1.6 Million Raised at UJA-Federation of New York Lawyer’s Division Annual Event Honoring Jonathan L. Mechanic and Scott D. Musoff

Dan Senor — author, geopolitical expert, investor, and adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations —gave keynote speech

December 9, 2011 (New York) - At a record-breaking, sold-out event, Jonathan L. Mechanic, of Fried, Frank and Scott D. Musoff of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP were honored by more than 630 of their peers in the legal and real estate community at UJA-Federation of New York’s Lawyer’s Division Annual Event held on December 8, 2011, at the Waldorf-Astoria. Together the attendees raised more than 1.6 million for UJA-Federation’s annual campaign to address the issues that matter to them most as Jews and New Yorkers.

Jonathan L. Mechanic received the Judge Joseph M. Proskauer Award, presented by Robert Speyer, president and co-CEO of Tishman Speyer Properties. The Proskauer Award is UJA-Federation’s most prestigious award given to a member of the legal community. Since 1959, this honor has been given annually to an individual who is committed to philanthropy and whose conduct and service exemplify the highest ideals of the law. In addition to Mechanic’s professional achievements, he is a longtime supporter and contributor to UJA-Federation of New York. He is the first real estate lawyer to receive this honor.

“I am honored to be recognized by the UJA-Federation, and to follow behind a series of extraordinary lawyers who have received this award before me including Leon Silverman and Arthur Fleischer, former co-chairmen of Fried Frank,” said Mechanic. “I am fortunate to have strong support from friends and colleagues in the legal and real estate communities, and I will continue to dedicate my time to a community and profession that has given so much to me and my family.”

In addition, UJA-Federation honored Musoff, an emerging leader in the legal community, with the James H. Fogelson Young Leadership Award. Musoff received this award, presented by Jay B. Kasner — also from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom — for his deep commitment to the Jewish community, service to UJA-Federation, and dedication to Jewish communal leadership.

"I am humbled and honored to be recognized with the James H. Fogelson Young Leadership Award by UJA-Federation, which continues to make a difference for the impoverished and others in need," said Musoff.  "In these times UJA-Federation is more important than ever and I am proud that this event helped to contribute to its mission."
In the spirit of Joseph M. Proskauer and helping those in need, participants chose to forgo their dinner, donating hot meals to feed those in need at area agencies this holiday season. The four agencies receiving these meals, all beneficiary agencies of UJA-Federation, include the Bronx Jewish Community Council, Jewish Community Council of Canarsie, Project ORE of the Educational Alliance, and Selfhelp Community Services. The event did include hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and a dessert reception and after-hours party hosted by the Lawyers Division’s Emerging Leaders & Philanthropist.

About UJA-Federation of New York

For more than 90 years, UJA-Federation has been a central force for communal planning and philanthropy in the New York Jewish community. Through UJA-Federation, more than 60,000 donors pool their resources to help people in need, inspire a passion for Jewish life and learning, and strengthen Jewish communities around the world — to address the issues that matter to us most as Jews and as New Yorkers. Working with more than 100 network beneficiary agencies, synagogues, and other Jewish organizations, our reach spans from New York to Israel to more than 60 other countries around the world, touching 4.5 million people each year. Because we do the most good when we do it together. For more information on how to donate or how to volunteer, please visit our website at www.ujafedny.org.

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