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OCTOBER 16, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 1
Focus on Philanthropy A Cleveland Jewish News Advertising Special Section
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2 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | OCTOBER 16, 2026
First gift can spark a lifetime of giving NOELL WOLFGRAM EVANS
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hen it comes to philanthropic efforts in the community, a common refrain heard in many houses is “We should do more.” While some immediately heed that call, others are held back by perception and uncertainty. They believe that their donation can’t make a difference and, even if it could, they aren’t sure where to get involved. “When you’re ready to make your first philanthropic donation, the first thing to think about is what is a cause you want to support,” Natalie A. Leek, president and CEO of Providence House, said. “With so many great organizations in the Cleveland area, I always suggest that people think about what place speaks to your heart.” Carolyn Sekerak, grants and content manager for Shoes and Clothes for Kids, said that they “tell our younger supporters that giving isn’t about the size of the gift. It’s about showing up for a kid who needs
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someone in their corner. Part of our job is to make sure the donor sees exactly where their support lands.” Once you’ve decided on an organization to support, the question becomes how to manifest that support. “We invite donors to start where they are, whether that’s a modest monthly gift, a peer-to-peer fundraiser among friends or an event ticket,” Sekerak said. “Giving builds as their careers grow, and by then they already feel like part of the family.”
Leek said that “some donors want to give to a tangible object or service, but an unrestricted gift allows an organization to do the things it needs to do. Those types of gifts give us the ability to meet the mission.” Sekerak pointed out the value of any size gift. “Young people often don’t realize how far a gift can go,” she said. “Every dollar they give helps a child walk into school with new shoes, a warm coat and the confidence to focus on learning.” Sekerak said that many budding philanthropists start not by donating financially but with their time. “Most young donors start as volunteers,” she said. “They come for a day of service with their company or school and connect with an aspect of our mission to serve students in need. Maybe they know a teacher, or they experienced or witnessed poverty in their family, school or neighborhood growing up. Many are passionate about helping young people
overcome the cycle of poverty, and they see both their time and their dollars as making a real difference for a student.” Leek said that anything someone can give is important. “Your time, talent or treasure can make a difference,” she said. Leek cautioned that people should verify that an organization they are interested in supporting is a legitimate 501(c)(3). “You can use a site like Charity Navigator to not only verify that the organization you are considering making a donation to is legitimate, but also to see how much of your donation would go to direct services,” she said. Perhaps the most important guide that one should use when deciding where to make a donation is a simple one. Leek explained that she suggests people ask themselves one question: “Do I love what I am giving to?” Noell Wolfgram Evans is a freelance journalist.
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OCTOBER 16, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 3
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unding philanthropies is big business. In Giving USA’s Annual Report on Philanthropy for 2024, over $592.50 billion dollars were donated to charitable causes, more than 6% greater than 2023. When one writes a check to a large, charitable operation, how does that money get divvied up? Tara Camera, executive director of the Greater Cleveland VA Fisher House in Cleveland, and Kayla Webb, senior director of donor impact at Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, shared their insight. “The nonprofit industry standard for program costs is between 65%-70%,” Camera expressed. “So we are operating above that benchmark, and continue to strive to increase that number.” Camera reported that in 2025, the Fisher House’s program expenses were 80% of their annual budget, with the remaining 20% – 20 cents of every dollar raised – goes toward administrative and fundraising coats. With regard to program expenses, Camera explained, “To decide how we use monetary donations once they’re received, we work together with our partners at the Cleveland VA Fisher House to determine what guests need to make their temporary stay there more comfortable while their loved one is receiving care at the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center. The goal is to ensure these families can solely focus on taking care of their ailing family members, and themselves, while they’re in Cleveland. We try to take care of everything else.” To provide a glimpse of how a high-profile operation depends on philanthropic funding, Webb said in the 2025 fiscal year, the threestate region at Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana had $22.07 million in operating expenses. $20.3 million in philanthropic funds were raised that year. “We used a portion of our reserves to help sustain operations and ensure we could continue delivering wishes and supporting children and families without interruption,” Webb noted. “Nearly 97% of our budget relies on philanthropic support. That means philanthropy is not simply one piece of our budget; it is what makes the mission possible.” When a contribution is sent to Make-AWish, Webb said the first step is identifying donor intent “When a gift is designated for a specific purpose or community, we honor that intent and ensure the funds are used accordingly,” she explained. “Unrestricted support gives us the flexibility to direct resources where they
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can have the greatest impact on our mission.” Like any philanthropy, how charitable funds are used is under constant review. Webb told the CJN that was certainly the case after the 2025 fiscal year numbers came in. “We took a thoughtful look at how we operate today and how we can continue building a strong, sustainable chapter for the future,” Webb said. That includes “identifying opportunities to increase efficiency, maximize existing resources and be intentional about how we invest in the mission,” she added. “For example, we consolidated some technology services and became more intentional about leveraging in-kind partnerships to support wish granting, which has helped us maximize the impact of donor support,” Webb said. “These efforts have allowed us to manage expenses responsibly while continuing to direct resources toward the children and families we serve. As a result of these efforts, along with continued philanthropic support, the reserves we used have since been replenished. We also continue to identify opportunities for ongoing and future efficiencies and cost savings that will strengthen the organization over time.” While considering some of the rather large numbers above, it may seem difficult to fathom how operating budgets and program budgets are impacted. Camera humanized those numbers a bit, saying, “Through donations, we have been able to create programs primarily around those needs. Gifts ensure these vital programs continue. We are also able to provide additional assistance as needed. That can range, for example, from sending a flower arrangement to a guest who has unfortunately lost their loved one, to purchasing a new microwave in the Fisher House kitchen if one stops working. Open lines of communication and continuous assessment of guests’ needs and feedback are important in fulfilling our mission of supporting these families.” Steve Mark is a freelance journalist.
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PNC executive Pastore receives AJC Cleveland’s Adler Award CASEY SWINARSKI cswinarski@cjn.org
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mall acts of kindness can go a long way. This is a lesson that honoree Pat Pastore’s father taught him growing up. Not by telling him, but by showing him. Hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps by spreading small acts of kindness throughout the greater Cleveland community, Pastore was honored as AJC Cleveland’s 2026 Richard H. Adler Community Leadership Award recipient on Oct. 6 at the Allen Theatre in downtown Cleveland. During the evening’s welcome reception, Pastore told the Cleveland Jewish News that after learning what the award meant, he was “very humbled” to receive the honor. “I’m just thrilled,” Pastore told the CJN. “I know many of the past recipients, and to be included in that group is very touching.” Pastore is executive vice president and regional president for Cleveland at PNC. In the Cleveland community, he chairs the board of Destination Cleveland and sits on the boards of Greater Cleveland Partnership, Cuyahoga Community College Foundation and Playhouse Square Foundation. He also serves on The Cleveland Foundation’s bank trust committee and previously co-chaired the United Way of Greater Cleveland’s annual campaign in 2013 and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s Harvest for Hunger campaign in 2023 and 2024.
Lee C. Shapiro, AJC Cleveland regional director, who is retiring, and Pat Pastore, recipient of the AJC 2026 Richard H. Adler Community Leadership Award.
“In my interactions with Pat, he only reluctantly shares his own accomplishments – he’s more equipped to credit others, particularly those people and organizations that have put him in a position and empowered him along his own professional path,” Jeremy Sosin, president of AJC Cleveland, said at the event. “His version of servant leadership is rooted in his family’s own humble beginnings. He points to his father’s stories, a teenage immigrant to the United States, who had to learn how to make a life when economic and political winds were constantly shifting. Pat’s modesty means that he’d much rather lead by example than to talk about it.” On his behalf, Michael Baston, president of Cuyahoga Community College, and Kristin Warzocha, president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, shared words and stood alongside Pastore as he accepted the award. Speakers also included Father Thomas G. Fanta of Church of St. Dominic who offered an invocation, and Tom Adler who shared words on behalf of his father, the late Richard H. Adler, the namesake of the Community Leadership Award. “Every year, I’m tempted to say that the person receiving the award is the best and brightest, but I don’t want to be guilty of saying that Pat is better than anybody who has ever received this award,” Adler joked. “I want to tell you, for sure, that he’s at least as
good as everybody who has received this award, and on a personal note, he’s just a fabulous human being and his work goes far beyond what PNC is paying him for.” The American Jewish Committee Cleveland has presented the Richard H. Adler Community Leadership Award annually since 1996 to civic, business, and community leaders who build bridges of understanding, the CJN previously reported.
Past honorees include The Rev. Otis Moss Jr., Thomas F. Zenty III, Paul Clark, Dan Walsh, Richard W. “Dick” Pogue, Randell McShepard, Paul Dolan, David Gilbert and others.
Pat Pastore, PNC executive vice president and regional president for Cleveland, accepts the Richard H. Adler Community Leadership Award.
Tom Adler shares remarks on his father’s legacy, Richard H. Adler, the namesake of the award presented to Pat Pastore.
Father Thomas G. Fanta, pastor at Church of St. Dominic, offers an invocation and speaks on behalf of honoree Pat Pastore.
AJC Cleveland president Jeremy Sosin presents the Richard H. Adler Community Leadership Award to Pat Pastore alongside Tom Adler, Kristin Warzocha and Michael Baston. | CJN Photos / Casey Swinarski
To see more photos, visit cjn.org.
