Essex County Leaders Honored At Jewish Family Service Of MetroWest NJ Gala

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Jewish Family Service of MetroWest NJ. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Jewish Family Service of MetroWest NJ (JFS) proudly hosted its Annual Gala on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at Brooklake Country Club, bringing together community members, supporters, and leaders for an inspiring evening of recognition and philanthropy.

Guided by this year’s theme, Supporting Today, Strengthening Tomorrow, the event honored individuals and partners whose leadership, service, and compassion help strengthen our community and uplift those in need.

With the extraordinary generosity of sponsors, corporate partners, JFS Giving Society members, event underwriters, donors, committee members, and guests, nearly $175,000 was raised that evening to sustain essential JFS programs and services. From an engaging silent auction to a lively live auction and a highly successful Fund-A-Need, the gala reflected a shared commitment to making a meaningful impact.

HONOREES

JFS Community Impact Award: Pam Fishman (Short Hills)
Pam Fishman has been a dedicated volunteer with JFS since 2009, first serving on the Rachel Coalition Steering Committee and later as Chair from 2018 to 2020. A member of the JFS Board of Trustees since 2018, Pam currently serves as Treasurer and on the Executive Committee. She is deeply committed to expanding access to mental health and social services and also serves as a Trustee of The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey. Her leadership continues to strengthen the reach and impact of JFS programs.

JFS Community Partner Award: Jerry Rose Inc. (Summit and Maplewood)
Jerry Rose Inc., a floral and event design company founded by Jerry Rose, has been a valued partner of JFS for many years. Alongside partner, John Simoudis, the company has enhanced JFS fundraising events with elegant design and creativity. Their ongoing generosity and innovative support have helped raise critical funds and create meaningful experiences for the community.

JFS Ambassador Award: Pamela Davis (Short Hills)
Pamela Davis has been actively involved with JFS since 2017, beginning with the NextGen Committee. She joined the Board of Trustees in 2019 and currently chairs the Nominating Committee while serving on the Executive Committee. A Registered Nurse and dedicated community volunteer, Pamela is a passionate advocate for JFS programs and plays a key role in broadening awareness of its work.

JFS Maxine Myers Volunteer Award: Bill Steinhauer (West Orange)
Bill Steinhauer has been an exceptional volunteer since 2022, contributing his time to Café Europa, Reading Buddies, Listen to Children, and Meal Delivery. His dedication to supporting Holocaust survivors, mentoring students, and assisting older adults has made a lasting impact. Known affectionately as “Mr. Bill,” he is deeply appreciated by both staff and participants for his compassion and commitment.

Event Leadership

The Gala was chaired by Rebecca Gold and Linda F. Jacobs, with Steven J. Glass serving as Board President. The event was made possible through the efforts of a dedicated committee, including Andrea G. Bier, Elizabeth Bier, Heather Bier, Rachel Braverman, Alyssa Bressler, Rachel Fink, Lynn Gruber, Jill Krasnove, Lisa Lindauer, Carol Marcus, Emily Neider, Carrie Nussbaum, Robin Polson, Larry Rein, Sandi Rosenbaum, Ronni Weinstein, and Rachel Goodman Wilf.

Supporting the Mission

Funds raised from the Gala directly support JFS programs, including mental health counseling, older adult services, emergency assistance, and support for victims of domestic violence through Rachel Coalition, a division of JFS.

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