In 2021 an endowed scholarship was established in memory of Svetlana and Zinovy Grimberg – people of rare integrity, abundant generosity, and inspiring courage. The Svetlana and Zinovy Grimberg Endowed Scholarship was funded by their daughters, Tina Grimberg and Natasha Sacks, and her husband Marvin Sacks, and grandchildren Daniel and Andrew Sacks, and David Shizgal, to further the aspirational values by which Zinovy and Svetlana lived.
Svetlana and Zinovy grew up in the former Soviet Union and as children survived starvation and bombing at the hands of the German army during World War II. After the war, Zinovy and Svetlana settled in Kiev – now the Ukraine – and raised their two daughters, Natasha and Tina. Zinovy worked as a metallurgist and Svetlana was a kindergarten teacher. Along with others who were Jewish, the family faced discrimination that was inherent in all aspects of society under the Soviet Communist system. 
“Our parents valued education and saw it as a path to a better life, broader worldview, and a satisfying career,” Natasha Sacks said. “They aspired to provide educational opportunities for my sister and me and to raise us in the Jewish faith that their country did not allow. These dreams gave them the courage to leave their home and make a new life in the United States.” 
The Jewish Family & Children’s Services (now known as Jewish Family Services) played an important role in helping the family resettle in Indianapolis in 1979. Zinovy became a tool and die maker and Svetlana became a delicatessen baker. They lived in Indianapolis until the time of their deaths in 2020 and 2014, respectively. 
The Grimbergs provided financial assistance to family members in the Former Soviet Union and helped them immigrate to the United States. Svetlana assisted new arrivals from the Soviet Union, especially women with families who needed emotional and financial support. Deeply loved and admired by their children, grandchildren, and friends, they fulfilled the dreams they had for their daughters of providing the best educational opportunities and freedom to live their traditional Jewish values.
Natasha, the Grimberg’s elder daughter, came to Indianapolis as a college student and completed a bachelor’s degree in Slavic Languages from Indiana University and a master’s degree in Counseling from Indiana University. She is now the Director of the Adult Education Program at Montgomery College in Maryland. 
Tina graduated from North Central High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Butler University, and a Rabbinical degree from Hebrew Union College in New York. She is now the Rabbi of Congregation Darhei Noam in Toronto, Canada.
“With the support of the Indianapolis Jewish community, our family overcame the challenges of learning a new language, finding work, and attending school in a new country,” Sacks said. “We endow this scholarship to remind us of their generous natures and unwavering commitment to education and the Jewish community.”
The Grimberg Scholarship is a need-based scholarship and will be awarded for the first time this spring, with preference given to recognize a working female community member pursuing education that will lead to a career. Visit https://www.jewishindianapolis.org/scholarships-internships/academic-scholarships, email Pamela Eicher at peicher@jfgi.org or call (317) 715-6981 to learn more about the scholarship application process.