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Grantmakers increase focus on nonprofit outcomes, sustainability ELLEN BRAUNSTEIN
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oundations and other grantmakers are increasingly asking Cleveland-area nonprofits to show not just what they do, but what difference their work makes. Funders are placing more emphasis on measurable community impact, collaboration and whether results can continue after a particular grant ends. Mary Paxton, vice president of development at JumpStart, a Cleveland nonprofit that helps entrepreneurs and growing businesses expand, said simply counting how many people an organization serves is no longer enough.
At JumpStart, she explained, the question increasingly becomes, “What changed for those entrepreneurs because of this work?” The organization works with established businesses generating at least $250,000 in annual revenue, and that might include increased revenue, job creation, stronger business operations, new investment, key hires or progress toward bringing a technology to market. “We’ve seen funders move from focusing on volume metrics to expecting impact metrics,” JumpStart CEO Lorne Novick noted. “They’re looking beyond how many people an organization reaches to understand the difference the work
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makes for those individuals and, over time, for the broader community.” Karen Thompson-Shaheen, a consultant with Foundation Management Services in Cleveland, works with philanthropic foundations including the Woodruff, Bruening, Abington, HealthComp and Thomas H. White foundations. From the grantmaker’s side, she said foundations consider not only the merits of a proposal but also the need being addressed and how a program fits into the broader community. That matters because foundations have limited dollars and may receive requests from several organizations addressing similar problems. A worthwhile mission alone may not be enough; funders also want to know whether an organization is filling a genuine need. Those decisions can have consequences beyond a single nonprofit. When several organizations are addressing the same issue, funders may look at where gaps remain, which populations are being missed and whether money can help strengthen services that already exist rather than create another overlapping program. Collaboration has become more important as well. Paxton said funders increasingly expect applicants to understand the network of organizations already working on related issues. “Funders want to understand the specific need an organization addresses and how its approach complements, rather than duplicates, existing services,” she explained. That does not necessarily mean every organization must formally partner with another. Rather, funders want evidence that nonprofits understand the broader landscape and recognize when another provider may be better positioned to meet a particular need. Sustainability is another growing concern. Grantmakers increasingly want to know what happens when their funding ends and whether an organization has the capacity, partnerships and other support necessary to continue producing results. For the public, those expectations can mean philanthropic dollars are being scrutinized more closely for what they actually accomplish in the community. As Paxton put it, organizations can no longer simply assert that their work matters. “It is one thing to say what you do makes a difference,” she noted. “Grant applicants increasingly need to demonstrate what happened, how they know and whether the results can last beyond the grant period.” Ellen Braunstein is a freelance journalist.
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Guiding meaningful, engaged family philanthropy rooted in values and legacy MINDEE FREDMAN Special to the CJN
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have had the privilege and pleasure of working together with many families on their philanthropy over the years. One common thread I have found is that families want their giving to be meaningful and impactful. And they want to communicate the value and importance of giving to their children and grandchildren. When a family is seeking either advice or a deeper conversation about philanthropy, an outside advisor can help the family at every stage. With young children, volunteering together and/or asking each child to suggest a donation at Fredman Chanukah can be a great place to start. For older teenagers, being included in conversations with their parents to understand which causes and organizations are important to
the family can help them understand the family’s values. When families sit down to talk about philanthropy, having an advisor around the table can help make the conversation broader and deeper than “where do you give” and “how much do you give.” These kinds of conversations can lead to the sharing of family history, personal stories, Jewish journeys and connections, gratitude to those who came before and hopes for the future. An advisor can help to foster positive interaction and feedback. They can document and distill values and ideas that
have been shared and agreed upon and reflect these ideas back into a family mission statement. Mission statements can serve as a guidepost for defining philanthropic goals, building meaningful philanthropic practices, strengthening family engagement and deepening connection to giving and impact. Having an advisor as a resource can help families to create a forum for mutual respect and collaboration, encourage participation, uncover new angles and perspectives, find common ground, and begin collectively articulating values, vision and legacy. In addition, the advisor can help make connections that line up with family members’ interests and passions, to help affirm values and increase participation. Families engaged in this process share the goal of becoming more strategic, engaged and fulfilled Jewish philanthropists. Experienced guidance from a philanthropic advisor can help families give with greater purpose and create lasting commitments
to the causes and communities that matter most. By passing on the tradition of giving from generation to generation, this philanthropic approach not only brings meaning to families, but also provides support to organizations and causes that will strengthen our community for generations to come. Mindee Fredman is vice president, supporting foundations at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.
DISCLAIMER The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.
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MedWish MedWorks’ annual MedBash raises funds KATERYNA KOPYLCHAK kkopylchak@cjn.org
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edWish MedWorks hosted its annual MedBash fundraiser on Oct. 3 at the Agora Theatre in Cleveland, bringing supporters together for an evening of live music, food and entertainment. The event, held at 5000 Euclid Ave., raised funds to support MedWish MedWorks and its work in the community. MedBash 2026 featured live music from Faith & Whiskey and a farm-to-table plated dinner prepared by Cleveland Field Kitchen. Guests also had the opportunity to participate in an online auction throughout the evening. New to this year’s MedBash were casinostyle games, adding another entertainment option for attendees. The fundraiser embraced a 1920s-inspired
theme, with guests encouraged to dress in clothing inspired by the era. Attendees arrived in flapper-style fashion, suits and other outfits reflecting the theme while taking part in the evening’s activities. The event raised $400,000 to benefit programs that advance health equity and environmental sustainability in the local community and around the world. MedWish MedWorks was founded by Dr. Lee Ponsky, who founded MedWish International in 1993, and his brother Zac Ponsky, who founded Medworks in 2009. The two organizations merged on September 1, 2024, to form MedWish MedWorks, according to past reporting by the Cleveland Jewish News. The Ponsky brothers, and their father, Jeffrey Ponsky, were honored by the CJN in 2017 as recipients of the CJN Generation Award. To read more about them, visit cjn.org/18dm.
How do your Jewish values drive your family’s philanthropic goals? How are you inspiring your family’s next generation to shape the future of our Jewish community? Leaving a legacy is more than passing on valuables, it is passing on shared values.
Dr. Lee Ponsky, Monica Ponsky, Kate Hershman and Eric Ponsky | CJN Photos / Kateryna Kopylchak
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland can help you share your family stories and explore the values that guide your philanthropic and volunteer choices.
For a confidential conversation, contact Mindee Fredman, vice president, Foundations and Family Philanthropy, 216-593-2805, mfredman@jewishcleveland.org
jewishcleveland.org Paige and Justin Novak, Val Henderson and Britta Latz
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Starting philanthropic journey requires introspection NOELL WOLFGRAM EVANS
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here are two big questions that everyone who wants to start offering financial support to community organizations has to ask. The first is, “How much am I willing to give?” and the second is, “Who do I want to make a donation to?” The opportunity to become a philanthropist is not relegated to people with a particular bank balance. Anyone can offer some level of financial support to organizations whose mission and work they care about. Megan O’Bryan, president of the Tri-C Foundation in Cleveland, noted making a decision about what organizations to support “is about more than just making a contribution, it’s about deciding what matters to me. What are my values?” “I would start by trying to get curious,” O’Bryan said, adding, “Do some research about various organizations. It is also smart to talk directly to an organization to see what they need.” This type of information will provide you with a more holistic look at what
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various groups are doing and planning to do. O’Bryan said, “It is then up to the donor to take that information and decide if they want to spread ten thousand dollars across 10 organizations or make one big investment with one group.” Brittany Schultz, director of donor impact and philanthropy at the Cleveland Foundation in Cleveland, explained, “It’s important that you get to know an organization.” She suggested that one way to do that is to give smaller, monthly gifts. This helps donors to see how the organization handles donations and helps them to
develop a comfort level around the donor engagement process. Schultz said, ”There is a common (misconception) that organizations have enough funding and donors and don’t need more. Many organizations are providing basic human needs and we have seen those needs increase and the amount of dollars needed to meet those needs is increasing as well.” When you do give, there are any number of vehicles you can utilize. Those include straight donations, the use of Donor Advised Funds or DAFs, planned gifts, IRA distributions and dedicated “Giving Days,” among others. Within those, Schultz said, “Most organizations will really appreciate unrestricted support.” That is when a donor marks their donation to be used for essentially whatever the organization needs, she added. “That type of support helps keep the people who do the work employed,” Schultz said. Not everyone has the opportunity to make that headline-breaking million dollar
donation and that’s OK. Smaller amounts, if given strategically, can quickly grow in scope and impact. “A lot of organizations have matching challenges,” O’Bryan explained. “Another popular donation vehicle is people using their donation to kick-off a crowd funding campaign.” Schultz said, “Regular monthly donations can be really helpful. It provides the organization with a reliable source of income each month which can help its sustainability.” An easy way to get to know an organization and the way that they operate is through their newsletter, Schultz suggested. “Donors should never make assumptions about what an organization needs,” O’Bryan said. “It’s always important that the gift they want to give aligns with the organization’s mission.” Noell Wolfgram Evans is a freelance journalist.
The Cleveland Clinic Children’s Rock Stars are young patients whose strength inspires action. Your donation delivers healing and hope, and helps fuel the future of pediatric care.
Meet Henry and other Cleveland Clinic Children’s Rock Stars at ccf.org/rockstars.
