On May 13, Lynn Wittels, President and CEO of the Jewish Community Center (JCC), was honored before more than 500 people at the Sheldon Concert Hall by FOCUS St. Louis, a locally-based nonprofit organization committed to creating regional solutions through community leadership. Nineteen other organizations and individuals were also honored as a “What’s Right with the Region” award for their work to better the St. Louis community.

Awards were given in five categories: “Creating Quality Educational Opportunities,” “Demonstrating Innovative Solutions,” “Fostering Regional Cooperation,” “Improving Racial Equality and “Social Justice” and “Promoting Stronger Communities.” Wittels, who was among those honored in the “Promoting Stronger Communities” category, was nominated by Anna Deschartres, a former JCC employee.