Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor
This most prestigious award is presented to the outstanding executive professional who, by his/her performance and contributions, best exemplifies the goals and ideals of AJAS and service to Jewish older adults. The candidate has served in his or her capacity for more than ten years and continues to demonstrate dedication, integrity, commitment, innovation, proven professional leadership and community involvement. The recipient is well respected, devoted and highly principled.
Young Executive of the Year Award
This award is given to honor a young executive (administrator, associate or assistant director, housing manager) who has demonstrated significant potential in the field of healthcare management by virtue of his or her cumulative achievements or innovative results in management or administration. This individual has held an administrative position for at least five years, is under 45 years of age, has exhibited leadership through recognized innovative cumulative achievements, and has been involved with AJAS.
Professional of the Year Award
This award is given to honor and recognize an outstanding AJAS professional (in administration, social work, nursing, marketing and/or development). This individual reflects the highest standards of professional knowledge and expertise; has shown exceptional leadership and is highly respected by the staff, residents and families served.
Trustee of the Year Award
This award is presented to an outstanding trustee whose facility is a member of AJAS. The trustee has demonstrated a significant contribution by enriching the lives and well-being of Jewish elderly, displayed a personal commitment to the life of the organization, and provided outstanding leadership to the organization and the community at large. This trustee has fostered growth, change and vision through the understanding of his or her organization’s mission.
Mentor of the Year Award
This award is given to recognize an individual’s longtime commitment to mentoring others and pay tribute to their excellence in mentoring. This individual is recognized as an exceptional leader in the field of aging and embodies critical characteristics such as advisor, guide, advocate, organizer, teacher, and friend.
Jewish Programming Award
This award recognizes Jewish programs developed and implemented by AJAS organizations that are innovative, creative and specifically designed to enhance the spiritual well-being of the older adults they serve.
Humanitarian Award
This award is presented to outstanding individuals who are currently employees of member organizations of AJAS. This award pays tribute to those individuals who have demonstrated, not only, a significant contribution by enriching the lives and well-being of Jewish older adults, but also a personal commitment to their organization by displaying unusual courage and compassion in meeting the needs of their Jewish eldercare community. These individuals have fostered growth and/or change through the understanding of their organization’s mission by going beyond the call of duty or performing an extraordinary deed.
2023 Winners
Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor: Daniel Reingold, MSW, JD of RiverSpring Living in Riverdale, NY
Trustee of the Year: Peter Meisel of Menorah Park in Beachwood, OH
Professional of the Year: Betty Sorna of River Garden Senior Services in Jacksonville, FL
Young Executive of the Year: Travis Masonis of Jewish Senior Life in Rochester, NY
Mentor of the Year: David R. Abraham of Beth Sholom Village in Virginia Beach, VA
Humanitarian of the Year: Portia Turner of Beth Sholom Village in Virginia Beach, VA
The Unity Project, Jewish Home Family, Rockleigh, NJ
La’Briut Program, Kavod Senior Life, Denver, CO
Family Call Center, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehabilitation, New Hyde Park, NY
Reboot Jewish Programming Initiative, Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit, Oak Park, MI
2022 Winners
Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor: Andrew H. Banoff, Jewish Senior Services, Bridgeport, CT
Trustee of the Year: Sheila Birnbaum, Aviva Senior Living, Sarasota, FL
Professional of the Year: Mary Anne Foley, Jewish Association on Aging, Pittsburgh, PA
Young Executive of the Year: Evan Lubline, Hooverwood Living, Indianapolis, IN