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10 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | OCTOBER 16, 2026
Hospital donors accelerate medical research, patient care ELLEN BRAUNSTEIN
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hildren arriving for autism care at Akron Children’s Hospital can now pull up to a freestanding center and receive multiple services in one place. The hospital had long envisioned such a facility, but it was still years away from becoming reality. Then, Tom and Jill Zidian made a $2 million lead gift. Their contribution helped move the Tom and Jill Zidian Autism Center forward by about three years, said Shelly Brown, chief development officer and executive director of the Akron Children’s Foundation in Akron. The hospital ultimately raised about $3.5 million for the center. “It really helped us to be able to do that project in a bigger way and much more quickly than we had anticipated,” Brown noted. Across Northeast Ohio health systems, philanthropy is doing more than supplementing hospital budgets. Donations can accelerate research, bring new technology into use sooner, allow hospitals to pilot programs and provide the seed money needed to turn promising ideas into patient care. At Akron Children’s, philanthropy also helped equip a specialized operating room for children requiring spine surgery, including patients with scoliosis. Brown said the project probably would have happened eventually, but donor support accelerated it “by many years.” Donors also help Akron Children’s test behavioral health programs before deciding whether to expand them throughout a system with more than 70 locations. Brown said philanthropic support can fund pilot programs that the hospital can later scale if they prove successful. Akron Children’s recently entered the public phase of its $250 million “Come Grow With Us” campaign, which includes pediatric subspecialties, behavioral health, nursing, community health and patient and family engagement. At MetroHealth, donor support recently paid for another
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kind of innovation: a pharmacy robot. The equipment sorts and packages medications for patients with complicated regimens, helping MetroHealth respond to growing demand for pharmacy services in Cleveland, Greg Sanders, vice president of philanthropy at MetroHealth in Cleveland, explained. The MetroHealth Foundation used more than $100,000 from unrestricted philanthropic funds toward the equipment. Without those donations, Sanders said the purchase would not have happened as soon because it was not included in the health system’s capital budget. Philanthropy also supports MetroHealth’s functional electrical stimulation research, which develops implanted devices designed to restore functions for people with spinal cord injuries, including the ability to grip with their hands. A three-year, $600,000 matching gift helped generate additional contributions for that research. Sanders stated research is one of MetroHealth philanthropy’s three principal areas, along with patient care and education. At University Hospitals, philanthropy can operate at an even earlier stage – providing the money needed to create research programs that later attract substantially more support. Dr. Daniel Simon, president of academic and external affairs and chief scientific officer at University Hospitals, also
Weinbergs honored with Mather Visionary Award
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enni and Stephen Weinberg were honored with the Samuel L. Mather Visionary Award at University Hospitals’ Annual Society of 1866 Celebration on Sept. 28 at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The Weinbergs were recognized for their incredible generosity and commitment to Northeast Ohio, according to a news release. The two have supported UH through charitable giving and volunteer leadership with their longstanding support of the UH Neurological Institute helping advance brain health and memory research. Their
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most recent gift was made through the “Because of You” campaign, which goes to the future Iris S. and Bert L. Wolstein Center, which will support caregiver education, training and simulation programming. A lover of the arts, pieces of Penni Weinberg’s work hang on the walls of several UH hospitals. Stephen Weinberg was a member of the 2015 inaugural class of Cleveland Jewish News 18 Difference Makers. The Mather Visionary Award is the highest philanthropic honor presented by University Hospitals.
Cliff Megerian, CEO of Universiy Hospitals, Penni Weinberg, Stephen Weinberg and Dr. Dan Simon, president of academic and external affairs and Chief Scientific Officer for University Hospitals, at the UH Annual Society of 1866 Celebration, where the Weinbergs were honored with the Mather Visionary Award. | Submitted photo
in Cleveland, pointed to the Harrington Discovery Institute, founded with a $50 million gift from the Harrington family in 2012. Since then, the institute has supported 240 researchers developing new medicines at 78 institutions, launched 53 companies and advanced 29 drugs into clinical trials, Simon said. “We never would have had the Harrington Drug Discovery Institute without the philanthropic support of the Harrington family. Period,” Simon said. He cited two other examples: philanthropic support that established UH’s Veale Healthcare Transformation Institute, which focuses on new models of care and technology, and a $20 million gift that launched the Haslam Sports Innovation Center, which develops technology related to sports performance and safety. Simon said such gifts provide the “seed” that allows hospitals to recruit researchers, clinicians and technical experts and then pursue additional government, foundation and industry funding. That role has become particularly important amid uncertainty in federal research funding. Simon said some UH and Case Western Reserve University researchers have experienced delays in National Institutes of Health awards, prompting the institutions to use philanthropic dollars as bridge funding to keep established laboratories operating. Donors increasingly want to know what their money accomplishes, Sanders said. Compared with earlier in his career, he sees greater emphasis on data and measurable results, particularly among donors supporting the same program over multiple years. For Brown, that means demonstrating that philanthropy is improving access and allowing Akron Children’s to treat more children at a higher level of care. “Impact is very important,” she said. Ellen Braunstein is a freelance journalist.
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Values In Action honored by Rotary Club of Cleveland CASEY SWINARSKI cswinarski@cjn.org
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f the Cleveland-based nonprofit Values In Action was an orchestra, then its committed staff and employees would be the violin players – constantly on the move and creating something beautiful out of their shared notes. Co-founders Susan and Stuart Muszynski would play the cymbals – an equally important job, but quiet at times while the violins are at work. When they do play, however, their crash and impact rings out for all to hear. “Every once in a while, I’m given the opportunity to play the cymbals,” Stuart said. “I make a big bang when I do that, but it’s definitely fewer and fewer in between, relative to what they are doing out there in the field every single day.” This is the analogy that Stuart, president and CEO of Values In Action, shared while accepting the Rotary Club of Cleveland’s Community Impact Award on Oct. 1 at Windows On The River in downtown Cleveland, emphasizing the importance of every player who has helped Values In Action share their mission of empowering kindness throughout the country. “I’m in awe – humbled, overwhelmed – there’s so much goodness that comes out of
the Rotary Club and all of the people here who work in our communities to make our world better, and we feel blessed to be associated with this and to be appreciated for what we do,” Susan said while accepting the award alongside her husband of over 50 years, Stuart. The Rotary Club of Cleveland’s Community Impact Award is presented to an individual or an organization that has shown direct commitment to empowering progress and investing in the community’s future, according to event organizers. Values In Action began in 1994 as Project Love, hosting its first workshop at Berkshire High School with a goal of empowering students and adults to build communities of kindness, caring and respect through programs that teach, promote and provide skills and tools to enable individuals to make positive, values-based decisions every day. Today, through initiatives like Kindland and United States of Kindness, the organization has programs in all 50 states. In 2025, the nonprofit reached 685,000 students across the country. “We have a wonderful organization that is now national, and Cleveland is our laboratory,” Stuart said at the event. In addition to the award, the Muszynski’s received a proclamation of recognition from
Susan and Stuart Muszynski, co-founders of the Values In Action Foundation, accept the Rotary Club of Cleveland’s Community Impact Award on Oct. 1 at Windows on the River in downtown Cleveland. | CJN photo / Casey Swinarski
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who called the couple’s work “extraordinary.” “Going back to my metaphor about the orchestra – when an orchestra plays and you hear this beautiful concerto, they’re not playing random notes, they’re playing off of a piece of paper with notes that all of
the (musicians) can agree on,” Stuart said. “They’re all playing the same notes, and when kindness becomes the notes that we all play together, and we can do it, it can unite us.”
4,799 donors $1.2 million in community support
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12 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | OCTOBER 16, 2026
Becoming a fundraiser all about ‘building relationships’ BRIAN LISIK
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undraising for a nonprofit organization is a career path with far more lanes than one might imagine. And while the work is competitive, the rewards can far outweigh the challenges for a person who is passionate about their organization and cause. “You have to be able to answer the question, ‘Why do you want to do this?’” Peggy Sobul, chief Sobul development officer at Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, said. “It’s not a super easy job (but) I love that I am able to raise money for a mission I believe in. There are some days when I say, ‘Why am I doing this?’ But then we celebrate a family moving into a house and out of a very bad rental situation.” Sobul said there are several traits that make for a good fundraiser, whatever the
organization. First and foremost, she said, is having a passion for the work and simply “enjoying people.” “You have to be able to talk to people and be a good listener,” she said. “The donors will give you clues as you talk to them. If you ask open-ended questions, you can learn a lot about them.” Sobul said it is difficult to describe a typical day or week for a fundraising professional, but the work does have some constants. Finding donors, for instance, can be particularly challenging, depending on the organization, according to Sobul. “It can be tough, but it can also be easy when you establish a rapport (with donors),” she said. “It’s all about building relationships. And you want to build the relationship (between the donor and) the organization, not just with you.” Sobul said fundraising campaigns vary at organizations, with the smallest gifts generally coming through annual fundraising efforts for the organization itself. This can be broken down further as “programmatic” requests for yearly
operating costs or specific construction projects, she said. Programmatic donations “really are dependent on what the donor wants,” Sobul explained. She added that in most cases, organizations have built-in donor lists such as universities primarily calling on alumni, while hospitals may reach out to grateful patients. Sobul cautioned, however, that working for a nonprofit in any capacity is seldom a get-rich-quick career. “If you’re in it to make a lot of money, nonprofit is not the way to go,” she said. “But fundraising is probably one of the higherpaid (positions) in a nonprofit organization. You are bridging in revenue and that is what they are paying you for.” Sobul added the pay scale across the industry is “all over the place,” with universities and national organizations generally paying more than local nonprofits, and major gift officers - nonprofit development professionals who build longterm relationships to generate donations in
the hundreds of thousands or more – making more than annual fundraiser positions. “As the amount of the gift goes up, the pay goes up because you are bringing in more revenue,” Sobul said. She also noted that, unlike when she entered the field almost 40 years ago, more colleges and universities now offer certificate and degree programs in nonprofit management. “When I started, there were no nonprofit management degrees,” Sobul said. “We kind of made it up as we went along. Now you can get a certificate or a bachelor’s or a master’s.” She said a good fundraiser provides “long-term value” to their organization, “You are always going to need fundraisers,” Sobul said. “No matter who you are or what you do, every organization needs to raise money. Is it competitive? Yes. You have to find people who fit into what your organization does. But like any job, it’s important to make sure it is something you want to do.” Brian Lisik is a freelance journalist.
