JProStl will honor nine staff members working in the St. Louis Jewish community and two lay leaders at the organization’s Annual JProStl Recognition Luncheon. The event will take place from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1 at the Jewish Community Center’s Staenberg Family Complex, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. 

Award recipients were chosen by a committee of JProStl leadership and former honorees representing colleagues from across the community.

Greg and Julie Yawitz have been chosen as the recipients of the JProStl Partnership award, recognizing community leaders who best exemplify the lay–staff relationship through their commitments to the Jewish community and St. Louis region, ethical leadership, Jewish values and acts of kindness.

The JProStl Peer Awards honor staff who exemplify professional excellence and dedication to their position, organization and the St. Louis Jewish community. Those selected to receive a JProStl Peer Award in eight categories include:

• Career Achievement: Mindee Fredman (Jewish Federation of St. Louis)

• Chesed/Kindness: Ken Schwartz (Jewish Family & Children’s Service)

• Dedication: Robert Colton (Congregation Shaare Emeth) and Judith Gordon (Torah Prep School)

• Emerging Leader: Katie Garland (Crown Center for Senior Living)

• Educator: Rabbi Yitzchak Staum (Jewish Student Union)

• Mentor: Rev. Malachi Owens, Jr. (Temple Emanuel)

• Pillar: Rabbi Brad Horwitz (The J)

• Visionary: Karen Aroesty (Anti-Defamation League)

The Luncheon is $30 for guests and free of charge for staff who work at least 20 hours per week annually at a Jewish organization. To register and to donate to professional development in honor of the recipients, go to JFedSTL.org/JProStl18. Online registration for the luncheon is now open. 

For more information on the luncheon, sponsorships and awards, contact Marci Mayer Eisen at 314-442-3810 or [email protected]. 

Program co-chairs are Liz Collins of Kol Rinah Early Childhood Center and Karen Lucy of Congregation Shaare Emeth, Shirlee Green Preschool. 

JProStl, an initiative of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, is affiliated with the Millstone Institute and supported by the Lubin-Green Foundation, a supporting foundation of  Jewish Federation, Mont & Karen Levy and Bill Solomon & Family. Maryville University and Maryville University Hillel are event sponsors.