monument was initially started as an idea to unify the law enforcement community, not just in Jacksonville but in our country,” Finker said.

The Finker-Frenkel Legacy Foundation worked with Resch to make the memorial a reality. His drive to honor the fallen officers moved the Foundation to action and prompted the donation that would see it through to completion.

The family has always supported law enforcement and civil service providers. The Police Officer’s Assistance Trust (POAT), who worked with Resch and the Foundation on the memorial, is another organization that they have been in close contact with in recent years. In 2016-2018, the Foundation committed donated to the POAT with a commitment of more funds over five years. They have also worked with Miami Beach K9 Knight, an organization supporting police dogs in the area. The Finker-Frenkel Legacy Foundation plans on continuing to support law enforcement in the future through these organizations and other avenues.

Other community initiatives that the Finker-Frenkel Legacy Foundation have been a part of include the construction of a temple for Chabad Southside. They are also active in the South Florida chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Going forward, Lazar, Raissa, and the Foundation look to continue to find organizations making a significant impact in the community.

About the Author: Raissa Frenkel is an entrepreneur and business veteran with years of experience in the education and energy sectors. She is dedicated to the cause of building a better world, working toward that goal through the Finker-Frenkel Legacy Foundation, an organization dedicated to building a community of like-minded philanthropists. Through the Foundation, Raissa, her family, and many others support causes such as education, religious development, and child welfare. She and her husband Lazar live in Jacksonville, Florida.