Mentor of the Year: Sofia B. Metovic, The Selfhelp Home, Chicago, IL
Humanitarian of the Year: Freddy V. Valentin, The New Jewish Home, New York, NY<
Proactive Partner Model, The Towers, New Haven, CT
Cooking for Happiness, Jewish Home Family, Rockleigh, NJ
Emerging Into the Light -Creative Aging on Display, Menorah Park of Central New York, Syracuse, NY
Neshama Suite, Menorah Manor, St. Petersburg, FL
Hospice Digital Toolkit: End of Life Care Training for Health Care Professionals and Family Caregivers
Supporting Holocaust Survivors, MJHS, New York, NY
Mitzvah Mensches, The Selfhelp Home, Chicago, IL
Teen Ovation, Ovation Communities, Milwaukee, WI
2020-2021 Winners
Dr. Herbert H. Shore Award of Honor: Karen Flam, Director of the Donald Berman Maimonides Foundation and the Donald Berman Jewish Eldercare Foundation, Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre (Montreal, Canada)
Trustee of the Year: Arleen Peltz, Trustee, Ovation Communities (WI)
Professional of the Year: Jeff Gopen, Chief Operating Officer, Jewish Home Life Communities (GA)
Young Executive of the Year: Dolly Funk, Director of Supply Chain Management, Menorah Park (OH)
Mentor of the Year: Dr. Colleen Ariola, Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation (NY)
Jewish Programming Award Winners:
Better Together, Jewish Senior Services (CT)
B’Nei Mitzvah Program, 2Life Communities (MA)
Shabbat Family Program, Aviva–A Campus of Senior Life (FL)
Companion Till the End Program, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation (NY)
Jewish Life and Learning Coordinator Initiative, Jewish SeniorLife (NY)
May Their Memories Be For A Blessing, Kavod Senior Life (CO)
Shalshelet, Heritage Pointe (CA)
2019 Winners
Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor: Barbra Gold, Director, Senior Services of West Central Montreal Health Network, Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre (Montreal, Canada)
Trustee of the Year Award: Ron Elinoff, Trustee, River Garden Senior Services (FL)
Professional of the Year Award: Richard Schwalberg, Chief Operating Officer, Menorah Park (OH)
Young Executives of the Year Award: Abby Miles, Manager, Business Analytics, Jewish Association on Aging (PA)
Sean Gregson, Vice President, Home Care and Hospice, Abramson Senior Care (PA)
Jewish Programming Award Winners:
Carp Tank, Jewish Home at Rockleigh (NJ)
Creative Volunteerism, Jewish Association on Aging (PA)
LinkAGES at Kavod, Kavod Senior Life (CO)
Partnering with Elders: Health and Creativity, The Cedars (ME)
Project VAST, Hebrew SeniorLife (MA)
Traditions, Abramson Senior Care (PA)
2018 Winners
Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor: Audrey S. Weiner, President and Chief Executive Officer, The New Jewish Home, NY
Trustee of the Year Award: Ken Bravo, Trustee, Menorah Park (OH)
Professional of the Year Award: Lina Scacco, Assistant Vice President, Corporate Outreach & Development, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation (NY)
Young Executive of the Year Award: Sherilyn Gould, Administrative Fellow, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehabilitation, (NY)
Mentor of the Year Awards: Pam Ferris, President and Chief Executive Officer, Seacrest Village Retirement Communities (CA) and Carl Measer, Chief Operating Officer, Seacrest Village Retirement Communities (CA)
Jewish Programming Award Winners:
Creating Art Together, River Garden Senior Services (FL)
Dementia Friendly Kol Nidre/Yom Kippur Service, Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit (MI)
Holocaust Survivors Seder, Ovation Sarah Chudnow (WI)
Music for the Days of Awe Festival: Connecting Music and Spirituality, Charles E. Smith Life Communities (MD)
The Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry, Jewish Seniors Agency of Rhode Island (RI)
Yachad Vocational Certification Program, Jewish Home at Rockleigh (NJ)
2017 Winners
Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor: Warren R. Slavin, President & Chief Executive Officer, Charles E. Smith Life Communities, Rockville, MD
Trustee of the Year Award: Marc S. Usatin, MD, Lay Leader, The Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living, Danville, CA
Professional of the Year Award: Joel Y. Ashner, Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement, Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab, Memphis, TN
