Today, the Summa Group's founding members are very involved with a number of local and national charities that are very important to them. “With the Summa Group partners ranging in age from 38 to 45, we're in the perfect stage of our life to think about giving back. To say that we're fortunate would be an understatement,” says Co-Chairman Brian Werdesheim.

Many of the Summa Group's partners are involved in community activities that have a personal meaning for them.

Ben Posen, one of The Summa Group's founding members has been an active philanthropist for several years. Ben currently supports The Foundation Fighting Blindness, among others. With his brother suffering from Retinitis Pigmentosa, Ben understands the world of fund raising and the importance of making sure deserving organizations get the needed funding. “It really hits home when your own brother suffers from a disease that eventually leads to blindness. There simply isn't enough time in the day to do enough,” remarked Ben Posen.

Jeff Werdesheim dedicated much of his time and financial resources to the Guardian's Jewish Home for the Aging. “Living the latter stages of your life with dignity and in comfort is not a right, it's a privilege only made possible with the dedication, vision and resources of a great group of people like the Guardian's. One of my high school friends died suddenly of a heart attack at the all too young age of 32. I'm very proud to support the foundation that holds his name, The Steven S. Cohen Heart Foundation.”

Brian Werdesheim has dedicated most of his time and money to the subject of education. Brian was named to the Board of Governors of the Fulfillment Fund in 2003 and currently chairs the Fund's Development Committee. The Fulfillment Fund is a nonprofit organization providing nearly 3,000 economically disadvantaged students with the resources, tools and skills needed to obtain quality educations and lead productive, fulfilling lives. Their program is one of total enrichment with one-on-one mentoring, classroom based outreach, college counseling, college scholarships, internships, career counseling and a parent education component. “Ninety-three percent of the kids who complete our 5 year programs are graduating from high school and 90% of the graduates are matriculating to College. These are staggering numbers when compared to the national averages so to be a part of a program that's having this type of impact and success is very gratifying,” commented Brian Werdesheim.

Jim Miles, Co- Chairman of the Summa Children's Foundation, has a long standing association with Major League Baseball. This relationship has evolved to include a direct and deep involvement with the Major League Baseball Player's Trust For Children. The MLB Player's Trust is unique in that it is funded by the players themselves and monies are directed to a variety of specific children's charities around the country. A Summa Group client, Bobby Bonilla, retired as a player several years ago and was looking to play an active role for the Player's Trust. “Introducing Oppenheimer's Miracle Day to an Organization like the MLB Players Trust was a natural” says Jim. “Because of the Players respect for Bobby he was able to deliver some unique packages that we auctioned ebay style to the highest bidders throughout the country. It was a huge fund raising success”. Last year, The Summa Group and Oppenheimer & Co. presented Donald Fehr and the Player's Trust with a check for $50,000 at a well-attended event at Morton's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills . The Summa Group invited about 100 clients, family and friends for a night of great food, memorabilia and conversation with some of baseball's greats. “Supporting the Player's Trust was a great way to reach out to a number of Children's Charities that perform miracles everyday in a number of communities across America ,” says Jim.

Bringing together The Player's Trust and 50 students from The Fulfillment Fund's various programs was made possible by the Player's Trust “Buses for Baseball” program. Each summer the Players Trust selects organizations serving disadvantaged children around the country and provides transportation to the local team's ballpark. “To see 50 children from the Fulfillment Fund being escorted to the field at Dodger Stadium to watch batting practice, taking pictures with Barry Bonds and Paul LoDuca was incredible. For many of the kids, this was their first visit to Dodger Stadium and they got to see it at ground level, says Brian Werdesheim. “We're continually looking to establish partnerships between the organizations we work with to bring unique experiences to the kids we serve,” says Summa founder Ben Posen.

“Our exposure to organizations like The Fulfillment Fund, Foundation Fighting Blindness and The Major League Baseball Players Trust has given our group a greater understanding about how the non-profit world operates and played a major role in establishing The Summa Children's Foundation,” says Brian Werdesheim. We're a wealth management team of 15 people who come to work everyday looking out for the best interests of our clients. Our foundation will allow us to “connect the dots”, bridging people and organizations with vast resources to children who desperately need our help.”

The entire 15 person team that makes up Summa's wealth management team is involved in the foundation, playing integral roles in the interviewing and screening process to search out viable funding candidates. “Let's face it, work becomes a much more interesting place when you're involved with a cause that ultimately benefits the children of our surrounding communities,” commented Summa team member Dave Allen. “The process we're going through really opens your eyes to some organizations that are doing great things to enrich the lives of children and it just feels good to be a part of a worthwhile effort,” says Summa team member Danielle Green.

“With The Summa Children's Foundation, we're able to sharpen our focus and really give some thought as to how we, as a group, can empower disadvantaged children from challenged backgrounds to the extent they can live productive lives and get exposure to programs and experiences they wouldn't otherwise receive”, added KC West, President of The Summa Children's Foundation.

On November 1 st 2005 , the Summa Children's Foundation held it's inaugural gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel to honor long time philanthropist Laura Lizer Word. “It was an ambitious undertaking but when our last guest left the event that evening we all felt a great sense of accomplishment and a part of something special,” added Co-Chairman Jim Miles.

No doubt. The event raised over $440,000 and marked a standard from which the Summa Children's Foundation will continue in its efforts in support to the community.