Signature Fundraising Events to Be Held September 20 and September 27

The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford is delighted to welcome Hollywood luminaries Melissa Rivers and Alan Zweibel as the keynote speakers for Voices and Visions, the signature women’s and men’s philanthropy events that publicly kick off Federation’s 2017 Annual Campaign.

Emmy Award Winning Comedy Writer Alan Zweibel to Headline Visions 2017

An original Saturday Night Live writer who the New York Times says has “earned a place in the pantheon of American pop culture,” Alan Zweibel has won multiple Emmy, Writers Guild of America, and TV Critics awards for his work in television, which also includes It’s Garry Shandling’s Show (which he co-created and produced), Monk, PBS’s Great Performances, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Currently an executive producer on Showtime’s Inside Comedy, Mr. Zweibel also recently released a Young Adult novel entitled Benjamin Franklin: Huge Pain in My Ass (Hyperion, 2015, co-written with Adam Mansbach). He is currently working on a children’s book, If Moses Drove a Bus, and writing the script for a Broadway musical version of Field of Dreams.

Visions is Federation’s largest annual men’s fundraising and community outreach event. More than 300 committed philanthropists from across Greater Hartford are expected to attend Visions 2017, which will be held Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at The Emanuel Synagogue at 160 Mohegan Drive in West Hartford. The evening begins with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m.; a kosher dinner and the program will follow.

Visions 2017 is co-chaired by Michael Fish, Ronald Fishman, Daniel Kaufman and Greg Patchen. Ann Baidack Pava is Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford’s 2017 Vice Chair for the Annual Campaign. Visions 2017 sponsors include Trifecta Environmental Associates Management, Inc.; Retirement Visions LLC; Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center; Bank of America; Hartford Hospital; Pullman & Comley LLC; Webster Bank; Birken Manufacturing; Jason Gutcheon - Professional Business Insurers; Northeastern Fasteners, NEFCO; the Connecticut Jewish Ledger; and the Hartford Courant.

A minimum gift of $365 to the 2017 Annual Campaign is required to attend Visions 2017. There is a $75 charge for dinner and couvert, which does not represent a charitable contribution. To register, please visit bit.ly/Visions2017RSVP or contact Jill Nulsen at 860.727.6119.

Fashion Designer and Philanthropist Melissa Rivers to Keynote Voices 2017

Melissa Rivers, executive producer and co-host of E!’s Fashion Police, has been in the fashion and entertainment business virtually since birth. She and her mother, the late Joan Rivers, created the Red Carpet franchise and phenomenon and starred together in WEtv’s hit reality series, Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? Melissa Rivers also launched the Shoparatti.com fashion site and designed The Cool People, Zappos’ first fashion line. Ms. Rivers has authored two books: the New York Times best-seller The Book of Joan: Tales of Mirth, Mischief, and Manipulation (Crown Archetype, 2015) and Red Carpet Ready: Secrets for Making the Most of Any Moment You’re in the Spotlight (Harmony, 2010). She is also an Ivy League graduate, a single mother and a noted equestrian and philanthropist.

Voices is Federation’s largest annual women’s fundraising and community outreach event. More than 400 women of all ages and professions from across Greater Hartford are expected to attend Voices 2017 on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at The Emanuel Synagogue at 160 Mohegan Drive in West Hartford. A cocktail reception begins at 5:30 p.m.; a kosher dinner and the program will follow.

Voices 2017 is co-chaired by Emily Berman, Kathy Fishman, Robin Landau and Judy Schlossberg; Carolyn Gitlin is Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford’s 2017 Vice Chair for Women’s Philanthropy. Voices 2017 sponsors include Trifecta Environmental Associates Management, Inc.; Retirement Visions LLC; Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center; The Arlene M. Lipton Memorial Fund; Bank of America; Hartford Hospital; Pullman & Comley LLC; the Connecticut Jewish Ledger; and the Hartford Courant.

A minimum gift of $365 to the 2017 Annual Campaign is required to attend Voices 2017. There is a $75 charge for dinner and couvert, which does not represent a charitable contribution. To register, please visit bit.ly/Voices2017RSVP or contact Adina Stein at 860.727.6151.