7:00 PM EDT: VIP Reception 

7:30 PM EDT: Program 

Join us on May 11 for Footsteps’ first-ever virtual gala, New Chapters: An Evening to Benefit Footsteps, where we will feature Footsteps members who have made extraordinary achievements in their life journeys for self-determination, especially during one of the most difficult years in our history. The program will feature music, short films, member testimonials, and a lot of joy. 

HONORING:

Debra Fine, Founder and Chairman of Fine Capital Partners; Footsteps Board Chair 2016-2020; Footsteps Board of Directors since 2012 

Elie Gordis, Executive Vice President at Ovation Travel Group; Footsteps Vice Chair 2018-2020; Footsteps Board of Directors 2011-2020

FOOTSTEPS' TRAILBLAZER AWARD:

Adina Kadden, Legal Project Manager, Litigation Team Lead at Hogan Lovells; Footsteps Board of Directors 2011-2020

EMCEE:

Luzer Twersky, Film and Television Actor, and featured in the Netflix documentary One of Us 

SPECIAL GUESTS:

Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody, Award-winning film and stage performers/writers.

GALA CHAIR: Shelly Kivell 

GALA COMMITTEE: Shelley Fischel, Gary Freilich, Merle Gonchar, Jamie Hooper, Ann Kirschner

HOST COMMITTEE (in formation) & SPONSORS: 

Benefactors
Shari and Jeff Aronson • Jeannie Blaustein and Peter Bokor • Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies • Barbara and Eric Dobkin • The Gordis Family • Sally Gottesman • Jack and Dorothy Kupferberg Family Foundation • Shelly and Howard Kivell • Lili Lynton and Michael Ryan • Marti Meyerson and Jamie Hooper • The Phil and Norma Fine Fund via Lauri Fine Friedman • Phineas Reisz and Anat Volfovich • Ari Rosenberg and Jennifer Podurgiel • Joshua Rosenthal • Pamela Seymon and Robert Schumer • Carrie Shapiro and Peter Frey

Visionaries
Valerie Feigen and Steven Eisman • Suzanne Schecter and Todd Ruback

Champions
Merle and Eric Gonchar • Sheryl and Chip Kaye • Lynne and Caleb Koeppel • Julie Persily and David Lefkowitz • Mindy Schneider and Dr. Michael Lesser

Supporters
Allen and Barbara Applbaum • Laura and Lloyd Blankfein • Beth Dozoretz • Bob and Shelley Fischel • Anne Germanacos • Yonatan Gordis, Robbie Chesick, Daniel and Elisheva Gordis • David and Ellen Horing • Elizabeth Leiman Kraiem and the Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation • Stacey and Curtis Lane • Laurie and David Lederman • Jane and Daniel Och • Heidi and Richard Rieger • Julie Sissman and Phil Richter • Susan Weisfeld • Judy and Stanley Zabar

Advocates
Anita Altman and Gil Kulick • Chanie and Amitai Bin-Nun • Ulrika and Joel Citron • Linda Gerstel and Ed Joyce • Mark Lipton • Lisa Messinger • Paul and Lisa Metselaar • Arnon Mishkin and Susan Fine, Allison and Pamela • Ann Kirschner and Harold Weinberg • Abigail Pogrebin • Jeffrey Rothman and Craig Mitchell • Roni Rubenstein and Barry Berson • Audrey Spiegel • Sue Wishnow • Katie Workman and Gary Freilich • Lori Zeltser and Len Berman • Julia Zeuner • Michael Zeuner

ABOUT FOOTSTEPS:
Footsteps supports and affirms individuals and families who have left, or are contemplating leaving, insular ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in their quest to lead self determined lives. Footsteps was founded in 2003 by a young woman, Malkie Schwartz, who left her ultra-Orthodox Crown Heights home in pursuit of an education. From a one-person start-up that met in coffeeshops, Footsteps has blossomed into a full-service organization with an annual budget of almost $4 million, 26 staff, and close to 2,000 members. 

Footsteps is the only organization in the United States providing comprehensive services to people who have chosen to leave insular ultra-Orthodox communities and begin new lives. Based in New York, Footsteps provides a range of services, including social and emotional support, educational and vocational guidance, workshops and social activities, emergency financial assistance, and access to resources. Thanks to Footsteps, former ultra-Orthodox Jews have a safe, supportive, and flourishing community to turn to as they work to define their own identities, build new connections, and live on their own terms.

For more information on sponsorships and tickets, please contact Stephanie Oster at soster@footstepsorg.org or at (646) 389-1429.