Gifts fund synagogue growth, programs and services MARTHA SOROHAN msorohan@cjn.org
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efined as a desire to promote the welfare of others most often expressed by monetary donations, philanthropy is critical in helping temples and synagogues meet the needs of their congregations. “Philanthropy, both large and small, keeps organizations like Suburban Temple Kol Ami moving forward,” Brett Shankman, executive director of the Beachwood congregation, said. “One of my favorite more modest gifts was a few hundred dollars to replace a TV monitor in our lobby.” Significant fundraising outside of annual membership dues at temples and synagogues is usually delegated to the executive director and conducted in close partnership with lay leaders, such as a development committee and the rabbi, Shankman said. Other congregations have a Development Director. Park Synagogue seeks to be one of them. “We’re looking for someone who will get to know our members, build relationships, and help Park grow for the next generation,” said Ben Weltman, executive director of Park
Shankman
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Synagogue in Pepper Pike. “Until then, I work directly with Rabbi (Joshua) Skoff and our development committee, which is made up of board volunteers.” Gifts in all shapes and sizes are important to these religious organizations. Congregation “wish list” items as well as programs funded specifically by philanthropic donations originate with listening. “We start by listening to what our members want, and build from there,” Weltman noted. Weltman said every major campaign relies on one or more lead or leadership gifts to get it going. “But bringing the whole congregation in alongside those gifts is what makes a project succeed,” he added. Weltman cited the generous donations that
funded Park Synagogue’s 2023 expansion. “The lead gift of the Miller family, a generous leadership gift from the Ratner family and support from families across the congregation gave us a beautiful, welcoming campus,” he said. “Our sanctuary brings people closer to the bimah, and the Garson Chapel and Davis Community Hall, where the Agam glass panels from our Cleveland Heights building now hang, give us room to pray, learn and celebrate together. We also have beautiful spaces outdoors to gather for social events and religious services.” A Park Day Camp scholarship fund was started in memory of a congregant’s parents; another matching gift strengthens campus security and safety. Shankman stressed that while philanthropy from all levels is critical for capital and endowment campaigns, it has a role outside of significant campaigns as well. “A gift in excess of $10,000 paid for a new street sign at Suburban Temple Kol Ami,” he said. “I am always grateful to our congregation for its support for Kol Ami.” Weltman said that other gifts at Park help with member visits in nursing homes, run a bereavement group, serve monthly dinners with the Journey Center and support members in need.
“On the smaller side, the tribute and Yahrzeit gifts that come in every week really add up,” he said. All gifts reflect strong congregational ties that are the foundation for generous giving. “I hope that donations to our congregation have come as a result of a shared vision and passion for the community that has been built and continues to grow at Suburban Temple Kol Ami,” Shankman said. “This is reflected through our programming, worship and commitment to being an inviting, inclusive community.” Weltman views his congregation’s generosity – including its time – as stemming from its 150-year history in Cleveland. “Some people give every year, some give to mark a simcha or remember a loved one and some give their time,” he said. “In any given week, you’ll find Tot Shabbat, religious school, Rabbi Skoff’s Sunday class, the Women of Park book group, senior outings, young adult events, and in the summer, Park Day Camp. What ties it together is a feeling that Jewish life, learning, and community matter and should be here for our kids and grandkids. There’s a lot going on at Park right now, and new people are getting involved. If you’ve been meaning to reconnect with Jewish life, come for Shabbat, visit or call us.”
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OCTOBER 16, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 13
Nonprofit Beachwood 100 supports city’s first responders KATERYNA KOPYLCHAK kkopylchak@cjn.org
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ince 1969, Beachwood 100 has supported the city’s first responders by providing financial assistance, equipment and educational scholarships, bringing residents and local businesses together to give back to those who serve their community. The citizen-led and funded nonprofit organization provides Kiwi additional resources to Beachwood police officers, firefighters and other first responders. “It’s a way that citizens and residents and businesses can give back to those that protect them,” president Ivor Kiwi said. The organization offers financial assistance through loans or grants to first responders facing unexpected financial challenges, including medical emergencies.
It also provides funding to departments for safety and fitness equipment. One of Beachwood 100’s main initiatives is its annual scholarship program, which supports children of first responders pursuing higher education. “In the beginning of the year, we have an application process, and any child of a first responder in Beachwood that’s employed by Beachwood who’s going to college the next year can apply for the scholarship,” Kiwi said. The organization reviews applications before hosting its annual scholarship event, typically held in May. For the past two years, the event has taken place at Hex restaurant, which donated its space and food. The celebration brings together scholarship recipients and their families, corporate sponsors, city officials, police and fire chiefs and community members. Beachwood 100 also works to improve the well-being of first responders through projects that address their everyday needs. One recent initiative involved renovating a wellness room at the Beachwood Police
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“It’s a way that citizens and residents and businesses can give back to those that protect them.” Ivor Kiwi Beachwood 100 Department, transforming an underused space into a comfortable area where officers can take breaks. “We funded it and did the work to, along with the city, paint it and get new furniture and then stock it with food so that it can be a kind of a quiet space for the police force when they need to kind of have some time,” he said. Members contributed money and food to help stock the room, which continues to be frequently used by officers. The organization is operated by a volunteer board that coordinates fundraising efforts, events and community initiatives. Residents and businesses can support Beachwood 100 through its membership
program. Individual memberships cost $50 annually and include two car decals and two wallet cards recognizing their support. Members also receive updates through newsletters and social media and have opportunities to participate in events and charitable projects. Looking ahead, Beachwood 100 plans to continue its community outreach, including participating in local events alongside the city’s police and fire departments. Its next annual membership campaign is expected to take place in November or December, followed by another scholarship celebration in May 2027.
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14 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | OCTOBER 16, 2026
Booster clubs raise funds to support school sports JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org
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ith school budgets growing tighter and tighter because of declining enrollment, rising operating costs and property tax caps, most districts are looking for a way to give their athletics department a push. Enter the appropriately named booster club. “A booster club is a group of volunteers, usually parents of student athletes, whose job is to fundraise to support the athletic programs above and beyond what annual school budgets are able to provide,” Evan Klotzman, first-vice president of the Solon Athletic Boosters, explained. While not every district has a booster club, which is a nonprofit and operates separate from the schools, putting the onus on the community to start it, Klotzman said the ones that do are crucial to helping keep each sport up and running, especially with school budgets “first and most importantly” going towards education and divvying the shares with other clubs and activities, such as choir and band. “In some districts, athletic departments rely on their boosters to cover the cost of uniforms and equipment,” Ryan Peters, athletic director of Beachwood High School, noted. “We’re not in that situation, but Beachwood Athletic Boosters help us support a lot of the extras. We give out an athlete of the week honor each week, and we try to get them a nice hoodie or quarter or full zip, and the boosters help with that. When we send kids off to the state championships, the boosters will get them state gear. There’s times when teams are struggling to make a big commitment, like if our baseball team wants to go on a spring break trip and play in Myrtle Beach and the trip is $20,000, the boosters will come in and try to offset the cost.” Klotzman said that team dinners or post-game meals are often supported by booster clubs, as are championship t-shirts, such as the swag the Solon’s eighth grade girls volleyball team was given after winning the Suburban League Tournament.
Gent
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“One of the biggest things that we do each year is give out scholarships to our student athletes,” he said. “And for that, we’re in excess of $20,000 a year. We also put on events for the community, whether it’s a tailgate before the game or a happy hour. Each summer, we put on a golf outing, which is a large fundraiser. Those events raise awareness and help benefit the student athletes.” Rich Gent, president of Orange Boosters, said his organization raises money in three ways: corporate scholarship, via ads in the stadium and gym; membership fees for the club; and internally, such as selling concessions at the football game. Peters said that wrestling tournaments raise a lot of money for Beachwood, as do discount cards that the football team sells, with offerings on goods and services from local businesses. “Track and field did a car wash recently,” Peters said. “Some teams do a restaurant give back, where they partner with a restaurant and get a percentage of what is sold there that night. Our executive board tries to raise larger funds for the overall good of the athletic departments, so we do a big fundraiser called The Night at the Races in conjunction with the Kentucky Derby where people bet on recorded horse races. We also have a mattress fundraiser which can bring anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000.” As for numbers, Peters said Beachwood keeps about 12 to 14 members while Gent added that Orange has between 14
and 24 in the booster club. “Anyone can join, it doesn’t have to be a parent of an athlete, although that’s primarily who joins,” Gent said. “We’re constantly recruiting those in the community who are interested in helping towards our mission of supporting the school, and it’s an easy sell for someone who is the parent of an athlete.” Gent said that Orange Boosters works with businesses within the school district to try and get them involved in supporting the athletics. “We’ve got a small marketing brochure that shows the types of things we support each year and what their dollars go to,” he said. “It’s getting members to go out and pound the pavement, asking businesses for their support. We have our sponsorship committee, which is in charge of going out and raising sponsorship dollars.” Peters said that operating costs are minimal, a booster club is often entirely volunteer based and spending is usually limited to materials for events, and the payoff or helping support a district’s athletics department is huge. “It’s very important that we’re able to provide our kids with the extras,” he said. “It’s important to get them gear if they win the conference championship. It’s important to showcase their achievements. We try to get them good gear because it’s important for them to walk around with pride.” Klotzman said a good running booster club is the result of great volunteers, giving community members and fantastic local businesses who act as supporters. “We have amazing advertisers who come back each year and help support us through the printing of programs we give out at games,” he said. “We also have a digital advertising campaign with our LED scoreboard at the football stadium and LED scoring table in the gym for volleyball, basketball and wrestling. We’re able to sell digital ads on those through our partner company, Power Ad, and our local businesses have been fantastic stepping up to join that.”
