Every Sunday, Roberta Fisher gave something from her allowance.

Her father insisted on it. In the 1940s, when the Jewish Welfare Fund came door to door, he sat Roberta and her brother down and told them that whatever they received, they would give a piece of it. That lesson never left her.

As adults, Roberta and her late husband, Mel (z"l), continued their dedication to the Jewish community. Their sons noticed. When the Fishers' sons began giving their own time and money to the community, it further deepened their parents' commitment. Mel had a simple message for the next generation: "Help people. It will come back to you."

The Fishers have made a legacy gift through Create Your Jewish Legacy, the community program that helps Cincinnatians plan gifts that sustain Jewish life for years to come.

For Roberta, the gift carries the message she and Mel most want the next generation to hear. "What you leave is your name," she says, "so live it well and wisely."

Many families learn giving the same way, from a parent who sets the example at home. The Fishers' story shows how far one example can travel.

From an allowance on a Sunday to a gift that outlasts a lifetime, the Fishers' story has one thread. Someone teaches giving, and someone carries it forward.