Metro Briefs July 5
Jim Busis, has been named interim chief executive officer of The Jewish Chronicle. He succeeds David Caoin who resigned in June.
Previously the director of the Asia Pacific Institute at the American Jewish Committee in Washington, D.C., Busis has a long background in business and Jewish communal affairs — both nationally and internationally.
Before joining AJC, Busis was vice president of strategy and planning at Giant Eagle, Inc. He also co-founded and became the CEO of Wishbox.com, Inc., a high-tech startup.
Prior to Wishbox, Busis was a principal at Booz Allen Hamilton, the global management consulting firm. He worked in Chicago, Paris and for seven years in Singapore. As a consultant, he led projects for private multinational and national corporations, state-owned firms, and government agencies, including media companies.
While in business school, Busis received a fellowship to intern at IBM Japan in Tokyo. He began his career at Plenum Publishing Corporation in New York.
As a volunteer, Busis has served a variety of international, national and local Jewish organizations. He was on the National Council of the AJC and a vice president of the Pittsburgh regional office. He was the founding president of the United Hebrew Congregation (Singapore) and served on the board of governors of the World Union of Progressive Judaism. He also served on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh, Agency for Jewish Learning, Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Pittsburgh and Rodef Shalom Congregation.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Busis — a son of Sidney and Sylvia Busis — graduated magna cum laude from Yale University in 1978 with a degree in molecular biophysics and biochemistry. He also received a master’s degree in international business, finance and marketing from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 1985.
He is married to Maureen Kelly Busis and has three children: Ethan (19), Hannah (16) and Abigail (13).
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is allocating more than $21 million to support social, health, community building and educational needs in Pittsburgh, Israel and around the world.
At a June 4 meeting, the federation’s board of directors approved the distributions, which are comprised of funds raised through the Centennial Year Annual Campaign, the Jewish Community Foundation, government relations, and supplemental gifts. Additionally, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation provides a block grant of $900,000, specifically for health and human services.
The federation funds organizations that care for people in need, and nurture and sustain the Jewish community today and for future generations.
“This community has so much to be proud of in regard to the generosity and trust of its donors, as well as to the programs and institutions that provide exemplary care and service to those in need,” federation chair Louis B. Plung said in a prepared statement. “There is a tremendous emphasis placed on continuity and linking one generation to the next. The federation is seizing the opportunity to fund organizations and projects that range from new and innovative to programs that have been serving this community invaluably for decades.”
Because the 2012-2013 floor allocations were determined last year, the funding committee spent this year undergoing an intensive learning process centered around key communal issues, in order to more fully develop a strategic plan that incorporates an in-depth understanding of the needs of the people being helped; the impact of collaboration; other planning models from around the country; and a deeper understanding of Jewish peoplehood.
“Two of the most important roles of the funding committee are understanding the needs of the community and understanding the most effective ways to address them,” planning and funding committee chair Meryl Ainsman said in a prepared statement. “This year, we took the time to form a more comprehensive understanding of the entire ecosystem of organizations and programs to understand how they relate to each other. This learning process positively affects every single decision that we make.”
This year’s allocations are based on a record $12.9 million raised by the annual campaign, which provides sustaining, core operating dollars to support agencies and key initiatives. Should the goal of $13 million be reached, the planning and funding committee has set priorities for funding important additional programs.
The allocations also include funds raised through the Jewish Community Foundation and, within the foundation, the Centennial Fund for a Jewish Future, which specifically funds Israel experiences for youth, Jewish day schools and Jewish camping experiences.
“Because of the federation’s approach, this community took major strides in several key areas like special needs inclusion, Jewish education, youth groups, seniors’ independence, and Israel travel,” federation President and CEO Jeffrey H. Finkelstein said in a prepared statement. “The generosity of our donors coupled with the forethought and acumen of the funding committee creates a powerful force that touches and enriches countless lives. The systemic approach taken to allocating these resources is a true embodiment of the values and traditions of our Jewish community.”
Kelly Schwimer of Pittsburgh has been named the new senior campaign executive for the Jewish National Fund here.
Schwimer has 15 years of sales, business development, marketing, fundraising and management experience. She is a member of Congregation Beth Shalom, where she has been an active volunteer in leadership and committee roles in their early education and Community Day School.
Schwimer lives in Squirrel Hill with her husband Chuck, daughter Elena, and son Levi.
The Squirrel Hill Historical Society will hold its next free meeting with Terry Necciai, Tuesday, July 10, at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave. Necciai, preservation architect, architectural historian and founder of the SHHS, will speak on “Recent Preservation Projects and Surprising Pennsylvania Connections.”
Contact Mike at 412- 417-3707 or visit squirrelhillhistory.org for more information.
New Light Men’s Club is sponsoring a trip to Mountaineer Casino Sunday, Aug. 5. There is a charge and participants must be at least 21 years old. Contact Sid Shapiro at 412-421-4635 for more details or to make reservations.
Leslie Golomb Hartman will conduct an adult workshop on Provocative Printmaking Thursday, July 12, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Frick Art Museum.
Hartman will teach the art of paper matrix lithography in a class designed for adults working at all skill levels. Starting with an exploratory tour in the gallery then moving to the studio to make new creations, this workshop will concentrate on Jacques Callot’s taste for the fantastic. No prior knowledge of printmaking is required.
There is a charge. Due to limited capacity, advance registration and prepayment is required.
Call 412-371-0600 for more information.
Chabad of Pittsburgh will host a series of classes on hot issues of this year’s election season.
The series, which will be taught by Rabbi Yisroel Altein, will run three Wednesdays from 8 to 9 p.m. at Chabad of Pittsburgh, 6401 Forbes Ave. The topics are taxation with representation (July 18), funding social services (July 25) and immigration (Aug. 1).
There is a charge for the classes. Contact Chabad at 412-421-3561 or info@chabadpgh.com for more information.
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