
Pacesetter Event Co-Chairs Lily and David Serviansky with Miguel Poyastro

Joanne Katz, Federation General Campaign Chair Brian L. Bilzin, and Pacesetter Event Co-Chairs Ray Ellen and Allan Yarkin
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More than 450 of Miami’s most committed Jewish philanthropists came out in full force for the Greater Miami Jewish Federation 2011 Pacesetter Event at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach.
This annual event, which regularly draws large crowds, was one of the largest Pacesetters in the community’s history, thanks to an extraordinary number of new Pacesetters. Together, these philanthropists donated more than $2.8 million to the 2011 Federation/UJA Campaign, with the average donor increasing his or her commitment nearly six percent over last year.
The 2011 Pacesetter Event was co-chaired by Lily and David Serviansky and Ray Ellen and Allan Yarkin. The evening featured remarks from a number of community leaders, including Federation Board Chair Barbara Black Goldfarb and Federation General Campaign Chair Brian L. Bilzin. Both spoke movingly about the important work accomplished by the Annual Campaign – in Miami, in Israel and around the world – and how Federation’s overseas partner agencies, such as the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), were able to quickly help Israelis affected by the devastating Carmel Region fires.
The evening also featured a keynote address by Washington Post syndicated columnist and ABC News analyst George F. Will. Peppering his remarks with humor, historical analogies and personal reflections, the media icon offered a stirring defense of the State of Israel’s right to exist and asserted the Jewish people’s historic and cultural claims to the land. Summing up his remarks to the crowd, Will said: “Israel was not made by flimsy people, it was made by sturdy people, and it continues to be sustained by sturdy people – people like you.”
The Federation gratefully acknowledges its Corporate Sponsors for their financial support of the Pacesetter Event. Platinum Sponsors were: Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod, LLP; The Collection; Greenberg Traurig, P.A.; and Wachovia Wells Fargo. Gold Sponsors were: Akerman Senterfitt Attorneys at Law; Kent Security Services; and Sapoznik Insurance & Associates, Inc. The Silver Sponsor was Meland Russin & Budwick, P.A., and Bronze Sponsors were Carlton Fields Attorneys at Law; Frank Crystal and Company; Goldstein Schecter Koch; and Kaufman, Rossin & Co., P.A., Certified Public Accountants. Podhurst Orseck, P.A., Trial and Appellate Lawyers was the Pearl Sponsor.
For more information, please call 305-576-4000 or visit JewishMiami.org.
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Federation Board Chair Barbara Black Goldfarb, Richard Berkowitz and Judy Adler |
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Federation Past Presidents Ezra Katz and Norman Braman |

Jeff Newman and Federation Past Presidents Saby Behar and Michael M. Adler |
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Federation President and CEO Jacob Solomon, Keynote Speaker George Will and the Honorable Ofer Bavly, Consul General of Israel for Florida and Puerto Rico |

Tania Lapciuc and Irma Braman |
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Dr. Mel Drucker; Aaron Podhurst, a Federation Past President; William Lehman, Federation Immediate Past Board Chair; Hal Gaffin and Tom Lehman |

Robert and Mojdeh Danial, Jacob Russo and Shana Lewinger Russo |
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Elana, Oscar and George Feldenkreis |

Dorothy Podhurst; Aaron Podhurst, a Federation Past President; and Laura Koffsky |
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Stanley Price, Scott Baena and Alan Axelrod |

Myron J. "Mike" Brodie, Leonard Miller, Maxine Schwartz, and Norman Lipoff, a Federation Past President |
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Roberto and Veronica Zarco, and Hili and Marty Scheck |

Steven J. Kravitz, a Federation Past President; Wendy Kravitz and Mark Kravitz |
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Nieves and Isaac Olemberg |

Donna Blaustein, Daniel and Tamara Nixon and Jeffrey Newman |
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Morrie and Leigh Siegel, and Susan and Jonathan Awner |

George Will (center) with Robert and Fran Berrin |
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Isaac K. Fisher and George Will |

Joshua and Lee Hare |
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Jacob Solomon and Jessie and Bernard Wolfson |

Alberto Franco, Linda and Hugo Reiter, and Diane and Alan Lieberman |
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William and SheiLa Steiner, and Ruben Kloda |

Hilarie Bass, Richard Berkowitz and Sandy Grossman |
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John M. Bussel, Paul Kruss and Robert Singer |

Rosi Behar, Sara Kavana and Clarita Kassin |
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Fran Berrin, Sherry and Harley Tropin, and Professor Alan Dershowitz |

Jeffrey and Laura Kaplan with George Will |
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Steven and Adrienne Messing with George Will |

Ruben Kloda, Daniel Whitebook, Robert Goldfarb and George Will |
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