Tracey Destribats and David Geltzer: Two Very Valuable Resources

I think a very strong argument can be made that Mercer County’s most valuable resource is a cadre of truly dedicated individuals who volunteer their time and talents to the charitable sector. I have generally restrained from writing about these often unsung heroes because I have worked with many of them through my work with more than fifty charities in central New Jersey during my career as a fundraising/strategic planning consultant. Since I ended my practice at the end of last year, I feel I am devoid of any potential conflicts and free to extol their virtues.

This column will focus on two extraordinary individuals who I have seen up-close and personal and witnessed firsthand the dramatic impact they have had on the lives of countless others. Let me begin with someone I have known for almost three decades and is a true force of nature, Tracey Destribats. Tracey is the daughter of the legendary Hamilton business leader, Jay Destribats, Esq. The scope and depth of her volunteerism and overall goodness is mind-boggling. Her passion for improving the lives of those in need is often beyond comprehension.

Tracey doesn’t do anything halfway, whether it’s work (Yardville Bank, Trenton Catholic Academy or as the owner of EET Gud Bakery) or her involvement with the ubiquitous array of charities she has affiliated with over the years. She is never just a name on the board of directors list. She is a willing worker bee, committed to doing whatever is necessary to get the job done. It’s the reason every charity in the county is constantly after her to chair their annual fundraising event.

There is no way I can list all of the charities Tracey has assisted and served in leadership roles with. Some of the many include: the American Cancer Society where she served as Chair of the Board for many years and as Chair of the Annual Gala and Silent Auction on a number of occasions; The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) on whose board she has served for more 20 years and where she has held various leadership positions including the President of the Board and the organizer of a massive annual adopt a family and give-away effort; and as co-founder with Stacy Spera and Denise Mariani of Believe in Pink, an organization that began with Stacy’s personal battle with breast cancer, and over the last 11 years has raised tens of thousands of dollars in support of breast cancer patients and their families.

A few of the many other charities that have benefit from Tracey’s energy and event management talent include: PEI Kids, the Parkinson Alliance, American Heart Association, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Foundation, the Mercer County Bar Association, Mercer County Community College Foundation, St. Francis Medical Center Foundation, the New Jersey Trooper Christopher S. Scales Foundation and Outside World Inside Foundation. In all of these cases, Tracey has been a heavy-lifter willing to do whatever it takes to make the charity’s annual events she has chaired or assisted with a financial success.

For much of Tracey’s tenure on the TASK Board she served with David Geltzer (20052020). David for most of that time was the Chairman of TASK’s Fundraising Committee, a responsibility he took very seriously and performed in an exemplary manner. During that period, in large part because of his hard-nosed leadership, TASK built a significant endowment and maintained a necessary operating reserve while not assuming debt to complete significant construction projects. David brought considerable expertise from his private business career, where he helped Macy’s New York develop and establish the Charter Club and Aeropostale Specialty Store Division, to bear on TASK’s fundraising efforts.

David and his wife, Leslee, a long-time member of the Board of the Rescue Mission of Trenton, in 2003 established the Geltzer Family Foundation to support programs and organizations that aspire to build better communities and advance public well-being. According to its website, the mission of the Geltzer Family Foundation is “to educate and promote a sense of family tradition, community and values both now and for the future generation.”

Over the years, the foundation has supported a wide range of initiatives including job development programs at the Rescue Mission of Trenton, a classroom at the Drexel University College of Business, a garden classroom at the Princeton Day School, TASK’s Endowment Campaign, the TASK performing arts program, TASK’s annual Thanksgiving Meals Program, and the Trenton Circus Squad.

In addition, the foundation annually honors individuals who have taken volunteer service at TASK to the highest level and have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to building better communities and advancing public well-being. Award winners have included James W. Parker, Martin Tuchman, Emilio Papa, Steve Leder, Esq., Jan Curran, Kathleen Wooley and yours truly.

David is also extremely involved with Drexel University where he earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting. He currently serves on the college’s Board of Trustees and as chair of the Drexel’s LeBow College of Business Advisory Board and the Drexel Hillel Board of Overseers. Like Tracey, David Geltzer is a doer not a talker.

“Tzedekah” is a Hebrew word for the act that many call “charity.” However, in Judaism, giving assistance or money to the poor or needy is not seen as generosity. Rather, it is seen as an act of justice and righteousness. David Geltzer, through his volunteerism and philanthropy demonstrates an abiding commitment to Tzedekah, the highest application of Jewish ethical values.