rooted in gratitude The Legacy of Al Garber
Raised by a community that refused to let him fall, Al Garber devoted his life to giving back. He often said he could never repay what had been given to him—but he never stopped trying.
In 1911, when Al was just 11, his father passed away and his mother was permanently disabled. With nowhere else to turn, Al and his siblings were placed in the Hebrew Orphans’ Asylum, later renamed the Hebrew Orphans’ Home. There, surrounded by teachers and caretakers who believed in him, Al found the stability, education, and community that would guide him throughout his life.
With a generous loan from the Home and a $500 scholarship offered by his high school principal—who saw promise in him—he attended the University of Georgia, majoring in accounting. After graduating, he returned to Atlanta, where he built a respected regional accounting firm and became widely known for his generosity and practical wisdom.
Al’s real passion, however, was helping people. He counseled new immigrants, offered business advice, and guided anyone who needed a start. He often said the Home had fed, clothed, and educated him and his sisters—and that he would spend the rest of his life trying to repay what could never truly be repaid.
From 1965–1967, Al served as Board Chair of Jewish Children’s Service (JCS), the organization that would later become JELF. Alongside other committed Jewish community leaders like Joseph Haas, the Hirsch family, and Jennings Hertz, he helped expand its impact and strengthen its foundation. Together, these leaders paved the way for the organization’s evolution into the Jewish Educational Loan Fund (JELF), officially renamed in 1989 to reflect its growing focus on higher education loans.
Al never stopped connecting people. In 1965, he hosted a reunion, one of several, of his fellow Hebrew Orphans’ Home alumni at his home—a joyful evening of stories, laughter, and lifelong friendships rekindled. To him, "the kids,” as he called them, were his family.
Al's legacy continued through his son, Dr. Stephen Garber, who served as JELF’s Board Chair from 1991–1993, and his daughter-in-law, Dr. Marianne Daniels Garber, who led from 2003–2005 and again from 2015–2017. Together, they carried forward Al’s deep sense of purpose—helping JELF grow, evolve, and reach new heights in its impact on Jewish students.
In 1997, Al became the first recipient of JELF’s Honor Roll Award, recognizing a lifetime devoted to helping others. Two decades later, in 2018, the award was renamed the Garber Honor Roll Award—a tribute to Al, Stephen, and Marianne, and the enduring impact their family has had on JELF’s mission.
More than half a century later, JELF continues to honor the same values that guided Al’s life—community, gratitude and opportunity. Al Garber's story reminds us that what begins in hardship can grow into a legacy of hope—and that the best way to thank those who helped you is to help the next generation.