One South Euclid honors South Euclid residents at annual fundraiser
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ne South Euclid honored four residents whose leadership, service and generosity have helped shape the South Euclid community during its annual Mingle at Mayfield fundraiser Oct. 15 at Mayfield Country Club. Julie Mostov, Beth Greisl and Officer Andrea Galbraith were all recognized at the event while Tatiana Mason received the Emerging Hometown Hero Award, which is given to a young or first-time honoree whose leadership and service point toward the community’s future. Together, the honorees represent decades of volunteerism, public service, youth mentorship and community leadership,
according to a news release. “Communities thrive because of people who choose to serve others,” Kristian Hunter, Executive Director of One South Euclid, a nonprofit community development corporation dedicated to promoting sustainable economic, social, and cultural connections throughout the city, said in the release. “This year’s Hometown Heroes have each made South Euclid stronger in their own unique way. Whether through volunteer leadership, public service, mentoring young people, or preserving opportunities for future generations, they remind us that one person truly can make a lasting difference.”
Mostov was honored for civic leadership and volunteer service, including her work on the Playground of Possibilities, South Euclid’s Centennial Celebration and Mingle at Mayfield; Greisl was recognized for more than 25 years of youth sports leadership, expanding opportunities for children and helping preserve recreational baseball in South Euclid; Galbraith was honored for community outreach, mental health and breast cancer awareness efforts, and her coordination of Operation Holiday Cheer; and Mason was recognized for athletic achievement at Brush High School and mentoring younger girls through Balance and Beyond.
The evening featured hors d’oeuvres, an online silent auction and an in-person raffle with proceeds from the event benefitting One South Euclid’s Neighborhood Grants Program, which supports grants that help older adults with lawn care and snow removal, homeowners with critical exterior repairs and residents with neighborhood projects that bring people together. “Every ticket purchased is an investment in South Euclid,” Hunter said. “They’ll not only celebrate remarkable individuals, but also help neighbors remain in their homes, improve our neighborhoods, and create opportunities for residents to build stronger connections with one another.”
OCTOBER 16, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 15 Cuyahoga Community College Foundation Cuyahoga Community College Foundation Cuyahoga Community College Foundation Cuyahoga Community College Foundation Cuyahoga Community College Foundation Cuyahoga Community College Foundation Cuyahoga Community College Foundation To provide resources for for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community Our Mission: Our Mission: To provide resources advancing student success at Foundation Cuyahoga Community 700 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OHOH 44115 Cuyahoga Community College Our Mission: To provide resources forresources advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community 700 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, 44115 To provide resources for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community Our Mission: Our Mission: To provide resources for student success at Cuyahoga Community Our Mission: To provide resources for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community Businesses aim to make giving to meaningful causes ‘intentional’ Our Mission: To provide for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community To provide resources for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community Our Mission: Cuyahoga Community College Foundation Our Mission: To provide resources for student success at Cuyahoga Community Our Mission: To provide resources for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community College and to transform the lives of those Tri-C serves. Our vision: To ensure Tri-C has the 700 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115 Our Mission: To providethe resources for advancing student success at ensure Cuyahoga Community College and to transform lives of those Tri-C serves. Our vision: To Tri-C has the 700 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115 216-987-4868 700 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115 College and to transform the lives of those Tri-C serves. Our vision: To ensure Tri-C has the 216-987-4868 College and totransform transform the lives of those Our vision: To Tri-C the College and the lives those Tri-C serves. Our vision: To ensure Tri-Chas has thehas the College and tothe transform the livesTri-C of those Tri-COur serves. OurTo vision: To ensure Tri-C College and toto transform lives ofof those serves. vision: ensure Tri-C has the
FOCUS ON PHILANTHROPY
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16 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | OCTOBER 16, 2026
Brown named president of Reserve Care Foundation CASEY SWINARSKI cswinarski@cjn.org
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eserve Care, formerly Hospice of the Western Reserve, recently appointed Lisa Brown as the president of the Reserve Care Foundation. Brown, who joined the organization in July, brings more than 20 years of fundraising and development leadership in healthcare and higher education, according to a news release. In her role, she will lead the foundation’s philanthropic strategy and work with donors, community partners and organizational leaders to strengthen support
for Reserve Care’s mission and services throughout northern Ohio, according to a news release. “Reserve Care has a strong history of caring for patients and families during some of life’s most important moments, and philanthropy helps make that care possible,” Brown said in the release. “I look forward to deepening relationships with our donors and community partners and creating new opportunities to support this mission.” Brown joined Reserve Care from the Lorain County Community College Foundation, where she served as executive director since 2017. During her tenure, she helped grow the foundation’s endowment,
expand its portfolio of endowed funds and lead a multiyear comprehensive campaign that surpassed its original fundraising goal. Before joining Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Brown spent more than 13 years with University Hospitals in Cleveland, where she held several fundraising and development roles. As director of corporate and foundation relations, she helped lead a major comprehensive campaign and secured significant gifts from corporate and foundation partners, according to the release. “Lisa brings the experience, leadership and community focus that will help strengthen philanthropy across Reserve Care,” Bill Finn, president and CEO of Reserve
Care, said in the release. “Her ability to build strong relationships and connect donors with meaningful opportunities will help us expand our impact for patients and families.” Brown earned a Master of Business Administration from Cleveland State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Kent State University. She is a certified fund raising executive through the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She is also the immediate past board chair of Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio, board president of the Amherst Historical Society and board member of Lorain County Health and Dentistry.
Payne joins Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP in trusts, estates practice
B Payne
rittany Payne has joined Cleveland-based Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP as an associate in the trusts and estates practice area. Payne, who will work out of the Cleveland office, advises individuals and families on estate planning, probate administration and trust administration matters, according to a news release. She will guide clients through estate planning and administration matters, including trust structures, wealth
transfer objectives, tax considerations and family dynamics. She drafts and reviews estate planning documents and manages estate and trust administrations from intake through final distribution, while counseling fiduciaries and assisting with fiduciary income, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax returns. “We are thrilled to have Brittany joining us during an exciting time of strategic growth for our team,” Dana
Marie DeCapite, Chair of Hahn Loeser’s Cleveland Trusts and Estates Practice Group, said in the release. “She brings exceptional technical experience, energy and depth to our practice and further strengthens our commitment to best-in-class client service.” Payne was selected as a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel’s Ladder Down Cleveland Class of 2022 and has been named to Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch
and Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars. She graduated from the Cleveland State University College of Law with her J.D, earning a a CALI Excellence for the Future Award for her work with the Community Advocacy Law Clinic while there. She is active in the Ohio State, Cleveland Metropolitan and Lake County Bar Associations along with the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland.
NBC ‘Today Show’s’ Roker to headline Tri-C Presidential Scholarship Luncheon
C Roker
uyahoga Community College will present a conversation with Al Roker as part of its 2026 Presidential Scholarship Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Atrium Ballroom at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland at 300 Lakeside Ave. Roker, the weatherman and a host of NBC’s “Today Show,” will speak at
Tri-C’s annual event, which benefits those who might not otherwise be able to get an education at the college. Proceeds from the luncheon are distributed among numerous Tri-C Foundation student support and scholarship funds – including the First Generation Scholarship Fund, Presidential Scholarship Fund, Workforce Training Scholarship Fund
and Student Emergency Fund – along with additional funds designated by donors. Past speakers have included Kenny Atkinson, Daymond John, Alex Rodriguez, Patricia Heaton, The Right Honourable Theresa May, Bill Walton, Robert M. Gates, Octavia Spencer, Ted Koppel, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, President George Bush, President Bill
Clinton, Madeleine Albright, The Right Honourable Tony Blair, Condoleezza Rice, George Stephanopoulos, and many others. Admission starts at $1,000 per person. To purchase tickets, visit shorturl.at/NxBcT.
