JFSA annual event to honor community ‘gold medalists’

Deanna Evenchik

Tom Warne

The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s 2010 annual meeting and awards celebration will honor the community’s “gold medalists” on Thursday, May 13 at 7 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center.
Heading the list of this year’s award winners are Man of the Year Tom Warne and Woman of the Year Deanna Evenchik. Warne is chair of the 2010 Federation Community Campaign. Evenchik is currently the chair of the Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy.
Rachael Baker and Mark Cassius will receive the Gary I. Sarver Young Man and Young Woman of the Year Awards, which include stipends to be applied toward an Israel mission or attendance at the General Assembly of The Jewish Federations of North America.
The winners of the 2010 Meritorious Service awards are Marilyn Einstein, Amy Hirshberg Lederman, Lowell and Jonathan Rothschild, Andy and Stuart Shatken, and Allison Wexler. The Ben and Betty Brook Community Professional of the Year is Arizona Jewish Post Executive Editor Phyllis Braun.
The Outstanding Judaic Teacher Award winner, determined by a Coalition for Jewish Education committee, is Melissa Truelove of Congregation Or Chadash. Truelove also teaches secular studies at Tucson Hebrew Academy. The Ben and Sally Smith Memorial College Youth Award was determined by a committee of the University of Arizona Hillel Foundation. The winner this year is Laura Matisoff. The Rabbi Arthur R. Oleisky Teen Recognition Award winner is Abbey Roberts.
Special Recognition Awards will be given to the Cindy Wool Memorial Lectureship on Humanism in Medicine, a program of the Federation’s Maimonides Society; and to Mitzvah Magic, a joint program of the Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy and Jewish Family & Children’s Services.
Interfaith Community Services will receive this year’s Meyer and Libby Marmis Humanitarian Award.
The annual meeting and awards celebration will also feature the election and installation of the Federation’s 2010-2011 board of directors including new board chair Jeff Katz, and recognition of outgoing leaders Jennifer Miller Grant, chair; Tom Warne, campaign chair; and Elsa Goldberg, Women’s Philanthropy campaign chair.
Dessert and coffee will be served. The cost of the event is $5 per person. The co-chairs of this year’s annual meeting and awards celebration are Randie Collier and Keith Dveirin. The awards committee was chaired by Julie Feldman. For reservations, call the Federation at 577-9393. Online registration is available at www.jewishtucson.org.