The Campaign for Camp TEKO
The Campaign for Camp TEKO, Temple Israel’s camp on Lake Minnetonka.
For more than 50 years, Temple Israel has provided a safe, educational, and fun Jewish camping experience for all ages at Camp TEKO. In recent years, programming has focused on day camp for children entering kindergarten through sixth grade, and on retreats for middle schoolers. The site has also served as a place to celebrate many life cycle events throughout its history.
Since Temple Israel assumed ownership of the property in 1965, there have been very few major upgrades to its infrastructure. Most of the buildings lack plumbing and heating, and some have degraded to the point that they can no longer be used safely. Additionally, the waterfront area became overgrown with invasive buckthorn, obstructing the beachfront pathways.
Temple leadership first conceptualized plans for a major capital campaign for TEKO in 2015, and in 2018, the Master Plan for Camp TEKO was released. This plan details major improvements throughout the site as a three-part development: architecture (new and restored buildings); sustainability in the materials and operating systems; and landscape, the opportunity for ecological restoration on an incredibly beautiful site.
Fundraising toward a $13.8 million campaign began in a quiet phase in the fall of 2019.
This campaign is being co-chaired by Susan & Gary Rappaport and Eloise & Elliot Kaplan.
$11.8 million is designated for capital improvements, while $2 million has been set aside for an endowment that will ensure a source of permanent funding for scholarships as well as future maintenance. Today, $13.3 million has been raised toward that goal as we head toward the next phase of our campaign, building camper cabins.
Some highlights of this project will include:
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Discovery Center
Currently, there is no place at TEKO to safely shelter the entire camp community in case of inclement weather. The new Discovery Center will provide much-needed programming space for all participants, as well as additional restrooms, a new Teaching Kitchen, and more.
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Sustainable Camp
Camp upgrades will make it more sustainable through its materials and operating systems. TEKO will also become a zero-carbon emissions camp, which will be healthier, less expensive to operate, and better for our planet.
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Chapel
An expanded chapel will allow for more seating, expanded worship experiences, and improved views of beautiful Lake Minnetonka.
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Waterfront Improvements
Significant improvements to the waterfront include a new pathway between the boating and swimming beaches, a new beach pavilion that will provide campers a place to store items during swimming, a retaining wall to prevent erosion, the removal of several acres of invasive buckthorn, and a new boathouse.
Camp TEKO Donors
As of November 1, 2023
$1 Million +
The Corwin & Kuller Family
Eloise & Elliot Kaplan
Gary & Susan Rappaport Family
$500,000-$999,999
Anonymous (2)
Marvin ז”ל & Betty Borman Family
The Broms Family
Marilyn & Martin Lipschultz Family
Oren ז”ל & Sharron Steinfeldt Foundation
$250,000-$499,999
Anonymous
Herb Goldenberg ז”ל Family
Kris & John MacDonald Family
The Rum Fund
The Family of Rabbi Max Shapiro ז”ל
The Tankenoff Families Foundation: Gary, Marsha, Scott, Hindy, Danny, Samantha, and Mollie Tankenoff
$100,000-$249,999
Anonymous (3)
Judi Belzer & Jerry Waldman
Michael Belzer & Ellyn Wolfenson
Ted & Kara Bigos
Dr. Stanley & Luella Goldberg
Ellen Goldberg Luger & Andrew Luger
Fred & Rosalie Goldberg
Martha Goldberg Aronson & Dan Aronson
Nancy & Bob Hartman
The Hasko & Dveris Families
Lynn and Gloria Johnson Family Foundation
Ellen Joseph & Dennis Ready
Kalin, Holden, and Mash Families
Kelen Family Foundation
Elizabeth Langer & Neil Weinstein
Carol & Bob Mayeron and Family
Minneapolis Jewish Federation
Sandy Okinow
In memory of Harold Okinow
The Edward J. Phillips Family Foundation
Lynne & Andrew Redleaf Foundation
Nancy & Kevin Rhein
Deborah, Michael, William, and Sam Stein
Yashar Foundation
$50,000-$99,999
Josh & Jan ז”ל Arnold and Family
Dr. Charles Sheldon ז”ל & Rhonda Bland
Byron & Shirley Frank
Susan & Dick Goldman
Judy & Jon Harris
Amy Harris
Marcee Harris Schwartz & Jon Schwartz
Rosie, Sam, and Maxine
Susan & Michael Horovitz
Rose & Matt Horovitz
Michelle Horovitz & Adam Klarfield
Jennifer & Scott Lang
The Miller Family
The Moscoe and Borofsky Families
Cindy & Joey Shapiro
Beth Weinblatt
Esta Miller
