1Bobbie Newman, Rita Blumenfeld, Lillian Putterman and Chris Kase
Daniel Ortiz Photography
2Bobbie Newman, Rita Blumenfeld, Lillian Putterman and Chris Kase
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3Carl Josehart and Sam Jacobson
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4Carl Josehart and Sam Jacobson
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5Debra Cohen and Caroline Rosen Funk
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6Debra Cohen and Caroline Rosen Funk
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7Dr. Joseph and Emily Spinner, Andi and Brett Riesenfeld
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8Dr. Joseph and Emily Spinner, Andi and Brett Riesenfeld
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9Event Chairs, Steven and Sandi Wolf, Rori and Jason Feldman
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10Event Chairs, Steven and Sandi Wolf, Rori and Jason Feldman
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11Event Chairs, Steven and Sandi Wolf, Sue and Lester Smith
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12Event Chairs, Steven and Sandi Wolf, Sue and Lester Smith
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13iLuminate Lighting Up the Program
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14iLuminate Lighting Up the Program
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15Jason and Rori Feldman
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16Jason and Rori Feldman
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17Jason Feldman, Sandi Helfman Wolf, Rori Feldman Celebrating Live Auction
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18Jason Feldman, Sandi Helfman Wolf, Rori Feldman Celebrating Live Auction
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19JFS Clients Sharing Their Stories
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20JFS Clients Sharing Their Stories
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21Linden Sofer, Dr. Ken Horwitz and Rebecca Emrick
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22Linden Sofer, Dr. Ken Horwitz and Rebecca Emrick
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23Luis Gomar and Stacey Soefer Gomar
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24Luis Gomar and Stacey Soefer Gomar
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25Mark Zeidman, Leslie and Michael Mazvinsky
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26Mark Zeidman, Leslie and Michael Mazvinsky
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27Ron Zach and Jennifer Haikin Zach
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28Ron Zach and Jennifer Haikin Zach
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29Sandi Reaction to Sue and Lester Smith Gift
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30Sandi Reaction to Sue and Lester Smith Gift
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31Cameron Wolf and Christin Tombolini
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32Cameron Wolf and Christin Tombolini
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33Board President, Joy Kaplan, and Joe Kaplan
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34Board President, Joy Kaplan, and Joe Kaplan
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35Blake and Hilary Helfman
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36Blake and Hilary Helfman
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37Steven and Sandi Wolf
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38Steven and Sandi Wolf
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39Team Telemundo
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40Team Telemundo
Daniel Ortiz Photography
On June 1, 2018 the Jewish Family Service of Houston, the leading non-profit social service agency providing light, hope and help to individuals struggling with life challenges from all walks of life, brought in a record-breaking amount, nearly $1,700,000, through its 105th Anniversary Celebration last night, May 31, more than double the amount it’s ever raised in a single fundraising event. Chaired by Sandi & Steven Wolf and Rori & Jason Feldman, the event was not only a fundraising success, but exceeded attendance goals, as well, with over 800 Houstonians in attendance.
The anniversary celebration, themed “Grow the Family Tree,” was held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel and included a fantastic program. Guests were treated to two unique performances by iLuminate from America’s Got Talent while enjoying a seated dinner and delectable desserts from Three Brothers Bakery. The event also featured a live auction, that raised over $300,000 alone for the organization, a silent auction and a raffle where one guest walked away with an Alfa Romeo Stelvio car thanks to a generous donation from event sponsor, Helfman Motors.
The event’s program ended with a remarkable surprise, when Sue and Lester Smith took the stage along with the organization’s CEO, Linda Burger, and event chairs, presenting the organization with a $300,000 check to help surpass its original $1,000,000 fundraising goal. The event’s chairs, Sandi & Steven Wolf, who invited their friends, the Smiths, to enjoy the event as guests at their table, were thrilled with the special tribute in their honor.
The funds raised from the 105th Anniversary Celebration support Jewish Family Service’s programming and services that touch the lives of over 18,000 individuals in southwest Houston each year, an area particularly hard hit by five floods in the past three years, and which JFS, a United Way agency open to all, consistently answered the call to help. The organization helps people reach their full potential by providing counseling for children, adolescents, couples and families; senior adult services and community outreach for seniors; disability services and employment services; financial literacy and assistance; specialized assistance for Holocaust survivors; suicide and substance misuse education and prevention; domestic abuse education and prevention; and hospitalized patient visits through Jewish Chaplaincy services; all of which are supported by a committed staff of 63 individuals and a growing network of over 500 volunteers annually.
Laura is a native Texan and is a lover of all things Houston, so it made perfect sense when she joined the Houstonia team in early 2016. Previously, Laura launched Chesstache, a line of re-purposed, travel chessboards she crowdfunded on Kickstarter in 2013. She brings her business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit along with over a decade of events and promotion experience to Houstonia’s Marketing & Events team. Laura is also pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in a graphic design, and is the proud mom of two boys, two dogs, and two cats with her husband Adrian.
