Bill and Karyn Silverstein have long believed in the power of community to help people through moments of uncertainty. For years, they have demonstrated this commitment through their philanthropic support, volunteer efforts, and active leadership on critical issues facing the Chicago Jewish community. 

Now, through a generous $1 million endowment gift to The Ark, they are creating a lasting source of support for members of the Jewish community facing housing insecurity. 

Reaching Clients Before a Housing Crisis

This transformative investment will support and name the Silverstein Housing Assistance Program, deepening The Ark’s commitment to helping people before a housing challenge becomes a crisis. For many years, The Ark has helped clients with emergency housing payments, often when they were already facing eviction or an acute housing crisis. This gift will strengthen several new Ark programs that provide more proactive support. These efforts are designed to reach people before they are in such dire need and work with them to build a path toward greater stability and, for many, greater independence. 

Through targeted, short-term housing subsidies paired with The Ark’s wraparound services, including financial counseling and case management, the Silverstein Housing Assistance Program will help clients remain in their homes while they take concrete steps to strengthen their finances. 

“The Ark understands that housing stability is about more than paying rent. It is about giving people the time, support, and guidance they need to regain their footing. Bill and I are grateful to strengthen this work so that The Ark can be there for clients in a more lasting way.” — Karyn Silverstein 

A Deep and Personal Commitment

For Bill and Karyn, the gift reflects both their deep commitment to The Ark and their understanding of how closely housing is tied to a person’s overall well-being. Karyn’s connection to The Ark deepened after she began volunteering in The Ark’s Northbrook pantry in 2019. What started as hands-on service grew into a broader commitment to The Ark’s mission. She joined The Ark’s Board of Directors in 2021 and has served as an officer and member of the Executive Committee. 

The Silversteins’ connection to housing is especially personal. Bill, an owner of multifamily properties and a longtime civic and Jewish communal leader, understands how central a safe and stable home is to every other part of a person’s life. As the need for more proactive housing assistance grew, the Silversteins recognized an opportunity to make a long-term difference. 

A Path Forward

For clients, the program means more than financial assistance. It means having time to catch up, plan ahead, and work closely with a case manager to develop practical financial tools and a plan. It means being able to stay in their homes, surrounded by the support networks of neighbors, friends, family, and Jewish communal life. And it means knowing that, in a vulnerable moment, they are not facing the future alone. 

Through the Silverstein Housing Assistance Program, Bill and Karyn are helping The Ark address one of the most pressing and widespread needs in our community. Their generosity will help individuals and families remain safely housed, regain their footing, and move forward with dignity. 

Building The Ark’s Future

The gift is one of the first major commitments to The Ark’s permanent endowment, established in 2025 to support the organization’s long-term sustainability. This gift is in addition to the Silversteins’ support of The Ark’s annual campaign, which remains central to sustaining The Ark’s work each year. Alongside other recent commitments, including generous seed gifts from the Harris and Garfinkel families and an anonymous donor, the endowment will sustain vital services for years to come.