Kara & Jeremy Frank
Robyn Bass
Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman & Rep. Frank Hornstein
$25,000-$49,999
Lorie & Michael Afremov
Kerry & Scott Bader
Abby & Sheldon Badzin
Linda & Bob Barrows
Bob Belzer
Edythe Misel and Lauren & Harry Brown
Mitchell Dann
Debbie & Michael Finn and Family
Shani & Sam Graber
Rabbi Jennifer & Michael Hartman
Carole & Marty Kaplan and Family
Andrea Kaufman & Jim Jacobson
Jane & Dr. Bob ז”ל Ketroser Family
Delores & Corky Levin
The Lieberman Family
Sheila & Steve Lieberman
Rebecca & Hal Lieberman
Susan Lieberman
Paula & Bob Maisel
The Nadler-Thomson Family
William Toles
Anne & Allen Wolf in Memory of Stephan Wolf ז”ל
$10,000-$24,999
Anonymous (4)
Joyce & David Abramson
Baratz Family Foundation
Melissa & Louis Berezovsky
David Buntzman Foundation
Sarah Buntzman Strong
Elaine & Gary Dachis
Susie & Bob Diamond
Kathleen & Michael Dougherty
Lori & Brad Fritz
Barry Effress Family
Rebecca & Michael Epstein and Family
The Finch Family
Mike & Linda Fiterman Family Foundation
Ed Freeman
Allison & Michael Gelfman, Mira Gelfman, Rachel Gelfman
Rosalie & Andrew Gellman
Jeri Glick-Anderson & Charles Anderson
Kay & Bruce Goldstein and Family
Bruce Goodman
Dean Greenberg
Denise & Marshall Hertz
Lauren & Ben Hertz
Annie & Jason Guzman
and Families
Cindy & Doug Kanter
Rabbi Jason Klein
Sheri & Steve Lear
Cindy & Jack Mayeron
Betsy Michel
Mara & Daniel Pease
Family of Jon & Diane Rappaport
Dory Rose
Robert Rubenstein
Rachel Schachter & Len Mitchell
Allison Schwartz
Nancy & Larry Shapiro
Betsy & Steve Sitkoff
Anne & Michael Stanfield
Ben & Maxine Steinberg
Candice & Guy Stearns
Debbie & Jed Stillman Family
Lauren, Bradley, Madeline, and Marvin Sundick
Alene & Anthony Sussman
Jean Wert
Fremajane Wolfson
Up to $9,999
Anonymous (4)
Margo & Cantor Barry Abelson
Sheri & Steve Abrams
Marissa & Robb Bader
Molly & Sid Bader
Naomi & David Baer
Judy & Bruce Barnett
Shana & Chris Bates
Cassie & David Benowitz
Alison & Joshua Berdass
Julie & Marc Berg
Beth & Steve Birke
Cecelia Bistner
Carlyn & Paul Blum
Bonnie & David Blumberg
Marcia & Mark Cherniak
Amy Cohen & Joshua Rissman
Diane & Richard Cohen Family Foundation
Melissa & Devin Del Rosario
Nancy Devitt & Richard Chase
Patty & Mark Chodish
Deborah Donaldson
Sybil Dunlop
Robert Edelstein
Carly Ettinger
Sherri & Larry Feuer
Gigi & Ron Fingerhut
Nancy & Neil Fink
Rafael, Gemma, and Mayim Forbush
Barb & Neal Frank
Dayna & Ember Frank
Judith & Jay Friedman
Lisa & Paul Gendler
Karen & Bruce Gershman
Cindi & Harold Goldfine
Susan Gray & Paul Waytz
Julie & Jared Greenbaum
Melanie & Vic Greenstein
Sam & Jeremy Hanson Willis
William Hauschen
Rachel & John Hauschild
Meghan & Berton Heaton
Denise & Marshall Hertz
Rebecca Hodus
Carly & Howie Hoffman
Anne Hope
Robyn & Marc Ingber
Jenny Javitch & Alon Ventura
Jillian & Joshua Johnson
Sue & Marty Kanter
Diane & Howard Kaplan
Rory & Seth Kaplan
Libby, Benjie, Maggie & Elly Kaplan
Judy Karon
Jessi Kingston & Barry Schwabe
Abby Kirshbaum
Jane & David Kirshbaum
Christine & John Kitchener
Melanie & André LaMere
Sarajane & Brian Landun
Megan & Joe Levitt
David Levy
Roberta & Howard Liszt
Wendy Lovell-Smith & Colin Smith
Diane & Jeff Lovich
Gail & Steve Machov
Peggy & Joel Mandel
Lesle Margolis
John Mast
Alana & Harrison Matthew
Sarah & Andy Meister
Jodi Michaels & Nick Colletti
Julie & Mike Miller
Michael Miller
Raleigh & Evan Miller
Rabbi Albert & Frances Minda Leadership Fund
Merle & Roland Minda
Minnesota Vikings
Rachel, Mike, and Harriet Molzahn
Joy & Rich Monro
Rabbi Tobias Divack Moss
Heidi Jill Winer & Mort Naiman
Elizabeth & John Nash
Marjorie & Charles Ostrov
Henrietta Peltz
Jeanne & Steve Prawer
Nancy & Jim Proman
Dana & Cory Provus
Michael Rabin & Wendy Ginsberg
Robert Rosenberg
Dana Rubin
Anne & Scott Rasmussen
Rachel Ratner & Peter Shanedling
Doris Rose
Robert Rubenstein
Marti & Keith Sandwick
Haylee & Ben Saxon
Robin Schribman
Allison Schwartz
Yvonne & Chuck Selcer
Susan & Michael Shields
Amy Silvermann
Debbie & Tom Simon
Linda & Tom Sklar
Abby & Michael Steele
Katie & Michael Stern
Zoe Stern
Rene & Colleen Sternau
Jim Tankenoff
Donna & Jim Tilsner
Yvonne Tollman
Samantha & Erik Unger
Beth Weinblatt
Robyn & Erik Wetter
Karen & Alan Winner
Sheri & Scott Yarosh
Masha & Alex Yevzelman
Laurie & Will Young
Natalie & Drew Zamansky
Shirley & Larry Zipkin
Supporters
The Gleekel Family
Dr. Charles Horwitz
Janny & Alan Silver
Support Camp TEKO
There are still many naming opportunities available!
If you are interested in making a gift to Camp TEKO, please contact Jerry Waldman via email at waldman.jerry@gmail.com or by phone at 612-965-0690. You may also make a gift online today.