06/06/2024
Jewish Federation Recognizes Women Leaders at Signature Event
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Jennifer E. Cohen Receives Ruby Bass Challenge Award
Leslie Holz and Amy Nadler Receive Inaugural Lois Marcus Leadership Award
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland announced that Jennifer E. Cohen was presented with the 2024 Ruby Bass Challenge Award, and Leslie Holz and Amy Nadler were presented with the inaugural 2024 Lois Marcus Leadership Award. Cohen, Holz, and Nadler were honored at the Federation’s Women IN Philanthropy Signature Event on June 5.
The Ruby Bass Challenge Award recognizes a woman campaigner who is a dedicated volunteer in the Campaign for Jewish Needs, the community’s annual fundraising campaign that supports the local and global Jewish community. Cohen is the immediate past chair of Federation’s Women IN Philanthropy division and has volunteered for Jewish Cleveland’s annual fundraising campaign for over 25 years. In Cohen’s honor, the Ruby Bass Challenge Endowment Fund will make a donation to the 2025 Campaign for Jewish Needs. This award was established in 2007 in memory of Ruby Bass z”l by her son Jonathan, his wife Stephany, and Lenore Kessler z”l, Stephany’s mother and a dear friend of Ruby’s.
The Lois Marcus Leadership award recognizes a woman that has shown commitment to the Cleveland Jewish community through leadership and volunteerism. Holz serves on the Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Network committee, serves on the Bellefaire JCB board, and participates in Jewish Family Service Association’s (JFSA) campership program and Holocaust Legacy Project. Nadler is the chair of the Jewish Volunteer Network and is co-vice president of Women of Fairmount Temple. She is an active volunteer at Maltz Museum, Shoes and Clothes for Kids, National Council of Jewish Women, Fairmount Temple Library, and Solon Public Library. The Lois Marcus Leadership Award was established in 2024 in memory of Lois Marcus z”l by her family and honors her lifelong passion for the Federation and Women IN Philanthropy. As recipients of this award, Holz and Nadler will be invited to join the Cleveland delegation to Jewish Federations of North America’s International Lion of Judah Conference in 2025 in Atlanta.
“Women IN Philanthropy strives to bring together all women doing good throughout our diverse community to leverage our collective power to do even more in Cleveland, Israel, and around the world,” said Ilana Isakov Katz, Women IN Philanthropy chair. “We are thrilled to recognize Jennifer, Leslie, and Amy for their meaningful contributions and dedication to our community.”
In addition to the presentation of these awards, the Signature Event featured remarks by special guests from Israel, including Batya Mantzur of Kibbutz Kissufim, Cleveland’s new partner community and daughter of Shlomo Mantzur, the oldest hostage still in captivity in Gaza.
