How we got started...
While in college, our founder, Jared Deck, saw how financial barriers restricted students from getting involved in the Jewish community. Despite having access to free Jewish activities, a lot of students still didn’t have time to actively participate or engage as much as they would like due to balancing school work, a part-time job, lengthy scholarship applications, and other extracurriculars. A key inspiration behind starting Tisila, was a close friend of Jared who worked three different jobs to support herself through college. She tried applying for several different scholarships but received no financial assistance. As a result, she had to graduate early. This was a blow to her own aspirations, as well as the Jewish community because it lost a tremendous leader and the impact she could have made.
Unfortunately, most scholarships are filled with unnecessary pain points. This causes additional barriers on top of the financial barriers scholarships are supposed to fix. This is where Tisila comes in.
"Our founder, saw how financial barriers restricted students from getting involved in the Jewish community"
We redefined how a scholarship operates and reimagined the variety of ways to make an impact. With the help of numerous partners and organizations nationwide, we developed the future of growing and strengthening the Jewish community. Going beyond free activities or simply handing students a check- we cultivate the next generation of leaders and stimulate growth in the Jewish community by eliminating financial barriers. How do we do it? Through our innovative solution: The Tisila Scholarship!
Meaning Behind Tisila
Pronounced: “Tih-see-lah”
Inspired by our mission- Tisila get its name from the beginning, middle, and end syllables of three Hebrew words respectively:
תמיכה
Timecha: Support
נשיאות
Nesius: Leadership
גדילה
Gedila: Growth
Our Team
National Board & Wisconsin Advisory Board
Wisconsin Advisory Board Member
Neil Willenson
Neil Willenson is a non-profit leader, corporate executive, and actor. As the Founder of Camp Heartland (now called One Heartland), Willenson led a national non-profit organization that made a year-round and life-long difference for children impacted by HIV/AIDS. He is also Co-Founder of Camp Hometown Heroes, a national summer camp for children of fallen U.S. service members as well as Co-Founder of Camp Reunite, a groundbreaking program for children who have an incarcerated parent. Willenson and the Camp Heartland program have been featured by the Oprah Winfrey Show, Dateline NBC, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, TIME Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Progressive Magazine, USA Today, and other outlets. Willenson and Camp Heartland were profiled in the CBS Movie of the Week, "Angelie's Secret," narrated by Julia Roberts, in the Disney Channel film "Friends for Life," on countless television talk shows, and in the feature film, "Born with HIV: Little Warriors."
Wisconsin Advisory Board Member
Shary Levitt
Shary has worked in a variety of local and national organizations in the areas of leadership development, major gift planning and solicitation, donor relationship management, planned giving and endowments, missions, training, and strategic planning. In her consulting practice, She has designed and facilitated staff retreats, multi-session strategic task forces and international training experiences. She is the co-founder of the Family Leadership and Legacy Program which assists affluent families with strategic guidance and resources to engage their next generations in meaningful philanthropy. Shary’s work experiences and client-base include large national Jewish organizations and healthcare non-profits as well as independent elementary and high schools, Jewish Federations, Jewish community Foundations and synagogues. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University. Shary is a graduate of the Wexner Heritage Program and the United Way of Buffalo Board Governance Program. She is the Principal of Shary Levitt Consulting, LLC.
National & Wisconsin Board Member
Zach Galin
Zach has spent over a decade working independently with students and families in the college admissions process. From test preparation to college matching, applications, and financial aid, Zach has helped students gain acceptance to their top choice schools. He is the founder of Galin Education, a full-service college prep organization based in Madison, WI (with offices throughout the country). He and his team work individually with hundreds of students each year to help them be more successful in school and navigate the college admissions process. Zach previously served on Hillel’s International Board of Directors, Bank Street College’s Board of Trustees, Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Foundation board, and the Madison Jewish Community Day School Board of Directors. He currently serves as a board member of the Independent Education Consultants Association (IECA), Jewish Federation of Madison, Temple Beth El - Madison, and Galin Scholars (a non-profit dedicated to providing increased access to high-quality tutoring, college advising, and extracurricular support in the Madison-area).
Wisconsin Advisory Board Member
Menachem Rapoport
In 2001, Rabbi Rapoport moved to Mequon, Wisconsin, to help build the Peltz Center for Jewish Life, a highly visible and comprehensive community resource providing a central site for life cycle events. To enrich the Mequon area Jewish community, their mission is to offer a broad spectrum of Jewish programming to serve all ages. From the youngest children and their new parents to the oldest members of society, programs at the Peltz Center prosper by sharing resources and bringing these services together in one comprehensive facility that touches every aspect of Jewish life. Rabbi Rapoport is the Peltz Center’s, Executive Director. Prior to 2001, Menachem helped lead educational and community projects throughout New York, New Jersey, Iowa, Argentina, Australia, Moldavia, and Lithuania.
National & Wisconsin Board Member
Jared Deck
Jared is an innovative, marketing and sales strategist with a proven track record of delivering results across media, brand strategy, experiential partnerships, and cross-cultural campaigns. Driven by a passion for the Jewish community and a unique student perspective, he founded Tisila during college to make a meaningful and lasting impact. He has managed marketing portfolios for some of the world’s largest brands, including Molson Coors, AT&T, Uber, and Sony, and remains deeply active in the community through numerous board positions across various Jewish organizations. Jared currently serves as a Manager at the world’s largest live experience discovery platform, where he is responsible for building sponsorships, maintaining partner relationships, and driving strategic initiatives across the sports and entertainment industry.
National Board Member
Eido Walny
Eido Walny is a nationally recognized estate planning attorney, speaker, and thought leader known for his professional excellence and lasting community impact. He is the founder of Walny Legal Group and a frequent national author and commentator on estate planning, charitable giving, and business issues, currently serving as the national estate planning editor for Investopedia. Eido has been consistently honored for his work, including recognition by Best Lawyers in America, Wisconsin Super Lawyers, and multiple national and regional leadership awards highlighting both expertise and client service. Deeply committed to civic and philanthropic leadership, he serves as President of the Village of Bayside, Wisconsin, President of the North Shore Fire Department Board of Directors, and as a member of the President’s Advisory Council of the Froedtert Hospital Foundation.