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OCTOBER 16, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 17
Donations help food pantries serve local families CASEY SWINARSKI cswinarski@cjn.org
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zedakah doesn’t always mean the donation of money – it can mean the donation of time for some, and for local food banks, it can mean the donation of food. “Tzedakah is an integral part of our lives, but especially during the High Holidays and Sukkot,” Sarah Yaffe Alevesky, executive director at the Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry, stated. “Giving money, food or time is a direct expression of tzedakah and care for our neighbors.” At the Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry, Yaff e Alevsky said the organization Pozna hosted a Rosh Hashanah fundraising drive, which is vital to raising the funds needed to operate and to provide special food distributions before Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Those distributions are in addition to the food they regularly provide. “Before Rosh Hashanah, we gave 300 senior households holiday-specific food and holiday brochures, and we went door to door delivering special packages Yaffe Alevsky to our Jewish clients,” Yaffe Alevsky said. “We also provide the families we support with additional holiday distributions. This year, holiday foods included honey, apples, grape juice and challah, as well as extra chicken and roasts.” In addition to the seniors, the pantry also helped around 200 families with those holiday necessities – a donation which she said is an extremely meaningful part of the holidays. “Food costs have risen sharply, up over 33% from 2019, with inflation and transportation costs adding to what families pay,” Yaffe Alevsky said. “When a family is already struggling with its regular grocery bill, the cost of a holiday meal can be out of reach. We want families and seniors to have the foods that help them celebrate, with dignity and joy.” That work, she added, depends on private donations and partnerships with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and the Hunger Network, which support the pantry with donated produce and other food. Karen Pozna, director of communications and special events at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank in Cleveland, explained they “couldn’t do” what they do without their community partners and volunteers. “We get donations from a variety of places,” Pozna said. “We do get food from both the state and federal level, as well as local retailers, donors and obviously food drives, which is especially important during the holiday season.” The holidays, which Pozna said is typically the food bank’s busiest time of year for both fundraising and distribution, is a great time for community members to give back if they can.
“We don’t want anyone to ever have to go without a meal anytime during the year, but especially during the holidays,” she said. “We encourage folks to host food drives, whether it’s online to collect money, or to collect actual food.” Most needed items typically include peanut butter, pasta sauce, juice, cereal and canned protein such as tuna or chicken, Pozna said. If donating to the Kosher Food Pantry, canned and packaged items should have a clear kosher certification. “If you are hosting a food or funds drive, we encourage you to come and drop it off and tie it into a volunteer opportunity or a tour as well,” Pozna said. “You can see the
full circle of how and where your food goes.” Yaffe Alevsky added financial donations are especially valuable because they help the pantries purchase holiday foods and cover the costs of getting food to people, as well as general operations. “It helps make sure that the joy of the holidays is shared by the entire community,” Yaffe Alevsky said. “When we sit down to our holiday feasts, we do so knowing that those in need in our community have their holiday needs met as well.”
Thank You, Cleveland Jewish FilmFest Sponsors! Your support makes the Cleveland Jewish FilmFest possible. We’re excited to announce a $500,000 Challenge Match from Sally and Larry Sears.
Scan the QR code to support the FilmFest today!
Every gift to the FilmFest will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $500,000, helping create a permanent endowment for the FilmFest’s future. Together, we’re ensuring that great stories continue to inspire our community for generations to come.
Major Support Provided by
Jennifer & Grant Dinner • Renee Rothmann and Dr. Ilene Greenblatt Noreen Koppelman-Goldstein & Barry Goloboff • Daniel Mansoor • Heather Ross • Peter & Aliki ✡ Rzepka Sally & Larry Sears • Janet Stotter ✡ of blessed memory
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18 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | OCTOBER 16, 2026
Solon girl creates Little Free Library for cancer community CASEY SWINARSKI cswinarski@cjn.org
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inley Macknin has always loved reading alongside her mom, Elle. Since she was a baby, the motherdaughter pair of Solon residents have enjoyed escaping in a good book. But when life threw a curveball, 10-yearold Kinley quickly learned that an escape was exactly what was needed. “Books are a way to escape or find a little quiet time when life is crazy, like when my mom was diagnosed (with breast cancer) when I was in kindergarten,” Kinley, a student at Laurel School, told the Cleveland Jewish News. This period of uncertainty in her life inspired Kinley to turn her love for reading into action by creating a Little Free Library for individuals and families affected by cancer at The Gathering Place in Beachwood. “I wanted to create a welcoming spot where people coming to The Gathering Place could find a good story, feel a little extra care and know they aren’t alone,” she said. The Gathering Place is a Northeast Ohio nonprofit that provides free programs and services to support, educate and empower individuals and families affected by cancer through both online and in-person programming at their Beachwood and Westlake locations. Created and built with the help of her father, Jonathan, Kinley’s Little Free Library invites those who pass by to take a book or leave a book. “There’s not a day that we don’t see someone taking a book,” Adam Ross,
10-year-old Kinley Macknin stands alongside her Little Free Library outside The Gathering Place in Beachwood. | Submitted Photos interim CEO and chief development officer of The Gathering Place, said in a statement provided to the CJN. “One of the big things for us is that Kinley has created another touchpoint for community, and we’re forever grateful.” Elle Macknin, Kinley’s mother who is now in remission, said that her daughter’s support “means everything,” and not just personally as her mom, but to the entire cancer community. “It means the world to know that out of
The Macknin family stands alongside the Little Free Library at The Gathering Place in Beachwood. something so frightening, she has grown into a fiercely compassionate individual who refuses to let anyone feel alone in their fight,” Macknin told the CJN. “Seeing her show up with profound awareness at such a young age is beyond touching. She has created another welcome point to The Gathering Place which we are beyond lucky to have here in Cleveland.” For Kinley, who shared that one of her favorite books is “The Watermelon Seed” by Greg Pizzoli, she hopes that the Little Free
Library offers an escape for those in familiar situations to her own. “Whether someone is having a hard time or having a tough day or just looking for a reading adventure, I hope the Little Free Library brings them comfort, joy, and a piece of community,” Kinley said. The Little Free Library is located at The Gathering Place East at 23300 Commerce Park in Beachwood. To learn more about The Gathering Place’s free programs and services, visit touchedbycancer.org.
Dorn to retire from Youth Opportunities Unlimited CASEY SWINARSKI cswinarski@cjn.org
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he Board of Directors of Youth Opportunities Unlimited announced the retirement of CEO Craig Dorn on Oct. 12, effective Jan. 29, 2027, after 37 years with the organization. After nine years of leadership and service as CEO, Dorn made the decision to retire and begin the next chapter of his life. Throughout his tenure, he played an instrumental role in advancing Y.O.U.’s mission, strengthening community partnerships, expanding opportunities for the young people and positioning the organization for continued success, according to a news release. “As a Board, we are deeply grateful for Craig’s leadership,
vision, and unwavering commitment to our mission,” Amanda Petrak, chair of the Board of Directors, said in the release. “His impact on this organization and the countless lives touched through our work will be felt for years to come.” Through work experience and school-based programming, Y.O.U. has helped students build employability skills, explore career pathways, and prepare for life after high school since 1982. According to the release, the board has initiated a transition planning process as Dorn continues to work through Jan. 2027 to support the transition. “It has been a privilege to serve this organization,” Dorn said in the release. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and confident in Y.O.U.’s future.
The organization’s mission, dedicated team, and strong leadership foundation position it well for continued growth and impact.” Y.O.U.’s programs and services will continue as scheduled throughout the leadership transition, ensuring continued support for the young people we serve. Dorn The Board extended its sincere appreciation to Dorn for his years of service and wishes him a fulfilling and well-deserved retirement. They said they will share additional details regarding the transition in the coming weeks.
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OCTOBER 16, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 19
No one goes hungry. No food goes to waste. A rendering of the Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation Terrace, an outdoor gathering space designed to connect Case Western Reserve University’s Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building, opening this fall, with the campus’ quad. | Submitted rendering
Hunger Network connects children, families and older adults to nutritious food through hunger sites, pantries, community meals and partners—and our Food Rescue Kitchen, the FoRK , turns surplus food into fresh, nourishing meals.
Kelvin & Eleanor Smith Foundation donates $15M to new CWRU research facility
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he Kelvin & Eleanor Smith Foundation recently committed $15 million to support Case Western Reserve University’s Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building, a new research facility designed to advance collaboration and discovery across disciplines. The Pepper Pike-based foundation’s contribution will allow for the construction of The Kelvin & Eleanor Smith Foundation Terrace, an outdoor gathering space that will connect the ISEB to the university’s quad and broader campus community, according to a news release. Through the university’s century bond program, the foundation’s donation will be matched for a total of $30 million going toward the project. The 189,000-square-foot ISEB is scheduled to open this fall and its laboratory and collaboration space, which will serve about 300 researchers, is designed to bring together faculty, students and research teams from across CWRU to address global challenges in areas such as climate science, electrochemistry, sustainable manufacturing, artificial intelligence, robotics and neurotechnology. “The Smith family legacy runs deep at Case Western Reserve and the lasting impact of the Kelvin & Eleanor Smith Foundation is evident across campus,” Eric W. Kaler, CWRU president and Morton L. Mandel Presidential Chair, said in the release. “For decades, the foundation has prioritized support in and around University Circle, which has enabled its institutions to grow and thrive. We are honored to be among them.”
The Kelvin & Eleanor Smith Foundation Terrace, which is approximately 2,000 square feet in size, will span the entrance of the ISEB to the adjacent Wickenden Building, with direct connections to the building’s forum, a central indoor collaboration and study space. “Our family’s relationship with Case Western Reserve University spans generations, and we are proud to continue supporting an institution that has long advanced innovation, discovery and opportunity,” Ellen Mavec, granddaughter of Kelvin and Eleanor Smith, president of The Kelvin & Eleanor Smith Foundation, emerita trustee of the university and recipient of CWRU’s President’s Award for Visionary Achievement, said in the release. “The Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building reflects the kind of collaborative, forward-looking research environment that will help shape the future, and we are honored to be a part of it.” The terrace overlooks the MichelsonMorley Fountain, and its goal is to encourage interaction and connection between members of the campus community while linking the university’s scientific legacy to the future of innovation within the ISEB, according to the release. The Smith family and CWRU have an ongoing relationship with each other, and the Foundations has supported initiatives such as the Kelvin Smith Library, The Kelvin & Eleanor Smith Foundation Plaza at the Milton and Tamar Maltz Performing Arts and Center at The Temple-Tifereth Israel, among other projects.