Young Executive of the Year Award: Stephen Schumann, Assistant Vice President of Business Development, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, New Hyde Park, NY
Jewish Programming Award Winners:
Annual Jeffrey Zaslow Media Night, Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit, Oak Park, MI
G2G (Generation to Generation), Jewish Association on Aging, Pittsburgh, PA
Jewish Heritage Scroll: Collaborative Art Experience, Charles E. Smith Life Communities, Rockville, MD
Kavod on the Road, Kavod Senior Life, Denver, CO
Music is a Call to the Soul – The iPod Program at Donald Berman Maimonides, Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre, Montreal, QC
Pink Shabbat, Jewish Home Family, Rockleigh, NJ
The Adam and Matan Adelson Multigenerational Program, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA
Menorah Manor YOUniversity, Menorah Manor, St. Petersburg, FL
2016 Winners
Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor: Martin A. Goetz, Chief Executive Officer, River Garden Senior Services, Jacksonville, FL
Trustee of the Year Award: Jon Maloff, Lay Leader, Menorah Park (Jewish Home of Central New York), Syracuse, NY
Professional of the Year Award: Beth Laxton, Senior Vice President and Administrator, Jewish Home Life Communities/The William Breman Jewish Home, Atlanta, GA
Young Executive of the Year Award: Bobby Meadows, Executive Director, Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab, Memphis, TN
Mentor of the Year Award: Rabbi Leah M. Herz, Director of Spiritual Care, Menorah Manor, St. Petersburg, FL
Jewish Programming Award Winners:
Art in the Moment, CJE SeniorLife, Chicago, IL
BRAVO, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto, ON
In G-d’s Image, Menorah Park Center for Senior Living, Beachwood, OH
Linking the Generations, Jewish Home at Rockleigh, Rockleigh, NJ
Shabbat Box, Menorah Manor, St. Petersburg, FL
Exploring Jewish Music: The Music of Shabbat, Charles E. Smith Life Communities, Rockville, MD
2015 Winners
Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor: Molly Forrest, President/Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles Jewish Home, Reseda, CA
Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor: Eli S. Feldman, Chief Executive Officer, MJHS, Brooklyn, NY
Trustee of the Year Award: Ronald Milch, Chairperson, MJHS, Brooklyn, NY
Trustee of the Year Award: William B. Sims, Past Board Chair, Jewish Senior Services, Fairfield, CT
Professional of the Year Award: Linda Ciszkowski, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Jewish Senior Services, Fairfield, CT
Young Executive of the Year Award: Stacey Altman, Assistant Administrator, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, New Hyde, NY
Mentor of the Year Award: Drucilla Marshall, Resident, Jewish Home Lifecare, New York, NY
Jewish Programming Award Winners:
InStep Together, CJE SeniorLIfe, Chicago, IL
Bikur Cholim, Menorah Park, Beachwood, OH
Tech Together, Jewish Home of Rockleigh, NJ
The Center for Jewish End of Life Care, MJHS, Brookly, NJ
2014 Winners
Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor: Mary Ellen Bloodgood, Chief Executive Officer, Menorah Park, Syracuse, NY
Trustees of the Year Award: Rudolph & Helen Kass, Board Members, Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly, Brighton, MA
Humanitarian Award: David LeVine, Chief Medical Officer, Menorah Manor, St. Petersburg, FL
Professional of the Year Award: Patricia Carter, Senior Vice President of Operations & Chief Operating Officer, Charles E. Smith Life Communities, Rockville, MD
Young Executive of the Year Award: Cara Unownsky, Corporate Director of Strategic Planning, Jewish Home Lifecare, New York, NY
Mentor of the Year Award: Eve Levine, Director of Human Services, The William Breman Jewish Home, Atlanta, GA
Jewish Programming Award Winners:
Hesed Shel Emet, Cedar Sinai Park, Portland, OR
Berman Mentor Programs, Jewish Home Lifecare, New York, NY
Allied on the Go, Kavod Senior Life (formerly Allied Jewish Apartments), Denver, CO
Chesed Corps: Enriching Lives Through Volunteering, Cedar Village, Mason, OH
Program for Holocaust Survivors and Families, Jewish Senior Life, Oak Park, MI
2013 Winners
Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor: Gary Weiss, Executive Director, Heritage Manor, Youngstown, OH
Trustee of the Year Award: Steven Willensky, Board Chair, Montefiore, Beachwood, OH
Humanitarian Award: Sharyn Rubin, Director of Resident and Community Services and Volunteer Coordinator, Jewish Association on Aging (JAA), Pittsburgh, PA
Humanitarian Award: Francine Godfrey, Director of Fitness and Wellness, Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly (JCHE), Brighton, MA
Professional of the Year Award: Shane Kotok, Director of Admissions and Outreach, Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, Omaha, NE
Young Executive of the Year Award: Laura Snow, Elder Abuse Prevention Program, Institute on Aging, Geriatric Physician Practice Management, and Adult Day Program Program Director, Jewish Home of Fairfield County, Fairfield, CT
Young Executive of the Year Award: Tara Buonocore-Rut, Vice President of Business Development, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, New Hyde Park, NY
Jewish Programming Award Winners:
How Mr. Gutman Made a Difference – Programming for a Yom Hashoah Memorial Service, Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre, Montreal, Quebec
The Tachlis of Inclusion, Menorah Park, Syracuse, NY
Interfaith Mission to Israel-Building Bridges at Any Age, Cedar Village, Mason, OH
Monthly Shabbaton Program – Youth Re’Jew’Venating Seniors, Jewish Home at Rockleigh, Rockleigh, NJ
2012 Winners
Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor: Charles P. Berkowitz, President and CEO, Jewish Home Family, Rockleigh, NJ
Professional of the Year Award: Janet Bowling, Director of Nursing, Cedar Village, Mason, OH
Professional of the Year Award: Linda Spiegel, Director of Public Affairs, Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Jamaica, NY
Trustee of the Year Award: Leonard Lewkowict, Chair of the Medical Research Foundation, Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Jewish Programming Award Winners:
Gam Yachad–Jews Meeting Jews Around the World, Menorah Park Center for Senior Living, Beachwood, OH
The Melton Class of Jewish Studies, The Allied Jewish Apartments Community, Denver, CO
Seniors Make Their Own Western Wall, Jewish Housing Council – Kobernick House, Anchin Pavilion, Sarasota, FL
2011 Winners
Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor: Marshall Seiden, Chief Executive Officer, Menorah Manor, St. Petersburg, FL
Trustee of the Year Award: Andrew Shott, Board Member, Cedar Village, Mason, OH
Professional of the Year Award: Barbara Hiney, Executive Vice President, Metropolitan Jewish Health System, Brooklyn, NY
Young Executive of the Year Award: Stuart B. Almer, Executive Vice President, Parker Jewish Institute, New Hyde Park, NY
Mentor of the Year Award: Jewish Home Lifecare, New York, NY, Health Professional Youth Mentoring Program, Peer Mentor Home Health Aide Program
Jewish Programming Awards:
Shabbat Shalom by Phone, Jewish Senior Life, Rochester, NY
Meshpucha Across the Miles, Kobernick House and Anchin Pavilion, Sarasota, FL
I Do Again…A Dream Come True, Menorah Park Center for Senior Living, Beachwood, OH
The Derfner Judaica Museum, The Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale, Riverdale, NY
2010 Winners
Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor: Dorothy Giannini-Meyers, President and CEO, Tower One/Tower East, New Haven, CT
Trustee of the Year Award: Stephen M. Berman, President of the Jewish Home Foundation & Past President of the William Breman Jewish Home, Atlanta, GA
Professional of the Year Award: Karen Flam, Foundation Director, Maimonides Geriatric Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Humanitarian of the Year: Doris Torti, Activities Director, B’nai B’rith Homecrest House, Silver Spring, MD
Mentor of the Year: Hedy Peyser, Director of Volunteers, Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Rockville, MD
Jewish Programming Awards:
Cedar Village B’nai Mitzvah Mission, Cedar Village, Cincinnati, OH
Menorah Lighting Extravaganza, Kobernick House and Anchin Pavillion, Sarasota, FL
The Tzedakah Box Project, Los Angeles Jewish Home, Reseda, CA
Tree of Life: Community Building Through the Arts from the Roots Up, CJE SeniorLife, Lieberman Center for Health & Rehabilitation, Skokie, IL
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Youtube