Save the Date!
Sholom Shebang 2010 will be Souled Out on Saturday, October 30^th, 2010 at The DEPOT in Minneapolis!

Allen Freeman Named 2010 Susie Selcer Award Winner

Allen Freeman was named the 2010 Susie Selcer Leadership Award Winner at the Alliance’s Annual Meeting on Monday, July 26 at Sholom Home West. Sholom Community Alliance President Wendy Baldinger presided over the meeting which included the election of new board members and officers for both Sholom Community

Chuck Selcer (left) presents Allen Freeman  with the Susie Selcer Award.

Alliance and Sholom Foundation and recognition of several dedicated volunteers. Serving with Wendy for the coming year are Barry Newman, President-Elect; Steve Brand, Vice President; Mark Freeman, Secretary; Jeff Ringer, Treasurer and Allen Freeman, Immediate Past President. Additionally, the following were newly elected to the Alliance Board of Directors: Bill Gotlieb, Lori Kamin, Sandie Kaster, Julie Kozberg, John MacDonald, Jerry Rudick, Polly Saxon, Margie Solomon and Julie Swiler.

Bob Karon continues as President of the Sholom Foundation. Serving with Bob are Chuck Selcer, President-Elect; Mike Saxon, Vice President; Ilene Zwick, Treasurer and Judy Karon, Secretary. Newly elected to the Sholom Foundation Board are Janie Berg, Karen Gershman, Richard Joseph, Sheva Sanders and Herb Schechter.

Chuck Selcer presented Allen with the award named for his late mother, Susie Selcer. The annual award honors an individual whose work with the Alliance, Sholom Foundation or Sholom Auxiliary exemplifies the integrity, spirit, and tzedekah of Susie Selcer. Allen has served the entire Sholom organization in numerous capacities, including terms as Alliance president, Sholom Foundation president and co-chair of Sholom’s Capital Campaign which led to the opening of the Shaller Family Campus.

Sholom is not the only organization to benefit from Allen’s leadership. He is a past president of both Temple of Aaron and United Jewish Fund and Council (UJFC); he also served as co-chair of UJFC’s Annual Campaign. He has been honored both locally and nationally; he received UJFC’s Jewish Communal Recognition Award, Council of Jewish Federations’ Distinguished Service Award and was honored by Israel Bonds. Allen, along with his brothers, Arthur and Earl, created Spartan Products, Inc, a manufacturer of boat trailers. He served as president of the Trailer Manufacturer’s Association and vice-president of the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association. Professionally he received the Builder of a Better Industry Award and the Association of Marine Products and Services’ Alan J. Freedman Memorial Award for outstanding service to the industry.

Allen and his wife, Toba, are the parents of four children and 10 grandchildren. All of their children and children’s spouses are involved one way or another in serving the Jewish community. Toba is a past Sholom Ball Chair, daughter Nancy Getzkin currently serves as president of the Sholom Auxiliary, son Mark Freeman serves as Alliance secretary and son-in-law Neil Borenstein serves on the Alliance board of directors.