Thank you to everyone who participated in making this virtual JCRC Behind the Scenes a great success!
We are deeply grateful to everyone who turned out to honor our community champions -- Craig Newmark, Danielle Banks and Richard (Big Rich) Bougere, and Sue Diamond and Marty Schenker -- and we are inspired by the tremendous support from the community.
For any questions, please contact Angelica Hom at ahom@jcrc.org.
EVENT CHAIRS
Wendy and Howard Kleckner
HONOREES
Craig Newmark
Founder of craigslist and Craig Newmark Philanthropies
The JCRC Distinguished Leadership Award
Craig Newmark is the founder of “craigslist” and Craig Newmark Philanthropies. He is known as a web pioneer, philanthropist, and leading advocate who works to support and connect people and drive broad civic engagement. In 2016, he founded Craig Newmark Philanthropies to advance people and grassroots organizations that are “getting stuff done” in areas that include trustworthy journalism and the information ecosystem, voter protection, women in technology, and veterans & military families. At its core, all of Newmark’s philanthropic work helps to strengthen American democracy by supporting the values that the country aspires to – fairness, opportunity, and respect. Craig is also a connector, bringing people together to help each other. That desire, coming out of his Jewish values, motivated his move into philanthropy. He has also recently established “craigsnewlist,” which is a place to amplify the work of others framed around sharing information and resources.
Danielle Banks and Richard (Big Rich) Bougere
Founders of Project Level
The JCRC Courageous Leadership Award
Danielle Banks and Richard “Big Rich” Bougere are the founders of Project Level, a youth program where students work with mentors and learn about and participate in music, film, fashion, dance, and marketing. Founded in 2012, Project Level is a groundbreaking, socially active non-profit program that nurtures the creative needs of at-risk and underserved Bay Area inner-city youth. Big Rich and Danielle created Project Level after pursuing successful hip hop careers both in front of and behind the microphone. JCRC brought Big Rich and Danielle to Israel as part of its Israel Study Tours program in 2016. Since then they have partnered with us in various ways, most significantly for the JCRC Invest in Peace “Harmony + Hope Benefit Concert” with Jerusalem Youth Chorus at San Francisco City Hall in January 2020.
Marty Schenker and Sue Diamond
The JCRC Jewish-Civic Leadership Award (Inspired by Rita Semel)
Sue Diamond and Marty Schenker are leaders in the Bay Area Jewish community. Sue currently serves on the San Francisco Planning Commission and is an attorney with her own law firm that works exclusively with nonprofit organizations. Her clients have included Jewish Home of San Francisco, Family House, Camp Ramah of Northern California, Temple Emanu-El, JCCSF, and others. Marty is JCRC’s immediate past president and a litigation partner for Cooley, LLP, where he specializes in complex business litigation. He also has an active pro bono practice and was co-lead counsel in Saravia v. Sessions, in which a nationwide class of immigrant teenagers obtained an injunction against ICE’s practice of using unsubstantiated claims of gang affiliation to illegally separate teenagers from their families. With JCRC, Marty has led several Israel Study Tours, including the tour attended by fellow honorees Danielle Banks and Richard Bougere. In addition, both Sue and Marty have served on numerous nonprofit boards, including serving as board chairs on multiple occasions. They have helped to strengthen our community relations work through their committed diligence to civic and Jewish engagement.
Special Thanks to Filmmaker Barry Schienberg
Sponsors & Supporters
Please tell others about our Community Champions and continue to support JCRC and our work in the community!