Last Wednesday night, June 28, The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore presented awards to eight community leaders recognized for their outstanding dedication and contributions.
The special ceremony was held at the Gordon Center for Performing Arts in Owings Mills. Among those in attendance were Associated Board Chair Yehuda Neuberger and Marc B. Terill, the federation’s president.
This year’s honorees included Pammy Franklin and Jordan M. Halle with the Fred Walpert Young Leadership Award, which recognizes one woman and one man between the ages of 23-40 who are growing young leaders within The Associated community. Franklin serves on the board of the Young Adult Division and chairs the Collectives initiative. Halle also serves on the YAD board and is the division’s vice campaign chair. In addition, he is co-chair of the Ben-Gurion Society and serves on the board of the Jewish Museum of Maryland.
Sarah R. David and Isaac Pretter were presented the Harry Greenstein Young Leadership Award, which recognizes honorees’ commitment to the local and international Jewish communities. David is the vice chair of the Macks Center for Jewish Connections and played an integral role with the board and staff of Jewish Volunteer Connection as that agency transitioned to a new organization. She also co-chaired The Associated’s Baltimore City Partnerships Commission and continues to be an advocate for young adult involvement in the community.
Pretter serves as co-chair of the Solomon Society and is an active member of Jewish Federation of North America’s National Young Leadership Cabinet. He played a critical role in the formation of Jewish Educational Services, a reorganization of services previously provided by the Macks Center for Jewish Education and SHEMESH. In addition, Pretter has made significant contributions to the Associated Jewish Charities’ Real Estate Committee.
An avid advocate for The Associated through engagement and fundraising, Yanky Schorr was presented the Julius Rosenberg Memorial Award. This award is presented to an emerging campaign leader between the ages of 30-45 who demonstrates successful solicitation, motivates other solicitors and offers potential for a future leadership role within The Associated system.
In 2022, Schorr helped launch the Shabbat initiative with YAD and Pearlstone, engaging more than 60 people in its first year.
The Zelda Miller Award — which honors advocates for young adult philanthropy, as well as for their successful solicitations for the annual campaign — was presented to Michael Fuld and Lauren Sibel. Fuld served as chair of YAD for the past two years, where he has not only continued to solicit members of the Young Leadership Council class that he co-chaired but members of the YAD board. Fuld has actively participated in phonings, collaborated with the YAD campaign chair on strategy setting and served as a champion of fundraising in young adult spaces.
Sibel has served as a solicitor for The Associated since her earliest involvement with the federeation. She currently serves on the YAD board and is co-chair of YAD’s Couples Committee.
Lastly, Robert A. Manekin was the recipient of the Carole Sibel Outstanding Fundraising Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual who has demonstrated commitment to The Associated over a significant period of time.
A graduate of the Young Men’s Leadership Council (which he chaired), Manekin has served as president of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore, president of the Jewish Addiction Services, and as a member of the board of trustees of The Associated and the Associated Jewish Charities. In addition, he served on the executive committee of the National Young Leadership Council.
Manekin currently co-chairs the Associated’s Real Estate Committee and heads the task force for redeveloping the campus at 5700 Park Heights Ave. He has served several terms on the Campaign Cabinet and headed numerous industry groups and giving levels, as well as attended countless Super Sundays.
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