Passport to Philanthropy

The 2023 Campaign Kickoff event hosted more than 130 guests at The Van Dyke Performing Arts Space in Greensboro. The community gathered for an evening of shared stories of courage and resilience from our own Shelly Weiner, Mark Bochkis and Alina Gerlovin-Spaulding. Under the theme of this event, Passport to Philanthropy, all three guest speakers shared stories about their travels as children of refugees. Taking inspiration from the lives of their parents and the influence of their childhoods, each speaker had an important message about what it means to help one another.

Following the presentation, guests enjoyed an incredible buffet of international desserts by the Painted Plate.

Attendees were moved by the Gallery of Courage, which included portraits and personal journeys of refugees – collected by Alina Gerlovin-Spaulding during her recent volunteer time abroad.

Gallery of Courage

Thank you to the event chairs Michele Gordon Levy, Alyssa Samet, Mark Bochkis and Shelly Weiner. The personal stories and the Gallery of Courage helped develop a sense of understanding of what can be accomplished when a community comes together to do good that goes everywhere.

Michele Gordon Levy, Alina GerlovinSpaulding, Shelly Weiner, Alyssa Samet, Mark Bochkis and Emily Kranz

Susan and Jerry Pinsker

John Cohen and Mark Hyman

Alina Gerlovin-Spaulding, Jeanette Si, Irene Cohen and Shelly Weiner

Cindy Block Katz and Harvey Katz with Paula Katz

Past and present G-Fliers attended the Passport to Philanthropy Campaign Kickoff