JCC Denver now ‘The Staenberg Campus’

Michael Staenberg

ROSH HASHANAH EDITION 5779
SECTION D PAGE 5

The corner of Leetsdale and Dahlia is changing. The Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center will now be known as The Staenberg Campus, which is reflected in new signage. The campus name change went into effect Aug. 23.

The JEWISHcolorado building is undergoing major renovations at Alameda and Dahlia.

Campus namesake, Michael Staenberg, says he is excited about building and promoting a cohesive community in Denver and he is proud to have his name associated with this campus.

Staenberg has been active with JCC Denver, gifting more than $10 million over the past several years to renovate and upgrade the facility.

“I believe these buildings will serve as a catalyst for Jewish families and businesses across Denver to come together and form a true community built around shared experiences and a common vision for the future,” said Staenberg, a philanthropist based in both St. Louis and Denver who has worked on JCC buildings across the country to strengthen Jewish communal life.

Staenberg adds that the vision of Denver’s Jewish community and his own personal vision are aligned: facilitating and promoting meaning for the entire Colorado Jewish community.

For nearly 40 years, Staenberg has developed more than 200 shopping centers comprising more than 35 million square feet of retail space.

In 2012, he founded The Staenberg Group, a privately held company headquartered in St. Louis that is dedicated to building premier properties to serve the community.

Previously, Staenberg was president and co-founder of THF Realty, which was established in 1991 and grew to become the third largest commercial real estate firm in the US.

As a philanthropist Staenberg has instilled a passion for giving at The Staenberg Group.

His company gives to many charitable organizations and also leverages additional funding through community events, including the Staenberg Group Gateway Cup, an annual cycling competition.

The commitment to community giving has inspired his employees to follow suit. Through corporate contributions, coupled with employees giving of their time and talent to organizations of their choice, the company is expanding its philanthropic reach.

A pro bono consulting program also leverages Staenberg’s business network to assist nonprofit organizations by providing professional expertise to build capacity.

In 2005, Staenberg and his wife Carol established the Staenberg Family Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis.

Their mission is to ensure that the Jewish community, as well as the greater St. Louis region, thrives and flourishes. Funding supports programs relating to arts and culture, children, education and medical services.

Over the past decade, the foundation has given over $60 million in financial support to organizations in St. Louis, Denver and Israel as well as in-kind services valued at $10 million.

More than 70% of their giving is allocated to Jewish causes within the local communities they support.

Major contributions include a $30 million gift to create the 185,000 square foot Staenberg Family Complex of the JCC and the Jewish Federation in St. Louis; capital investments to Forest Park Forever (St. Louis); Camp Sabra — St. Louis; Camp Shwayder and Ranch Camp — Denver; and Anything Grants, a new program.

The Staenbergs also created Staenberg Fellows, a program of the ADL of St. Louis to educate and build leadership skills of young Jewish professionals.

Michael Staenberg has been recognized for his civic and business leadership by numerous organizations and serves as a board member and trustee for agencies, including the JCC (past chairman), Regional Business Council, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, Forest Park Forever (fundraising chair), St. Louis Variety Club, Holocaust Museum and Epstein Hebrew Academy.