The eighth annual L’Chaim! event will be held Oct. 27 at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton. Themed L’Chaim! News Tonight, the gala will feature Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of ABC News “Nightline” and one of the most prominent Asian-Americans in broadcast news.

The annual event is the largest single fundraiser for Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ annual campaign, which raises $10 million each year to organizations dedicated to preserving and enhancing Jewish life across the globe and throughout the St. Louis region. In addition to supporting nearly 85 organizations, the Federation has raised more than $720,000 to help refugees of the Ukraine conflict. The event is hosted by the Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy.

“L’Chaim is an evening of celebration, community and giving,” said Laura Fields, Women’s Philanthropy Chair, in a statement. “We are thrilled to be back in person this year and to have Juju Chang share her story with our community.” 

In addition to co-anchoring ABC News Nightline, Chang is also a regular contributor to “Good Morning America” and “20/20.” With the rise of hate crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, Chang leveraged her platform to become a much-admired champion of social change. She made U.S. broadcast history co-anchoring the 2021 ABC News Live special, “Stop The Hate: The Rise In Violence Against Asian Americans.”

Chang converted to Judaism in 1995 after marrying her husband, Neal Shapiro. She will share her journey to Judaism and Jewish identity, how she balances being a working mom with a job that takes her all around the world and raising three teen boys, her experiences as a journalist, and the intersectionality of being a woman, Jewish and Asian American.

You register online by Oct. 18. L’Chaim! Tickets are $75 each; VIP Pre-Party tickets are $180 each and include one ticket to the main event. A virtual option is also available. 

This event is co-chaired by Cindy Frank, Jen Klearman, and Erin Schneider. The VIP Pre-Party is co-chaired by Gina Bernstein and Lisa Warticovschi. For more information, contact Stacy Wagerman at [email protected] or 314-442-3730.