Jewish Alliance hosts ‘Beautiful’ evening at PPAC

(Left to right) Alliance President and CEO, Jeffrey K. Savit, Board Chair, Sharon Gaines, Lion of Judah Chair Cheryl Greenfeld Teverow, Vice President of Philanthropy Mitzi Berkelhammer, and Pacesetter Co-Chairs Susan Froehlich and Ralph Posner (Not pictured: Lion of Judah chair Cindy Feinstein).

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – On Sept. 20, more than 80 of the Jewish Alliance’s major donors gathered at the Providence Performing Arts Center for the Pacesetter and Lion of Judah Reception, where they saw “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.” Hosting the evening were Pacesetter chairs Susan Froehlich and Ralph Posner, and Lion of Judah chairs Cheryl Greenfeld Teverow and Cindy Feinstein.  

The musical was preceded by a dinner reception featuring speaker Daniel Combs, a Newport native and graduate student at Columbia University. Combs spent two years in Ethiopia working with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) at a spine center, helping Ethiopians get treatment for debilitating spine diseases. He also spent time in the Philippines with the JDC, working with communities that were ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

Combs spoke eloquently about how the JDC responds to crises in developing countries, and how the Alliance’s support of the JDC is crucial.

The host of the event, 2016 Annual Campaign Chair Mitzi Berkelhammer, thanked the Alliance’s major donors for contributing $2.5 million of the $3.2 million raised last year. Attendees were reminded how much their gifts mean to the community and urged to promote philanthropic perpetuity in their families.

Alliance Board Chair Sharon Gaines spoke about the specific initiatives the Jewish Alliance is engaged with, including the Dwares JCC Capital Campaign and Living on the Edge. 

After the dinner reception, the Pacesetters, Lions of Judah and board members in attendance were entertained by the music of Carole King. The superb performance had the audience singing along the entire show.

HILLARY SCHULMAN is a development associate in philanthropy for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.