A reflection on our accomplishments as we close the season

By Rosalee Bogo, 2025 Annual Community Campaign Chair

As we begin to wind down another vibrant season of activity, we take this opportunity to reflect on the many highlights that made this year truly remarkable.

We were honored to welcome our new president and CEO, Nammie Ichilov, who has already made a significant impact. Our programs and events continue to grow in both quality and reach, attracting record attendance to our beautiful and welcoming Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center.

Our Annual Community Campaign began with a powerful launch featuring Michael Masters, CEO and president of Secure Community Network. We were also privileged to host David Heller, national chair of The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), as the keynote speaker for our Major Gifts and Lions of Judah event.

At the Women of Philanthropy luncheon, we welcomed Robin Friedman and Judith Sydney, co-founders of Tribe-Talk, a vital initiative dedicated to educating Jewish youth about combating antisemitism. We were further inspired by Iris Kraemer, JFNA’s national chair of women's philanthropy, who spoke at our spring Lions of Judah luncheon. These esteemed individuals represent the very best in Jewish philanthropy, and we were honored to have them join us.

A transformative gift

The most extraordinary highlight of the year was the transformational endowment gift of $11 million from Mr. Stephen Saks. This generous act ensures that our Federation will be able to fulfill its mission for generations to come. Of our 134 Lions of Judah, 12 have now endowed their gifts and several more are working closely with Alicia Feldman and Endowment Chair Paula Filler to follow suit.

Campaign reflections

Serving as campaign chair has been a deeply rewarding experience. While the work is not without its demands, the dedication of our Campaign Cabinet — community members who generously volunteer their time to engage donors — deserves our deepest gratitude. This is what we mean when we say we work “Together as One.”

Last year, we surpassed our campaign goal of $1,750,000. This year, with a few weeks remaining in the 2025 Annual Campaign, we’ve already exceeded our increased goal of $1,850,000. But the need remains great, and every additional dollar helps. Our community's generosity is inspiring. When funds were needed for the Israel Resilience Fund, we raised over $350,000. The Passover Appeal also generated vital support. We are committed to offering everyone the opportunity to contribute. If you haven’t yet been asked, please be a mensch — reach out and get involved.

With gratitude to our leaders

In the next issue of Federation Star, I will proudly announce the leaders who will carry us forward into the 2025-2026 season. For now, we extend heartfelt thanks to those who have worked so tirelessly this year:

• Gail Smith and Estelle Price for leading the Lions of Judah

• Debra Antzis for chairing the Pomegranate Society

• Judith Finer Freedman for leading the Women in Philanthropy Luncheon

• Paula Filler for spearheading the Lion Behind the Pin and Legacy efforts

• And to our Board of Directors, led by Nat Ritter, for their unwavering support

None of our successes would be possible without the entire team, from our dedicated office and front desk staff to our maintenance and security teams. Special appreciation goes to our incredible campaign support duo, Alicia Feldman and Eduardo Avila, for their tireless efforts behind the scenes.