Honoring
Featuring
Event Leadership
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Join us for the Suffolk Signature Event. Together, as a strong and compassionate community, we have the power to make a significant impact and raise funds to support UJA's mission to lift up those in need. 

The suggested minimum donation is $500 or more to UJA's 2024 Annual Campaign.

The Signature Event is our only Suffolk fundraising event. We will be featuring a journal that pays tribute to our honorees. We welcome your pledge now and request payment before December 31, 2024. All ads must be submitted by October 27, 2023.   

Journal Information 
Diamond Page Journal Ad —$18,000 and over* 
Emerald Page Journal Ad — $10,000 – $17,999* 
Sapphire Page Journal Ad — $7,500 – $9,999 
Ruby Page Journal Ad — $5,000 – $7,499 
Gold Page Journal Ad — $3,600 – $4,999 
Silver Page Journal Ad — $1,800 – $3,599 
Bronze Page Journal Ad — $1,000 – $1,799 
Tribute Listing — $500 – $999 

Dietary Laws Observed 

*A contribution of $10,000 or more includes membership in one or more of UJA’s donor giving societies: Tzedek Society ($10,000+), King David Society ($25,000+), Ambassador’s Round Table ($50,000+), and Prime Minister’s Council ($100,000+). Membership includes exclusive access to briefings, volunteer experiences, missions, and other benefits.

MAKE A DONATION

Show your support for our honorees with a gift to UJA.

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Honoring

Honoree Portrait

Deniz Gurcan

Business Leaders Award 

Deniz Gurcan is the president of SJS Construction and has over 40 years of building experience, which includes 24 years as the owner of SJS. Born of Turkish descent, he graduated from Plattsburgh State University in 1984 with a business major and economics minor. While working summer construction for MRF Industries, Deniz emulated each of the two owners, one a consummate salesman and the other a mechanical savant. He is fortunate to have learned a bit from each of them and is grateful to them both. His phone number remains the same today as it was 24 years ago.

SJS has grown to become one of the metropolitan area's leading contractors, having...

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Honoree Portrait

Ronnit, Michael, Alana, & Koryn Kessler

L’Dor V’Dor Award

Ronnit and Michael Kessler along with their children Alana and Koryn have made an impact in the Jewish community locally and in Israel. Their UJA passion project has been focusing on the needs of Holocaust survivors. Ronnit was the first chair of the Long Island Holocaust community initiative. Ronnit and Michael are past co-chairs of Witness Project and presently co-chair the Holocaust education committee at the SYJCC, co-chairs witness project leadership council, and Long Island executive board.  

Ronnit is an industrial engineer by education and worked at Karp Associates Inc. for nearly 18 years. Serving the Jewish community...

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Honoree Portrait

Elaine & Walter Kleinmann

Community Leadership Award 

Walter's family came to the United States for a better life in 1948. His parents had been arrested by the Italian fascist government in 1940 and interned in the city of Potenza, in southern Italy. Along with Walter, they lived in “free confinement” until 1945 but had no civil liberties. When his father headed the JDC office in Genoa, the family's affidavits were provided by a chance encounter with Arde Bulova of the Bulova Watch company. The family also received assistance from JDC and HIAS, both UJA partners.

Walter grew up in Queens and graduated from Queens College with a B.A., NYU with an M.A., and studied at University...

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Honoree Portrait

Lisa & Terry Lashin

Community Leadership Award 

Lisa and Terry Lashin arrived on Long Island in 1982. Without any family or friends in the area, they understood the importance of connecting with the Jewish community. They found that connection at Temple Beth Torah, where they have been members for 32 years. Family and Jewish traditions are extremely important to Lisa and Terry, and those fortunate enough to share a Passover seder at the Lashin home can attest to that by enjoying homemade gefilte fish and chopped liver from Lisa’s mom’s recipes, passed down for generations.  

Lisa is a Witness Project committee member and was on the Holocaust committee. She...

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Featuring

Speaker Portrait
 
Elon Gold
Comedian and Actor

Event Leadership

Joel Wirchin



contact us

Questions? Get in touch.
Laurie Birzon

516.762.5819