Announcing the 2024 Women of Vision

Announcing the 2024 Women of Vision

Susan Paletz | Director of Fund & Community Development

Jewish Long Beach Women’s Philanthropy continues tradition of honoring outstanding volunteers at Arlene Solomon Visions on May 2, 2024

Lauren Friedman

With her “can-do” attitude and a desire to give back and help others, Lauren truly exemplifies a “Woman of Vision”. Lauren was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs in a strong Jewish community. She credits her grandparents in being instrumental in shaping her Jewish identity. Her commitment to the Jewish people was further strengthened when she went to Israel in her 20s on a Jewish Federation trip. In 2017 Lauren went again to Israel with, her husband of 26 years, Stuart, and her mother-in-law Evelyn.

With her devotion to Judaism and community, it is no wonder that when the Friedmans moved to Long Beach in 2010, Lauren immediately got involved. Lauren has served as the Alpert JCC co-chair of the annual appeal; Jewish Long Beach Super Sunday volunteer; Temple Israel Gala Committee and was the Belmont Heights Make a Difference Day activity co-coordinator for four years; supported Fremont elementary school science & technology fundraiser and was their Business Partner chair.

Lauren has been extremely active in Jewish Long Beach Women’s Philanthropy Cabinet for many years. She was invited to serve as a Lentzner Fellow (a program created to further develop top younger leaders). She was honored with the Fred Neuburger Young Leadership Award in 2019 (along with Rachel Suojanen) for co-chairing the Women’s Philanthropy Prom Dress Drive/Boutique. During the Pandemic, Lauren gave her time helping to pack lunches for delivery to seniors through the AJCC.

Lauren has recently focused her volunteering to support Jewish College Students as she has two sons in college (Aaron & Jakob) and her third son Nathan will be in college soon. To that end, she is currently on the board of Beach Hillel and serves as a co-chair of the College Connection at Temple Israel.

Lauren has a degree in Elementary Education but found her passion to be residential real estate. With over 25 years of experience as a residential real estate consultant, Lauren has been consistently recognized as a top performer (Currently affiliated with Keller Williams Pacific Estates and the Pennywise Real Estate Group).

Beyond her professional and volunteer achievements, it is helping others that is truly her passion. Lauren states, “I love helping people achieve their dreams, whether it is buying or selling a home or working in the community to help us achieve our community objectives… It makes me happy! I love our community and want to help it grow and prosper.”

Rosecarrie Brooks

Rosecarrie Goslins Brooks was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to the US when she was 6 years old. As an immigrant and daughter of Holocaust survivors, she learned early on about the importance of community and the impact of helping others. Her parents worked very hard establishing themselves in the retail clothing business in Southern California, but they always found time to participate in local civic and philanthropic organizations which ultimately influenced Rosecarrie’s own path in philanthropic endeavors.

In 1972 Rosecarrie and Alan Brooks moved to Belmont Shore. They joined the JCC in 1976 for the inaugural Mommy & Me, a program Rosecarrie helped initiate for our ECE. (At the time Rosecarrie was working as a dental hygienist in private practice and at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital as well as servings as a staff member for the local Dental Hygiene programs, USC, UCLA, Cerritos College teaching the hygiene students how to work with patients with disabilities.)

That JCC membership began a lifetime of volunteering. She served as president of the AJCC for over 2 years during its transition from the old building to this beautiful campus. Having served on the JCC board from 1984 through 2001 she has volunteered and held many positions, including being a member and chair of numerous committees, such as, the Kadimah Summer Camp, Kids Place (a precursor to todays after school programs), The Long Beach Jewish Film festival and more. Subsequently, she served on the Federation, Foundation and Jewish Long Beach boards, and still chairs the Foundation investment committee.

Rosecarrie has also volunteered as a board member since 1999 and eventually as Board Chair (2017-2020) at the California Conference for Equality and Justice, a Long Beach organization dedicated to equality and justice. While since 2008 she has held membership on our local ADL chapter’s board.

Last year Alan and Rosecarrie proudly celebrated the 25th anniversary of a scholarship fund which they founded and fund that supports 100 students annually in Tam Key Vietnam. They are the proud parents of two daughters, a son-in-law and three grandsons.

Linda Temkin Waltzman

Linda Waltzman has lived in Long Beach her whole life, growing up at the Alpert JCC, Camp Komaroff, and Hillel at CSULB. She led a rewarding and fulfilling career as a speech pathologist and special education early interventionist in LBUSD. Now, she cherishes her time with her three children and seven grandchildren. She credits her parents and grandparents as the role models for leadership, love of Israel, volunteerism and taking responsibility for acting upon her values. She especially enjoys meeting and learning about people who are new to our community and bringing them into circles of friendship and support. “I’m grateful for the many opportunities that were here for me over the years,” she says. “Now I’m committed to ensuring that future generations can look forward to even bigger, brighter, and better times ahead.”

Over the years, she has been active in a variety of community agencies and Jewish organizations including National Council of Jewish Women, Hadassah, Jewish Women’s Philanthropy, Association of American University Women, End Abuse Long Beach, Congregation Shir Chadash, Temple Israel, Early Childhood Education Committee of LB, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Jewish Long Beach Board of Directors, Yom Hashoah Memorials, Yom Haatzmaut Celebrations, Jewish Children’s Book Festival, and Annual Kindergarten Festivals. Some of her favorite charities include Jewish National Fund, United Hatzalah, and Save a Child’s Heart.

Jewish Long Beach Women’s Philanthropy would like to thank

Arlene Solomon Visions Chairs

Danielle Van Divort & Ami Guy

Committee

Lauren Friedman, Sheryl Stewart-Chair Women’s Philanthropy, Lynne Kass, Joanne Lopez, Melissa Perlman, Pam Rima, Linda Temkin Waltzman, Pam Weinstein, Pam Keiles, Marian Martin, Janet Rydell, Joyce Greenspan, Deborah Lewis, Wendy Manasse Wiese

Arlene Solomon Visions Sponsors

Platinum: Rosecarrie Brooks, Pam Weinstein, Dr. Karen Zoller, Melissa Carr, Cookie Sieger

Gold: Jessie Butler, Lauren Friedman, Amy Lipeles, Helen Rosenberg, Barbara Shoag, Ilsebill Wolfe, Bonnie Lowenthal, Dr. Gail Levy

Silver: Andrea Kaiser, Laurie Raykoff, Sheryl Stewart, Kathy Kreida, Julie Kinsbursky, Binnie Berro, Judy Lorber, Wendy Manasse Wiese

Chai Angels

Edie Brodsky, Linda Temkin Waltzman, Lea Gerber, Shelley Carl, Susan Paletz, Ruth Cooperman, Nancy Linden, Sara Linden, Natalie Swit, Joyce Greenspan, Leslie Kern, Ava Weiss, Joanne Lopez, Marilyn Yassin, Shari Nemirow, Ami Guy, Danielle Van Divort, Kenneth Schlesinger, Joanne Levy, Kristina Shafton, Linda Simons, Andrea Salisbury, Rhoda Orenstein, Sandy Phillips, Renee Simon, Michelle Gordon, Joyce Feldman, Ellen Goldenberg, Beth Sterling, Pam Keiles