Gala Countdown!
Leadership

The Leaders Behind the Celebration

Our Gala is made possible by a dedicated group of leaders whose passion and commitment bring this evening to life. From our Board of Directors and Host Committee to our Alumni Leadership Committee, Gala Ambassadors, and Youth leaders, each plays a vital role in strengthening the friendships and community at the heart of Philly Friendship Circle.

Gala Ambassadors

Sara Abramson & Jesse Bernstein, Alumni Ambassadors 

Vicki & Gary Erlbaum

Alicia Felton & Sherrill Neff

Alison & Lee Sussman

Deborah Winokur & Hanan Fishman

Note Writing Chairs

Freda Pepper & Howard Bernstein 

Board of Directors

Sharon Levin, President

Deborah Siegel, Secretary

Adam Illfelder, Treasurer

Melissa Glozman, Associate Treasurer

Julie Axelrod

Eric Berger

Seth Feldman

Sammi Levin

Deb Livingston

Freda Pepper

Claire Raab

Solomon Fishman, Teen Board Liaison

Alumni Leadership Committee

Jonah Katz & Sammi Levin, Co-Chairs

Sara Bergmann

Ben Wolf

Host Committee

Jennifer Abramson

Jan & Pete Albert

Melissa & Paul Anderson

Julie* & Rob Axelrod

Caren Barnet & Steve Abramson

Nancy & Martin Black

Sylvia Blume

Mindy & Evan Brodie

Malka & David Caroline

Holly Cohen & Leib Meadvin

Liz Cohen & David Whellan

Devorah & Shaya Deitsch

Joan & David Denenberg

Amy & Andy Dorfman

Leeann & Scott Erlbaum

Amy & Daniel Erlbaum

Maria & Tom Federman

Jill & Lenny Feinberg

Pam & Scott Feldman

Darien Finder

Lauren & Jeff Gladstone

Paula & Bill Glazer

Melissa* & Michael Glozman

Laurie & Howard Goldstein

Judi & Mark Goldstein

Jaime Gordon

Abby & Nate Greenberg

Karen & Curt Heffler

Linda Heller & Zachary Weiss

Joy & Ryan Hoffman

Cristy & Mitchell Hollin

Danielle & Adam* Illfelder

Helene & Greg Jaron

Beth & David Joseph

Simi Kaplin Baer & Marc Baer

Kimberly & Larry Kimmel

Myriam Klotz & Margot Stein

Amy & Michael Kopelman

Hadassa & Emanuel Korn

Chaya & Yisrael Kotlarsky

Nancy Koutcher & Abraham Ftaiha

Eve & David Kovsky

Elizabeth Kramer & Michael Golinkoff

Chana Lane

Sharon* & Jonathan Levin

Michele & Robert Levin

Deborah* & Mark Livingston

Rachel & Shimi Mandelbaum

Simone & Brian Nadav

Dara & Andrew Newman

Gail & Elliot Norry

Claire Raab* & Jordan Goldhammer

Abby & Dave Rankin

Lauren & Scott Ravitz

Jill & Brian Rosen

Samantha & Evan Rosenberg

Erika & Chad Rubin

Eydie Rudman & Howard Levin

Shari & Stuart Rudoler

Julie & Andrew Schultz

Hilde & Bruce Sham

Gail Simon

Jodi & Dan Singer

Danielle Tapper

Janie & Aaron Ufberg

Elissa & David Waldstein

Jennifer & Michael Willner

*Board Member

Thank you to our 2026 Gala Sponsors

List updated April 23, 2026
Best Friends Forever
  • Kelly & Michael Barrie
  • Danielle & Adam Illfelder
Cherished Chaverim
  • Caren Barnet & Steve Abramson
  • Sandra Cozen
  • Neubauer Family Foundation
Perfect Pals
  • Jill & Mark Fishman
  • Stephen Klein
  • Amy & Michael Kopelman
  • Alyson Simpson & Joel Lazovitz
  • Michele & Robert Levin
  • Alicia Felton & Sherrill Neff
  • Myriam Klotz & Margot Stein
Best Buds
  • Melissa & Paul Anderson
  • Lisa & Arthur Berkowitz
  • Malka & David Caroline
  • Amy & Daniel Erlbaum
  • Amy & Steven Erlbaum
  • Susan & Lewis Gantman
  • Alyssa Terk & Denis Jablonka
  • Robin & Steven Katz Family
  • Rena & Josh Kopelman
  • Gail & Elliot Norry
  • Marvin & Marsha Raab
  • Ken & Sunnie Rosenstein
  • Liz Cohen & David Whellan
Awesome Allies
  • Susanna & Dean Adler
  • Debbie Blume, Steve Stutman & Sylvia Blume
  • Sharon Musher & Daniel Eisenstadt
  • Jill & Lenny Feinberg
  • Jessica Chow & Jacob Finder
  • Ellen & Harris Fishman
  • Deborah Winokur & Hanan Fishman
  • Lauren & Jeff Gladstone
  • Marcy Gringlas & Joel Greenberg
  • Robyn & Scott Greenberg
  • Margie & Jeffrey Honickman
  • Naomi Prusky & David Levin
  • Eydie Rudman & Howard Levin
  • Susan & Paul Lichtman
  • Julie & Harris Miller
  • Stephen & Lizabeth Raynes
  • Sally & Robert Salon
  • Specter Foundation
  • Ray Starzmann
  • Danielle Tapper
  • Miriam & Bruce Taubman
  • Richard Tregerman
  • Renee & Michael Zeitzer
Fast Friends
  • Michael Adelman
  • Charna Axelrod
  • Sheldon & Penny Bernick
  • Hedy & Morris Cohen
  • Sara & Allan Crimm
  • Amy & Andy Dorfman
  • Maria & Tom Federman
  • Lynne & Bill Garbose
  • Gerber Schneiman Family, Hurok Family, & Whitehorn Family
  • Tracy & George Gordon
  • Sherrie Willner & Janice Gorson
  • Abby & Nate Greenberg
  • Cara & Michael Herrmann
  • Aviele & Michael Koffler
  • Carol Weissman & Richard Kopelman
  • Eve & David Kovsky
  • Barbara & Allen Lerman
  • Lori & Jerome Marcus
  • Simone & Brian Nadav
  • Mary & Nathan Relles
  • Betsy & David Rentz
  • Carolina & Marcio Rochwerger
  • Hilde & Bruce Sham
  • Staci & Mitch Sklar
  • Sharon Wexler

Thank You to Our Foundational Friends

Thank you to our Foundational Friends who provide the year-round support that helps ensure Philly Friendship Circle’s stability & growth.

  • Julie & Rob Axelrod
  • Karen & Richard Banner
  • Dotty & Lawrence Brown
  • Holly Cohen & Leib Meadvin
  • Bonnie & Michael Coplon
  • Vicki & Gary Erlbaum
  • Darien Finder
  • Judi & Mark Goldstein
  • Shana & Jeffrey Goldstein
  • Beth & David Joseph
  • Melissa Lerman & Eric Berger
  • Sharon & Jonathan Levin
  • Sammi Levin
  • Ellen & Peter Livingston
  • Deborah & Mark Livingston
  • Freda Pepper & Howard Bernstein
  • Jill & Brian Rosen
  • The Rudoler Family
  • Gail Simon
  • Rebecca Stein & Steven Matthews
  • Alison & Lee Sussman
  • Gabe Tayar Memorial Fund
List updated April 19th, 2026.

Learn more or join: [email protected]