Alliance annual meeting celebrates 15 years of community building

PROVIDENCE – Each June, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island celebrates its accomplishments, honors its leadership and recognizes the dedication of its volunteers and staff at its annual meeting — a gathering where the community comes together to share in both the joys and the honest moments that help shape our community.

This year, on June 10, about 100 people turned out for the 15th annual event, held in the Baxt Social Hall at the Bonnie & Donald Dwares Jewish Community Center. Attendees included past and present board members, agency executives, clergy, community members and past Alliance CEOs Adam Greenman and Jeffrey Savit. In addition to awards, boards installations and the customary speeches, attendees got a chance to hear from the newly appointed president and CEO of the organization, Steven Baker.

Baker, who previously worked at the Minneapolis Jewish Federation as chief philanthropy officer as well as the Minnesota Jewish Community Foundation, begins his tenure at the Alliance July 1. In his remarks, he promised a listening tour of Rhode Island and said, “Strong leadership isn’t about having all the answers on day 1 or 100.”

The evening’s program included a d’var Torah in song by Cantor Judy Seplowin of Temple Beth-El in Providence.

Sarah Miller presented the Riesman Leadership Development Award to Abigail Anthony, a past president of Temple Shalom in Middletown. The Gail Putnam Award, presented annually to a staff member of the Alliance, went to Eunice Tavares.

Marisa Garber announced that the Melvin G. Alperin Award for Excellence in Jewish Communal Leadership had been presented to Ralph Posner at a reception before the annual meeting. Deeply engaged in the RI Jewish community, Posner has held leadership roles in the Jewish Federation and the Alliance since 1993. He is a past recipient of the Joseph Ress Community Service Award.

Nanette Fridman offered remarks about building community and philanthropy. Fridman, whose roots are in Rhode Island, is the co-founder of Effect Collective, where she advises values-driven organizations and leaders across North America on strategy, governance, philanthropy and leadership. She is an inspiring speaker.

On building community, she said, “We have to help the next generation understand what we are building and why. Organizations don’t build community; people do.”

She emphasized that telling stories and extending invitations bring people into the community and show them what philanthropy can do.

“Donors step forward because they see what their generosity does,” she said.

Generosity was one of the many areas touched on by Interim President and CEO Harris Chorney’s report to the community. Chorney began his presentation with a touching tribute to Alan Hassenfeld, whose generosity made him a beloved figure in the Jewish community and across Rhode Island. Hassenfeld, chairman and CEO of Hasbro and one of two Alliance honorary directors, passed away in July 2025.

Chorney spoke of Hassenfeld’s commitment to Jewish life and the Hassenfeld family’s legacy within the Rhode Island community.

“Many of the institutions and programs we value today benefited directly or indirectly from Alan's vision and advocacy. He understood that investing in Jewish life was not merely about preserving the past; it was about creating a thriving future,” Chorney said.

Chorney went on to discuss the challenges the Alliance has faced in the past year, including rising antisemitism, economic uncertainty and operational and leadership changes. He said that the organization has never lost sight of its mission and has been able to help fund partners in Rhode Island and abroad.

In her remarks, Board Chair Marisa Garber said, “The answer to these challenges is not to work in isolation. It is to come together as a community. To collaborate. To partner. To support one another. To build upon our collective strengths and deepen the connections that bind us together.”

For more complete remarks, click here.

FRAN OSTENDORF (fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org) was the editor of Jewish Rhode Island.