Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s Civic Service Award Celebration brunch brought 325 donors together to celebrate award recipient Alan Edelman.
HBHA opened its doors in 1966 and began hosting Civic Service Award Celebration dinners in 1974 to help raise additional funds for programming and scholarships. These dinners were successful fundraisers, but also served as well-attended social events that educated the public about the mission of Greater Kansas City’s only Jewish day school and its importance to the community.
In an effort to change things and accommodate what might have been a Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff game day, the Honorary and Event Chairs for HBHA’s celebration this year decided to change the annual dinner to a Sunday morning brunch held on Jan. 22. Although the Chiefs’ game ended up being on Saturday, the switch to a brunch received “rave reviews,” according to Development Director Kerry Cosner.
“A crowd of 325 donors and guests came out in force to support honoree Alan Edelman and the Hebrew Academy,” Cosner said,” and throughout the event and the following week, many people reached out to let us know how happy they were about making it a brunch.”
Some even suggested HBHA make the change permanent. Head of School Adam Tilove said, “We are always looking for new ways to approach this event, to keep it fresh and appealing to our audience.” Tilove said a survey was sent to all who donated to the celebration to gather opinions and suggestions that will shape the event in the future.
“[Having a brunch] turned out to be such a successful change. We will certainly consider doing it again,” said Cosner, who commended Honorary Chairs Merilyn Berenbom, Marcia Karbank, and Roshann Parris, and Event Chairs Susie Azorsky and Mike Abrams for the idea.
Harold Kaseff, a grandparent of HBHA graduates, said he has attended every celebration for many years, “...but this one was one of the very best. I loved that it was a brunch, that Alan was the honoree, and that the program featured HBHA students. It was so well orchestrated. My wife and I left feeling so positive about the Hebrew Academy.”
“We are always happy to support and celebrate our school,” said HBHA parent Kaley Schwartzbard. “Brunch was a refreshing break from all the non-profit dinners that are usually held. It worked into our family schedule more easily than an evening affair.”
According to founder and lifetime trustee Carl Puritz, “My uncle, Hyman Brand, olav hashalom, would be so happy with this year’s event. It was his dream that HBHA would continue to share its importance not only with Jewish people but others in our community.”
The Civic Service Award was given to Alan Edelman. In addition to many Jewish organizations, Edelman is connected to a diverse community through interfaith and multi-cultural programming and his efforts with churches, universities, seminaries, the Center for Practical Bioethics, Heart to Heart International, EmberHope, Israelis, and Palestinians. Representatives from these organizations and more joined the brunch as Edelman’s guests.
HBHA funders and partners include the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, Jewish Community Foundation, Menorah Heritage Foundation, Jewish Community Relations Bureau|AJC, Jewish Family Services, Midwest Center for Holocaust Education, the Florence Melton School, Helzberg Leadership Fellows, and local synagogues, all of which were represented.