The Smile Fund - in memory of Bill & Edith Mantinband

Why we created this fund

Our parents were dedicated to helping others. Mom was active in the Hadassah women’s organization, the synagogue sisterhood, the Hadassah Zionist Youth Commission, etc., etc. She led the efforts for the synagogue’s meals-on-wheels bringing thousands of hot meals and welcome visits to elderly shut-ins and the ill. She ran the synagogue gift shop to raise funds for the sisterhood. For years she edited the synagogue bulletin, changing it from a brief list into an interesting journalistic work. She single-handedly created, and for years ran, the library at the Epstein Hebrew Academy. This is only a fraction of what she did – she devoted so much of her time, energy, and creativity in charitable endeavors and bringing a smile to the faces of others.

Dad, who worked full-time until he was almost 80, was legendary in St. Louis for his trademark "Free Ticket" business cards ("It's not good for anything, it's just free!"), his million dollar bills, and his ever-handy red clown nose used to delight children and adults alike. Besides his daily efforts to bring a smile to the lips of others, Dad was also active in the synagogue, as well as many civic endeavors. Travelers arriving at the St. Louis airport would often find him there ready to help them navigate the local light rail system. He was also a regular volunteer at the Amtrak station, dispensing information, advice (and, of course, million dollar bills). In his later years, he would patronize the local supermarket bakeries at the end of the day, purchasing all the left-over goods and donating them for distribution to the needy. These are just a few of the ways Dad helped others.

For both of them, Israel was a central part of their lives and they also devoted time and efforts to helping the people of Israel, through Hadassah,the ZOA, and others. Three of their five children live in Israel, as do 17 of their 21 grandchildren and their nine great-grandchildren.

We have decided to create a living memorial to them – The Smile Fund, in memory of Bill & Edith Mantinband as part of the Israel Free Loan Association. The IFLA is an organization that performs the highest level of charity (as described by Maimonides). Rather than giving handouts, it provides people with the means to solve their problems themselves, while maintaining their dignity. You can read about their remarkable work at their website:  http://www.israelfreeloan.org.il/en/

IFLA was founded by Prof. Eliezer Jaffe, whom Yosh knew personally. Unfortunately, Eliezer passed away in 2017 after a lifetime of incredible contributions to Israeli and Jewish life. (You can look him up on Google.)

If you would like to help continue our parents’ legacy of helping others far into the future, please consider making a contribution to the Named Fund we have created in their names. Please visit the IFLA website (see above) and make a contribution directly – and please be sure to specify that it is for “The Smile Fund, in memory of Bill & Edith Mantinband”.

Thank you – may their memory be for a blessing – with your help it will be,

Shmuel (Sidney), Yosh (Jack), Monti (Michael, Mordechai), Yoseph (Joel) and Golda