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Hebrew Free Loan Circle of Generosity Gala

Celebrating 120 Years

Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating Hebrew Free Loan’s continued innovation and rich 120-year tradition of helping Northern California’s Jewish community members build financial self-sufficiency and pursue their dreams. Honoring Community Leaders Mark Abelson and Raquel Newman, and Distinguished Loan Recipient Alex Rayter.

120 Years of Service to the Northern California Jewish Community

Since 1897, Hebrew Free Loan has promoted self-sufficiency within the Northern California Jewish community by offering interest-free loans to individuals facing financial challenges and pursuing their dreams. Today we are assisting nearly 1,100 individuals with active loans totaling approximately $9.6 million, and our loan repayment rate is 99.75%.

We are the only interest-free, cost-free loan agency in Northern California, and we provide loans to people who cannot find support elsewhere. Our programs are funded almost entirely by individual donations to our Annual Fund and by special events like this.

On behalf of all of our loan recipients – past, present, and future – thank you for your support.

Date: 
May 21, 2017
TIME: 
12:00 AM
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Location: 
Bently Reserve
301 Battery St
City: 
San Francisco
Cost: 
$250

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Organized By: 
Hebrew Free Loan
Event Contact Person: 
Jamie Hyams
415.546.9902
jamie@hflasf.org
Event Website: 
https://www.hflasf.org/gala/
Honorees: 
Mark Abelson
Mark Abelson is First Vice President of Hebrew Free Loan and has served on our Board of Directors since 2007. He has practiced law for over 40 years and is a partner in Campagnoli, Abelson & Campagnoli, where he specializes in plaintiff's legal malpractice. Mark sits on the San Francisco Bar Association Legal Malpractice Executive Committee. He and his wife Janet, aka Gilah, were co-founders of the Ronald Wornick Jewish Community Day School, and he was the school’s third President. Mark is active with AIPAC (National Council member) and the Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund (incoming chair of the Israel sub-committee), and he has been an active member of American Jewish Congress and Jewish Community Relations Council. His prior board service includes Congregation Beth Jacob and Kehillah High School. Mark and Gilah have been married for 40 years, with three sons and three daughters-in-law: Jeremy and Mia, Joel and Lauren, and Noah and Liza. They have three grandchildren, with a fourth on the way.
Raquel Newman
Raquel “Racky” Newman has served on our Board of Directors for four years, bringing with her a distinguished history of strong leadership, visionary advocacy, and dedicated service to the Jewish community. Racky graduated from Radcliffe with a BA in political science, received a master’s in social planning from the University of Nebraska in 1975, and 20 years later went on to earn her doctorate in education from University of San Francisco. She is the current President of Rhoda Goldman Plaza and is active with the New Israel Fund (Regional Council). Racky is a Past President of Jewish Family & Children’s Services of San Francisco, Jewish LearningWorks, and Palo Alto University. She was also President of Camp Swig and very involved in the transition from Camp Swig to Camp Newman, which she helped to establish. Racky has served on numerous other boards, including Congregation Emanu-El and Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund. Racky was married to Nick Newman for 25 years, until his death from cancer, and she is the mother of four children: Peter, Tom (and spouse Ron), Ted, and Sarah; and two grandchildren: Vianna and Cassandra.
Alex Rayter
Alex Rayter immigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was 10, and as a young adult he received and paid back three Hebrew Free Loans. The most recent loan helped him and his fiancée to build their family, bringing her children from their home country of Uzbekistan. This process spanned four and a half years and required several costly attorneys. Alex is the managing principal of Phoenix 2.0, a Bay Area IT consulting firm. He is active with the Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund, serving on the board of directors and several committees. He co-chairs MishMash, the Russian-speaking Jewish young adult community, and is a winner of the Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award for Young Leadership. Alex also serves on the board of Club Z and is active with the Jewish Home. He is a founding member of the steering committee for Hebrew Free Loan’s Full Circle Club, which engages former loan recipients in supporting the agency. Alex lives in Daly City with his wife Lola and children Boki, Malika, and new baby Daniel.