Deanna Evenchik-Brav will be the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona recipient of the 2019 Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award, which will be presented at the International Lion of Judah Conference in January 2019 in Miami, Florida.
The award honors women who have set a high standard for philanthropy and volunteerism. It was established in recognition of Norma Kipnis-Wilson and the late Toby Friedland, co-founders of the Jewish Federation of North America’s Lion of Judah program. Winners are chosen by their communities as “women of valor” with a lifetime of commitment to the Jewish world.
Evenchik-Brav has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and serves as a mentor and role model for multiple generations of women in our community, says Fran Katz, JFSA senior vice president.
Evenchik-Brav is the current International Lion of Judah Conference recruitment co-chair. Her past leadership positions include JFSA Women’s Philanthropy chair and campaign chair, JFSA board vice chair, and JFSA campaign chair. She was named JFSA Woman of the Year in 2010. Evenchik-Brav also represents JFSA on the National Women’s Philanthropy Board. She was an AIPAC of Southern Arizona council chair, a member of the boards of University of Arizona Judaic Studies, University of Arizona Hillel Foundation, Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging Foundation and the Jewish Community Foundation, and a Brandeis National Committee member. She served as Tucson Symphony Women’s Association president and member of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra board of directors. A Lion of Judah since 2004, Evenchik-Brav established a Lion of Judah Endowment in 2008.
Most recently, she and her late husband, Harvey Evenchik, made the lead gift to the JFSA Next 70 Capital Campaign, establishing the Harvey and Deanna Evenchik Center for Jewish Philanthropy, the new home of the JFSA and Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona.
A delegation of local Lions of Judah, part of JFSA’s Women’s Philanthropy, will travel together to participate in the conference and honor Evenchik-Brav. For more information, contact Katz at fkatz@jfsa.org.
