04/15/2016
Federation Names New Board Chair
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The Jewish Federation of Cleveland has named Gary L. Gross Board Chair for the 2016-2019 term. Gross is well-positioned for this prestigious role, continuing the Federation’s 110+ year tradition of strong volunteer leadership. Gross brings significant professional experience as a principal at Gross Builders and many years of extensive volunteer leadership involvement.
“People outside of Cleveland keep telling us that our Jewish Federation is the best in the country. I agree,” said Gross, who lives in Shaker Heights with his wife Cari. “It is a real honor being the Federation’s Board Chair since it affords me an inside opportunity to work with great volunteers and professionals in helping Jews in Cleveland and around the world on issues where collective action is paramount and individual action is not sufficient.”
Gross has been actively involved in Cleveland’s Jewish community for several years, and most recently held the title of Vice Chair and Executive Committee Member on the Federation’s Board of Trustees. As the 2011-2012 General Campaign Chair, Gross rallied community members to collectively raise more than $56 million for the Federation’s annual Campaign for Jewish Needs, the annual fundraising campaign that ensures our community’s vitality and vibrancy in the year ahead. Gross’ passion for the annual Campaign began many years ago, as he was recognized for his Campaign leadership and dedication with the 1991 Milton and Marvin Kane Young Leadership Award, (currently known as the Bennett and Donna Yanowitz Leadership Award).
An advocate for ensuring a strong Jewish future, Gross is a life member of Gross Schechter Day School and is soon rotating off as the school’s President. He also previously held the position of Gross Schechter Day School President in 1991. Gross is a past Board Chair of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, and past president of the American Technion Society’s Northern Ohio Chapter, which provides critical support to the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, an Israeli university.
Gross replaces previous Board Chair, the distinguished Reneé Chelm. The Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s new slate of officers also include Vice-Chairs Bruce H. Goodman, Richard Horvitz, Randall J. Korach, Idelle K. Wolf, and Sandra Wuliger; Treasurer, Daniel N. Zelman and Associate Treasurer, Beth Wain Brandon. Gross and the new slate of Federation officers were elected at the April 14 Board of Trustees meeting.
