In Honour of Norman and Sarah Grill

We were thrilled when the Grill family (siblings Allan ’92 and Stacey ’90) recently made a gift to TanenbaumCHAT. They chose to name the Rabbinics Award, a prize that Allan himself received upon graduation, in honour of their parents, Norman (a former President of the Board) and Sarah.

Why did you establish this award in honour of your parents?

Our father turned 85 this year, and our parents also celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They taught my sister and me, both alumni, the importance of Tzedakah and volunteerism. Being strong supporters of the importance of access to a Jewish day school education, we wanted to honour them with a legacy gift that will benefit future generations of students – L’dor V’dor.

Tell us a little about the family connection to TanenbaumCHAT.

We both have fond memories and lifelong friendships from our time at the school. We also have the utmost respect for our dad’s many years of involvement with the Board of Directors, including serving as President (1996-99). One of his favourite events was the annual CHAT Blue Jays Night that combined two of his favourite interests – sports and fundraising. The evening began with a pre-game catered dinner get-together downtown and live auction. There was also a raffle for one lucky winner to throw out the ceremonial first pitch! Despite the many hours of logistical planning, he was always very proud to see our community come together to support the school. It is this type of work ethic and dedication that the school teaches their students as part of their educational growth. Both of my kids (Brandon – grade 9, and Lily – grade 11) have also started their TanenbaumCHAT journey (Stacey’s family lives in New York), and at their graduation ceremonies when this award is presented, they too can share in their grandparents’ nachas.

Why support TanenbaumCHAT?

TanenbaumCHAT offers a unique educational experience. It has a strong reputation for academic excellence, a student body with a lot of ruach, and a daily reminder of the importance of appreciating our cultural traditions. My sister and I owe a lot to the school in building our confidence for success, appreciating the value of peer relationships, and being proud of our Jewish heritage. We hope this gift inspires others to follow in our parents’ footsteps.