Night to Fight Hunger NOV
6
Friday, November 6 · The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland Honoring Giant Eagle, 2026 Corporate Partner of the Year
Tickets: bit.ly/4zBjQWF Your generosity brings stability, dignity and hope.
Give at hungernetwork.org
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20 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | OCTOBER 16, 2026
Welser-Möst’s final season with Cleveland Orchestra underway
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he Cleveland Orchestra opened its 2026-27 season on Sept. 17 and 20 at Severance Music Center, marking the beginning of Franz Welser-Möst’s final season as the orchestra’s music director after more than 25 years of artistic partnership. The opening program offered an introduction to a season shaped by reflection, renewal and the musical traditions Welser-Möst had helped define in Cleveland, according to a news release. Welser-Möst led the orchestra in Richard Strauss’s “Four Last Songs,” featuring soprano Golda Schultz. The program was paired with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 8. The 2026-27 season is set to feature works by Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler and Richard Strauss, along with new commissions, rediscoveries and works connected to
Cleveland’s musical history, according to the release. “After being here for so long, the Orchestra is like my family,” Welser-Möst said in the release. “Over 25 years of partnership, there’s a mutual respect and understanding, and a tremendous amount of trust that underscores our music making. I never expected to be Music Director for 25 years, and it’s difficult to imagine what comes next. But I think an institution needs fresh input, and the time is right.” Welser-Möst’s final season is also scheduled to include performances outside Cleveland. In October, he is set to lead the orchestra on its 81st international tour, featuring 15 concerts in nine European countries. In January 2027, Welser-Möst is scheduled to conduct two concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Later that month, the orchestra is set to celebrate the 20th year of
its Miami residency and continue its partnership with the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of MiamiDade County. Welser-Möst first conducted The Cleveland Orchestra as a guest in February 1993 and returned every season beginning in 1995. He was named the orchestra’s seventh music director in 1999, succeeding Christoph von Dohnányi, and began his tenure with the 2002-03 season. By the conclusion of the 2026-27 season, Welser-Möst is expected to have led the orchestra in more than 1,200 performances across 93 cities in 26 countries. His tenure had also included collaborations with contemporary composers that resulted in 47 commissions and co-commissions. For The Cleveland Orchestra’s 2026–27 subscription series calendar, visit shorturl.at/5frg2.
Grinspoon Foundation commits $50M for campers JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org
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he Harold Grinspoon Foundation recently announced a $50 million matching grant through its JCamp 180 program, which helps Jewish nonprofit camps thrive well into the future. JCamp 180 will award up to $10 million in matching grants each year over five years to support more than 100 Jewish overnight camps, according to a news release. For every dollar that the HGF grants, the camps must raise $3. This $50 million challenge grant and corresponding camp fundraising efforts will add up to a total of $200 million in the camp ecosystem over the next five years. Camps can use the funds to make critical physical improvements, build their endowments and meet emerging needs, such as increased scholarship or security expenses. “From the first time I visited a Jewish
summer camp, I realized that camp was an incredible way for kids to experience what’s great about being Jewish,” Harold Grinspoon said in the release. “I knew it was a great place to put my dollars. So we have been investing in Jewish camping to help camps meet the financial challenges they face. This grant and its matching component have the potential to truly transform what camps will be able to do. We’ve seen the amazing success of matching-challenge grants and I hope this match will encourage other funders to support the awesome impact of camp.” This new initiative will continue the work of Forward Together, the HGF’s previous matching-grant challenge for camps. In 2025 alone, approximately 10,000 donors met the Forward Together match. Additionally, 88 of the camps are now working to create permanent endowments with the special targeted support of JCamp 180’s Endowment Accelerator.
“The Jewish camp field is experiencing financial fragility,” Sarah Eisinger, director of JCamp 180, said in the release “Two-thirds of our camps operate within a 3% margin of breakeven, and the camps have faced economic shocks from COVID-19, October 7, and disruptions due to climate change. The data shows that operating expenses such as food, security, and insurance are outpacing inflation, and tuition no longer covers expenses. Philanthropy plays an increasingly important role if we want camps to flourish.” Rabbi Eliav Bock, executive director of the camp Ramah in the Rockies, said that the Denver summer camp uses the matches as leverage “to motivate both major donors and annual donors to increase their giving.” “The existence of the Forward Together match gave donors confidence that their gifts would have amplified impact and provided a compelling reason to give now,” he said in the release. “We are excited about
the prospect of doing more, and I know that my camp colleagues from across the field join me in embracing this new and larger challenge and what’s ahead for us as a field.” Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, said that Jewish camps remain a powerful place for young Jews to build a lasting Judaic identity, community and sense of belonging. “Harold Grinspoon has long understood that investing in camp means investing in the Jewish future, and this extraordinary commitment is another expression of that vision,” Jacobs said in the release. “Across URJ’s 14 camps, we have seen what becomes possible when philanthropy, strong leadership, and bold thinking come together. We are deeply grateful to Harold, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and JCamp 180 for challenging all of us to build an even stronger and more sustainable future for Jewish camp.”
Foundation for Geauga Parks celebrates 35th anniversary
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he Foundation for Geauga Parks, a nonprofit organization funding conservation, education and park improvements in Geauga County, celebrated its 35th anniversary on June 12 at Veterans Memorial Park in Chardon. Current and former foundation trustees came together to mark the occasion at an event that included an anniversary highlight video and VIP honoree recognition of John and Pat Leech and Jim and Nancy Patterson, Chester Township residents who were among the first to embrace the foundation and its mission, according to a news release. “This event was designed to be more than a program,” Christine Davidson, executive director of the Foundation for Geauga Parks, said in the release “We wanted guests to
experience the Foundation’s story – to honor the people who helped build it, celebrate the work happening today, and imagine what is possible for the future. Seeing current and former trustees, students, scholarship recipients, partners, donors and friends gathered was a powerful reminder that this mission belongs to the whole community.” The William D. Ginn Conservation Scholarship was announced at the celebration, with the first recipient to be named in 2027. The $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to a graduating Geauga County senior who plans to study environmental science. “My father was William Ginn, an early founder of the foundation,” David Ginn said at the event. “I’m here because it’s a testimony to the determination and passion of some great
people who have done incredible work in Geauga County.” Guests experienced an interactive timeline and met live animal ambassadors from Hiram, who work with injured and orphaned wildlife. Attendees also heard from two Geauga County fifth graders who recently completed the Nature Scopes Program, a hands-on yearlong educational program open to all Geauga County fifth graders. Two 2026 foundation Conservation Scholarship recipients were present sharing about their college plans for studies related to the environment. The evening wound down with live music by The Hickory Rockers, including the premiere of an original song written for the foundation, and a night sky viewing ended the occasion.
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OCTOBER 16, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 21
10 nonprofits benefit from Cavs, Monsters foundations
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he Cavaliers Community Foundation and Cleveland Monsters Community Foundation recently combined to issue over $1.17 million in grants to 10 nonprofits across Northeast Ohio. It was the first cycle of legacy grants for the Cavaliers Community Foundation, which is shifting from onetime giving to multi-year investments in the Cleveland community, according to a news release. “For more than 30 years, the Cavaliers Community Foundation has invested in organizations doing critical work across Northeast Ohio,” Pam Frasco, Cleveland Cavaliers senior vice president of social impact and equity and executive director of the Cavaliers Community Foundation, said in the release. “The legacy grants let us go deeper with five incredible community partners, helping them grow programming they’ve already built but haven’t had the support to expand until now. It’s a three-year commitment to keep showing up alongside our neighbors, and to the partners already doing
the work of creating long-lasting, positive outcomes in the communities Clevelanders call home.” Esperanza Inc., which is dedicated to empowering Northeast Ohio communities in need to flourish by equipping learners for educational attainment and lifelong success; Greater Cleveland Food Bank, which works together with the community to provide nutritious food and essential resources so neighbors facing hunger can thrive; MAGNET, whose mission is to grow the manufacturing sector in Northeast Ohio; MedWish MedWorks, which is dedicated to advancing health equity and environmental sustainability by redistributing surplus medical supplies and providing essential care to medically underserved communities locally and around the world; and Shoes and Clothes for Kids, which distributes new shoes, clothing and school supplies to children, each will receive $75,500 per year for three years as part of the grants, a total of $225,000 per organization,. MCF awarded $10,000 each to five organizations: By the Dawn’s Early Light, which supports foster children
affected by the addiction crisis through its “No Child Forgotten” promise; NAMI Greater Cleveland, which empowers individuals living with mental illness and their families through support groups, education and advocacy; Veterans Assurance Network, which connects veterans and their families to benefits guidance, crisis assistance and community advocacy; Enterprise Community Partners, which supports the Lotus, a supportive housing development for young adults exiting homelessness; and Fairmount Center for the Arts, which provides affordable arts programming across Geauga County and beyond. “As we celebrate 20 years of Monsters hockey in Cleveland, we’re proud to continue our investment in organizations that support the health and well-being of Northeast Ohio,” Ben Adams, Cleveland Monsters chief marketing officer, said in the release. “These five grants continue to move that mission forward. Supporting organizations that nurture community growth are pivotal to the Monsters franchise.”
