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The Beth Longwell Foundation is a California Public Benefit Corporation, organized to provide charitable assistance to the general public by supporting charities and organizations in the areas of childhood education, lung cancer research, grief support for children who have lost a parent, and others that honor the memory of Elisabeth J. Levitas Longwell.
Board Members
Ellen Levitas, President and Chair of the Board. Ellen is the mother of the late Beth Levitas Longwell, and of Jim Levitas, and grandmother to five. She is a retired Learning Disabilities teacher and private tutor and currently enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Jim Levitas, Vice President and Secretary. Jim is Beth's younger brother. He is a principal with Lion Equity Partners, a private investment firm focused on acquiring and operating middle market companies. Jim, his wife Lisa and their three children live in the Chicago area.
Alice Erber, Board Member. Alice met Ellen Levitas when Ellen inquired at Palo Alto High School (Paly) about a partnership to assist the Foundation in finding student candidates for the Beth Levitas Longwell Foundation Scholarship. Alice worked at Paly as a College Advisor for seven years actively helping students with the college process, financial aid and scholarships. She has been a volunteer in the community for 30 years with the Junior League, PTA and the Board of Beth Am Women. She is honored to contribute to the Foundation in memory of Beth.
Meridith Herman, Board Member. Meridith met Ellen Levitas, President and Chair of the Board, through her volunteer work with Kara. Meridith is currently gaining hours for her Marriage and Family Therapy license working at Palo Verde Elementary School. This is the same school which Lucy and Nathan attended. Meridith feels it is an honor to carry on Beth's legacy by supporting the health and happiness of the community.
Claudette Kayne, Board Member. Claudette met Beth when the Levitas family moved next door. Claudette enjoyed babysitting both Beth and Jim when they were growing up. After Claudette married, she moved to San Diego with her husband, Bob, where she served on the board at the National Kidney Foundation of San Diego while raising two boys. Beth and Claudette remained in contact and she was thrilled to hear that Beth was expecting twins. She fondly remembers pushing Lucy and Nathan on swings at Mitchell Park. Claudette and her husband recently moved back next door to the Levitas' home, so being a board member and supporting Ellen is a perfect fit.
Liz Garcia, Board Member. Liz is the Foundation's first scholarship recipient and graduated from the University of California, Riverside in 2016. She accepted a job right after graduation with The Primary School in East Palo Alto as the School Operations Associate. She is excited to serve on the Board and will always be grateful to the Beth Longwell Foundation for the scholarship.
Fran Cohen, Board Member. Fran and her husband Ron and moved to Los Altos in 1969 from Pennsylvania. They became friends with the Levitas family in 1971. Fran and Ron have a son and a daughter both living in Redwood City and four grandchildren. Fran retired in 1995 and enjoys spending a lot of time with her grandchildren. Fran volunteers for the Beth Longwell Foundation as well as Reading Project, tutoring children in the primary grades.
Lucy Longwell, Board Member. Lucy is Beth's daughter, and currently attends Henry M. Gunn High School. She is on her school's swim team, and is also an active member in Congregation Beth Am's youth group as well as a weekly volunteer in the temple's Sunday school. She is honored to help contribute to her mother's foundation.
