Outstanding Community Leaders to be Honored at 30th Annual Seize the Dream Gala
Jewish Family Service (JFS) of Metrowest is pleased to announce the honorees for the 30TH annual Seize the Dream Gala to be held on Thursday May 7, 2020 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center:
Bob Fields and the team at CommCreative
Retiring CEO of JFS,
Marc Jacobs
and receiving the
JFS Max Michelson Humanitarian Award:
Barbara and Samantha Shapiro
Seize the Dream honors area leaders who have demonstrated an unfailing commitment and personal dedication to supporting vulnerable children, families, and senior adults. This year's honorees have made it their life's work to stand up for those left behind and it is a privilege to recognize these exceptional individuals.
Bob Fields and the team at CommCreative
Bob Fields has led a distinguished and colorful life in which he has worn many different hats. After a career in marketing at leading brands like Gillette and Foster Grant, Bob founded CommCreative, which has grown into one of the industry's leading B2B marketing agencies.
Over the years, Bob has dedicated his time to serving on several boards. JFS however, remains closest to his heart. A JFS board member since 2010, Bob has played a significant role in supporting JFS's mission. Bob has embodied CommCreative's "THINK WITH YOUR HEART" philosophy and fueled impact with strategy and expertise that accelerates JFS' drive to advance social, health, and educational equity in our community.
Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs, MSW, LICSW, has been the Chief Executive Officer of JFS since 1996. His career exemplifies civic engagement, a moral compass unrelenting in addressing social and health inequities, and building collaborative partnerships to have collective impact.
Marc has received significant leadership awards. In 2018, he was named Middlesex Savings Bank Foundation's 3rd Annual recipient of the John R. Heerwagen Award for Nonprofit Leadership. In 2017, William James College awarded Marc its prestigious Mental Health Humanitarian Award and The Joukowsky Family Foundation awarded its Sharp Rescuer Prize to Marc and his team for their tireless work supporting Syrian refugees in a large community wide project.
Barbara and Samantha Shapiro
Barbara and Samantha Shapiro are committed to social justice. They both love children and helping others. Their passions aligned in 2016 when they became a part of the JFS Syrian Refugee Humanitarian Project.
Barbara serves on the boards of Horizons for Homeless Children, Beaver Country Day School, and formerly JFS and The Rashi School. Barbara volunteers in the community and is actively involved in her family's foundation, The Shapiro Foundation.
Samantha Shapiro is 17 years old and a senior at Beaver Country Day School. She plays hockey goalie, is captain of her tennis team, is part of the Jewish Actors Workshop at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley and recently filmed a documentary about the journey of one Syrian refugee family.
In celebration of these extraordinary leaders, this year's Gala will be a festive affair with dinner and refreshments provided by 16+ local caterers and restaurants, as well as an auction featuring 100+ unique items. To learn more, please visit www.jfsmw.org.
About Jewish Family Service (JFS) of Metrowest
JFS is a community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to standing up for those left behind, serving over 5,000 people within the Metrowest and Greater Boston regions each year. The proceeds of the Seize the Dream event support a wide variety of programs including extended-day tutoring for at-risk children, nutrition assistance for low-income families, and support services that enable frail older adults to live independently. JFS' sound fiscal management practices have earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent charity evaluator. To learn more about JFS, visit www.jfsmw.org.
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