Mt. Sinai Health Foundation awards $3.1M in grants
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he Mt. Sinai Health Foundation approved over $3.1 million in grants, providing funds in all four areas of its grantmaking focus, at its September quarterly board meeting. The largest of its grants went to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, where Mt. Sinai gave $1.8 million to support the 2027 Campaign for Jewish Needs and $300,000 over three years to expand community security. The grants were part of its “Health of the Jewish Community” grantmaking focus. In its “Academic Medicine and Bioscience” grantmaking focus, Mt. Sinai gifted $1000,000 to Asian Services in Action, Inc. to support the Ohio AAPI Equity Collaborative, a regional data platform, and
$150,000 over two years to MQ Foundation to support the Mental Health Research Center for Excellence at Cleveland Clinic. In its “Equitable Health Outcomes” grantmaking focus, Mt. Sinai gave $50,000 to the American Academy of Pediatrics – Ohio Chapter to advance vaccine confidence in Greater Cleveland; $75,000 to Blossom Hill to advance equitable health care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; $150,000 to The Centers to implement a new pharmacy automation system; $190,600 over two years to the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio to support training and education for the infant and early childhood mental health workforce; $100,000 to the Greater Cleveland Funders Collaborative to support
the Community Resilience Initiative; $80,000 to Providence House, Inc. to support a community campaign fellow; and $55,000 to Thrive for Change advance community health through peer-led outreach. In its “Health Policy” grantmaking focus, Mt. Sinani gave $50,000 to the Children’s Defense Fund – Ohio to provide advocacy around doula services, public benefits, schoolbased health care and universal school meals. Several members of the Mt. Sinai Health Foundation Board were recognized for awards and honors they have received in the community. Vice chair J. David Heller received the Mendy Klein Community Service Award at Hebrew Academy of Cleveland’s 83rd tribute dinner and was also elected chairman of the board of governors
of The Jewish Agency, and director Vickie Johnson was honored with the Billie Osborne-Fears Leadership Award by Starting Point. At the meeting, the Mt. Sinai board also recognized that several of its members were honored by the Cleveland Jewish News as 250 notable Jewish individuals, part of the paper’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America’s independence. Directors Tom (and wife, Joanie) Adler, Heller, Stephen H. Hoffman, August “Augie” Napoli, Judge Dan Polster, Jim Ratner, Susan Ratner, Enid (and husband, Dr. David) Rosenberg, Alan Rosskamm, Dan (and wife, Ellen) Zelman, Life director Sally H. Wertheim and President Mitchell Balk were all named on the list.
KeyBank invests $2M in Highland Park Golf Foundation
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eyBank has announced a $2 million investment in the Highland Park Golf Foundation to establish the KeyBank Learning Center at the Highland Park Golf Course at 3550 S. Green Road in Highland Hills. The KeyBank Learning Center will offer educational
opportunities, work development programs and experiences to help community members from all backgrounds build skills, connections, and pathways to opportunities, according to a news release. Owned by the city of Cleveland, the historic golf course
was founded in 1927 to serve minority golfers. Considered a local landmark, it is managed by the nonprofit Highland Park Golf Foundation, dedicated to preserving the property as a diverse, accessible and affordable community golf center.
Metroparks Zoo to benefit from Trees for Threes program
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leveland Metroparks Zoo will be the beneficiary of this year’s Trees for Threes initiative, a partnership between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kentbased The Davey Tree Expert Company where for every three-pointer made during
Cavaliers home games, a tree is pledged for planting in the community. Launched in 2015, Trees for Threes has helped plant thousands of trees and restore tree canopy throughout Northeast Ohio, according to a press release. This
year, 600 trees will be planted on Cleveland Metroparks Zoo grounds, which will help the zoo’s commitment to sustainability and connecting animal, human and environmental health. A signature planting event was held
on Sept. 22 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo where, after welcoming remarks and a tree planting demonstration by zoo staff, volunteers helped plant trees.
FOCUS ON PHILANTHROPY
22 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | OCTOBER 16, 2026
Schar Plaza named for longtime Ashland U donors JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org
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shland University honored longtime benefactors Dwight Schar and his wife, Martha Schar, with the dedication of Schar Plaza outside the main entrance of Amstutz Hall on campus on Oct. 2. Dwight Schar, founder of Brecksvillebased NVR, a home construction company, helped transform the university’s residence halls with a $20 million donation, the largest gift in Ashland University’s history, and bringing the total of philanthropic support from the Schars to $60 million, according to a news release. “Dwight and Martha Schar have helped shape the trajectory of Ashland University through decades of remarkable generosity and a shared vision for the university’s future,” Ashland University President Jon Parrish Peede said in the release. “Their donation highlights their commitment to building quality housing, not only for families but also for students. This historic $20 million gift is the latest chapter in a legacy that has touched every corner of our
campus, strengthening our academic and athletic programs, enhancing our facilities, and enriching the student experience. We are profoundly grateful for the Schars’ lasting impact on our institution.” The recent $20 million donation helped renovate and modernize nine-story Amstutz Hall, four-story Jacobs Hall and the first floor of Andrews Hall – with all construction taking place during a five-month timeline. The three residence halls now feature air conditioning, pod-style bathrooms and lobby and room updates which include new flooring, furniture and LED lighting. Amstutz Hall now has a glass façade running the full height of the nine-story building, bringing natural light into open-concept study lounges on every floor. The renovations provide students with more modern, comfortable, and collaborative living and learning environments, the release said. “Ashland provided me with an outstanding education and experience that shaped me as an adult,” Dwight Schar said in the release. “I want the current and future students to have the same opportunity and the living environment that reflects the exceptional quality of the Ashland faculty,
Dwight Schar, Ashland University alumnus and benefactor, cuts the ribbon on the new Schar Plaza outside the main entrance of Amstutz Hall at Ashland University during a dedication event on Oct. 2. | Submitted photo staff, coaches and academic facilities.” Dwight Schar was raised in Jefferson, Ohio, alongside six siblings by their mother, who didn’t let financial “tough straits” define their aspirations. He attended Ashland University by working the night-shift at a pipe-fitting factory and graduated in 1964. He began a career in teaching, but began selling property and soon founded his own company, NVHomes. NVR is
now a Fortune 400 company and is the parent company of Ryan Homes, NVHomes and Heartland Homes. The projects the Schars have supported have touched every area of campus, from modernized student housing and two academic buildings to campus beautification and gathering spaces, according to the release.
Sunbeam Holiday Boutique to return Nov. 11-13
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ocational Guidance Services will bring back a 115year tradition with the Sunbeam Holiday Boutique from Nov. 11 to Nov. 13 at The Country Club at 2825 Lander Road in Pepper Pike, bringing together vendors from Cleveland and across the country for three days of shopping, entertainment and community impact. Attendees can discover unique gifts, holiday decor,
fashion, jewelry, specialty foods and more while supporting a meaningful cause, according to a news release. Fifteen percent of all vendor sales will be donated to Vocational Guidance Services, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing person-centered programming and services for individuals with disabilities, according to the release. Opening night will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 11 with tickets
costing $150 per person. Ladies night will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 12 with tickets costing $35 per person. General admission tickets are available for $20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 for $20. For a complete list of vendors, ticket information and event details, visit shorturl.at/6Z1Yf.
Piano Cleveland, Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing announce partnership
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iano Cleveland announced a partnership with the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China on Oct. 5, bringing together two leading institutions in classical piano ahead of the first round of the Cleveland International Piano Competition in January 2027. As part of the partnership, sessions from the first round of the 2027 CIPC will be held at CCOM for students and other community members to attend free of charge. While in Beijing, the First Round Jury of the CIPC will also work with select CCOM students in masterclasses and professional development workshops, according to a news release. “It is of vital importance for CCOM’s
faculty and students to be connected to such a world class organization, to witness firsthand how top level talents of today perform, to communicate with leading international musicians about their views of excellence,” Danwen Wei, CCOM Piano Department Chairman and piano faculty member, said in the release. “We believe strongly that this partnership will yield wonderful benefits for both organizations.” According to Yaron Kohlberg, Piano Cleveland’s artistic director, the addition of CCOM fulfills the CIPC’s goal of inclusion and adds more prestige to the world-renowned competition. “We have long recognized the logistical
and economic barriers placed on musicians,” Kohlberg, who medaled in the 2007 CIPC, said in the release. “Partnering with the Central Conservatory of Music is not only a great honor, but it also increases accessibility to pianists located in Asia.” Additional first round locations include the Cleveland Institute of Music in the United States and Salle Cortot in Paris, France. Up to 60 pianists will be selected by a preliminary jury to perform a live solo recital. The jury will select 16 quarterfinalists from this pool to come to Cleveland from July 25 through Aug. 7, 2027, and narrow the field to eight semifinalists and four finalists. The finalists will play in a first-ever
collaborative public performance called the Final Four(hand) Challenge. Then, as has become the hallmark of the CIPC, the finalists will perform with The Cleveland Orchestra during the Final Concerto Round. The 2027 competition also marks the launch of the Roe Green Travel Fund, which will cover travel costs and housing for contestants participating in the summer rounds of the competition in Cleveland. Applications for the 2027 competition are open to pianists ages 18 to 32. The early application deadline is Nov. 4, 2026, with a final deadline of Dec. 4, 2026. Details about the submission process can be found on Piano Cleveland’s website at pianocleveland.org.