For P.J. Pearlstone, doing good in the Jewish community is all in the family. He’s descended from four generations of philanthropists. His great-grandfather, Joseph Meyerhoff, was well-known for his involvement with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, with the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall being named in his honor. The Pearlstone Retreat Center was originally founded in memory of his grandfather, who had purchased the former Camp Milldale land, as the Jack Pearlstone Institute for Living Judaism. And his father, Richard Pearlstone, was the national chairman of the United Jewish Appeal — now part of the Jewish Federations of North America.
This would be a tough act to follow for anyone, but Pearlstone has built upon this legacy of giving in his own way, as part of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore. He’ll soon be kicking off his second year as the organization’s Annual Campaign chair, a position usually held for a single, one-year term.
“I never felt pressured or expected to continue my family’s legacy of leadership, but it was something I wanted to continue and that I felt like I was in a position to do,” Pearlstone said. “I want to help improve the Jewish community for everybody.”
Pearlstone, 49, lives in Pikesville with his wife, Karen, and their dog, Bentley. They belong to Beth Tfiloh Congregation, and have two adult sons.
Pearlstone has spent almost his entire life in Baltimore. Growing up, he wasn’t as religiously observant as he would later become, and had his bar mitzvah at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. Pearlstone noted that as the Jewish community grew, it became more diverse and increased the need for collaboration amongst various denominations.
His first brush with Jewish philanthropy was not in Baltimore at all, but in Florida, where he lived for a few years, working with the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. Pearlstone lived there for nine years, and when he moved back to Baltimore, he got involved with The Associated almost immediately.
“It was a great way to continue the family legacy, but also to meet new people,” he recalled. “My two young kids were going to a new school. It was another way to connect with different people.”
Pearlstone was Chair of the Pearlstone board from 2014-2016 and has been on the Associated board since 2008. He’s held many different positions at the Federation, all leadership-related.
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Article by Jillian Diamond.