Preserving Art and Jewish Education

Meet Anita and Ron.

When we began as a couple, I would say that I made the living and my wife, Anita, made the life,” recounts Ron Wornick. “Anita brought the grace notes — civic, religious, philanthropic and art — into our home, and she attracted me to the same goals.”

Today, in addition to their family, which is their primary interest and proudest achievement, the couple continues to focus their attention on arts and education, especially as it relates to sustaining Jewish life. “We feel it’s vitally important to encourage Jewish education and foster Jewish culture. The two go hand-in-hand,” says Anita.

The couple’s commitment to Jewish day school education was sparked by Rabbi Yitz Greenberg of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership (CLAL). “Ron was captivated by his ideas,” Anita recalls, “and we started going to CLAL classes in San Francisco.”

The Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School (a Federation beneficiary agency) is a testament to this commitment. Ron co-chaired the capital campaign for a new North Peninsula Jewish Campus. In tribute to his leadership, the day school — formerly known as the North Peninsula Jewish Day School — was renamed for him. “It was extraordinary, and I couldn’t be prouder,” Ron says.

The couple is devoted to art, and their San Francisco home is filled with their extensive collection of wood objects and furniture, which have been exhibited by both the Oakland Museum and the American Craft Museum in New York City. Both Wornicks serve on the boards of art and cultural institutions, in the Jewish and general community.

The Wornicks have been major Federation donors and volunteers for over 39 years. Anita was a Women’s Alliance vice president (now Women's Philanthropy) and president of Jewish Family & Children’s Services — also a Federation beneficiary agency — and Ron served on the Federation board for nearly 30 years. Between the two of them, “there is hardly a Federation agency that we haven’t been involved with,” Ron comments.

They are strongly committed to Israel. Visiting Israel “is a joyous thing to do,” Ron says, and the Wornicks have been there a number of times. “It’s exceedingly important that we support Israel,” he believes.

The Wornicks recently established a donor advised philanthropic fund with the Jewish Community Endowment Fund. “The Endowment Fund provides seed money for countless causes. It can do brave, creative and responsive things,” Ron explains. “It is run in an enlightened way by exceedingly capable lay and professional folks and has won the complete confidence of the community.”