Elgin native Harry J. Seigle leads JUF's 2016 annual campaign

Commitment is a word that comes up a lot in descriptions of Harry J. Seigle. Commitment to business. To public service. Philanthropy. The Jewish community.

That commitment, along with his ability to forge relationships, will serve Seigle well in the latest of his long list of civic endeavors, as he chairs the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago's 2016 Annual Campaign. It is one of the largest annual fundraising efforts in the nation (the just-completed 2015 campaign raised more than $83.1 million), and it supports a vast array of social service and community-building efforts locally and around the world.

"Giving empowers donors," Seigle said. "You can't control the rest of the world, but you can control what you give, how you give and how it impacts the world. I don't see giving as an obligation. I see it as a privilege."

It is a privilege in which Seigle engages wholeheartedly. In the last few years, he and his family have made major donations to both his alma maters, Washington University in St. Louis and Northwestern University Law School, as well as a $4 million gift through JUF to Sinai Health System - Sinai's largest donation ever. The system's Mount Sinai Hospital is a JUF-affiliate.

Seigle has long served on the JUF/Jewish Federation Board, currently as a vice chairman and previously as treasurer. He also is immediate past president of the American Jewish Committee's Chicago Region.

"Harry Seigle brings both tremendous energy and a keen business perspective to the 2016 Annual Campaign," JUF President Steven Nasatir said. "His leadership adds a powerful and special dynamic, and clearly will be a major force in driving this year's campaign and supporting all those JUF serves."

Seigle is an avid tennis player whose civic and philanthropic involvement extends to a variety of arts, business and education interests, locally and beyond.

He is a board member of Steppenwolf Theatre, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and Washington University. He has served as chairman of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, was appointed by former Gov. Jim Edgar in 1995 to chair the Illinois Development Finance Authority and, in 1998, ran unsuccessfully for Illinois comptroller. Today, he estimates he devotes half his time to philanthropic efforts.

"I don't give so I can give back," he said, although he noted that a JUF partner agency rescued his mother from Nazi Germany in 1937. "My family and I give forward. Every dollar we raise to go forward will help the generation after us, and the ones after that."

As for his commitment to JUF, Seigle says, "There is a goodness in what JUF does. We serve the needy and poor, without an eye to whether they are Jewish. We protect Israel and Jews wherever they are in danger. We promote and nurture Jewish life. It's hard to imagine serving a greater purpose."

JUF mobilizes resources that support the global and local Jewish communities by meeting basic needs, creating Jewish experiences, and strengthening Jewish community connections. The annual campaign is the core support for JUF services, providing the largest source of funds for a vital network of more than 70 programs and agencies whose services benefit over 300,000 Chicagoans of all faiths, and more than 2 million Jews in Israel and worldwide.

Seigle and his wife, Susan, live on Chicago's North Side, but his roots are in suburban Elgin, where his family dates back to 1897. He remains active in supporting the Elgin United Way and Community Crisis Center. He also twice was elected trustee and chairman of Elgin Community College.

Since 1980, Seigle served as president of Seigle's Inc., the largest supplier of building materials to Chicago homebuilders. In 2005, the company was sold, and the following year Seigle founded The Elgin Company, which is devoted to real estate acquisition and management, private investing and philanthropy.

"I treat a dollar I give the same as the dollar I invest in business," Seigle said. "If you want to invest, look at the management and the mission. There's none better than JUF."