The 18th Heritage Pointe is pleased to announce the Lifetime Achievement Award will be awarded to Dr. Melvin and Jacquee Lipson at a virtual gala on YouTube, Sunday, February 28, 2021. Jodi Greenbaum, Heritage Pointe’s Board Chair comments, “It is our honor to recognize Mel and Jacquee Lipson for their tireless dedication to Heritage Pointe. Together, their lifetime work as leaders and mentors in the Jewish community has helped to build and sustain our institutions, as they inspired others. I count myself fortunate to have benefited by their guidance, friendship and example of selfless service.”
Born, raised and married in New England, Jacquee and Mel Lipson, along with their four young children, came to Southern California and settled in Fullerton 50 years ago. That marked the beginning of this extraordinary couple’s dedication and devotion to the Jewish community of Orange County. Most proudly, Jacquee and Mel are part of four generations of their family to have founded, supported and volunteered to make Heritage Pointe the special home it has become for countless Jewish seniors during the past 30 years.
They immediately began establishing new friendships and getting involved in the lay leadership of Temple Beth Tikvah, in Fullerton. Seventeen years later, they moved to Newport Beach, joined Temple Bat Yahm and became active members of that community as well. Over the years, as Orange County Jewish life blossomed, Mel felt something was missing because there was no warm and safe environment for its aging parents–including his own. The Lipsons became vital participants in the founding group to create Heritage Pointe. The rest is history. With the valuable assistance of Mel’s business acumen, serving on the Board of Directors for 15 years, the dream of a permanent home for Jewish seniors became a reality in a relatively short time. Jacquee and Mel continue their passion for the home to this day. Longtime friend and community member Martin Brower remarks, “I first met Mel and Jacquee Lipson in the early 1970’s and watched as Mel and Jacquee became an integral part of Jewish Orange County. They have stepped forward whenever leadership was required and every time they took on a chore they dedicated themselves fully to the task. They are an unusual couple in that they never say “no”, never step away from a challenge, and always remain with the challenge to completion. They have been a major asset to the development of meaningful Jewish life in Orange County. Moreover, they are both really bright and deliciously sweet individuals.”
Along with establishing Heritage Pointe, they also devoted time and energy to other worthwhile charities including, FOCIS, the Jewish Federation of Orange County, and the Jewish Community Foundation of Orange County. As an officer of the Jewish Federation of Orange County, Mel was a leader in the successful campaign to build the first home for special needs adults in our Jewish community, resulting in the opening of the Mandel House.
Mel’s parents and Jacquee’s father were among the first Residents of Heritage Pointe. Now that their children and grandchildren are also active supporters, there are four generations of Lipsons that are and continue to be an integral part of the Heritage Pointe family. Carrying on the legacy of their parents and grandparents is paramount to daughter, Donna Markovitz and granddaughter, Samantha Markovitz who state, “our family is so thrilled that Heritage Pointe has chosen to honor our parents and grandparents with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Heritage Pointe holds a special place in our hearts. The work of providing a home for seniors rooted in the Jewish the tradition is of the utmost importance, a fundamental initiative, just one of many they have passionately advocated for in our community. They have created a legacy of philanthropy in our family that will extend far into the future and we are proud to carry that forward.”
The Heritage Pointe Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes exemplary contributions to the Jewish Community for service, leadership and charitable contributions. Beth Slavin, Director of Philanthropy for Heritage Pointe, says, “Jacquee and Mel Lipson are the quintessential couple who are most worthy of receiving this award. It is Heritage Pointe’s honor to mark this recognition for Jacquee and Mel’s lifetime endeavors. They will uniquely leave their indelible stamp on our collective cultural and social causes within the Jewish community.”
Invitations for patron sponsorships to attend the virtual gala will be going out toward the end of the year. For those wishing to honor the Lipsons and participate on the event committee, please contact Beth Slavin at bslavin@heritagepointe.org or by calling (949) 276-6232.