2026 VALOR
Women’s Philanthropy’s Annual Signature Campaign Event
Event Details
Tuesday, OCTOBER 13, 2026
Evening | The Pfister Hotel – Grand Ballroom
Sponsorship and ticket information coming soon!
VALOR is Women’s Philanthropy’s annual signature campaign event, a celebratory evening that brings Milwaukee Jewish women together to strengthen our community through collective giving and shared purpose. The program highlights the impact of Women’s Philanthropy and the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, honors dedicated community leaders, and inspires continued engagement in Jewish life.
VALOR Co-Chairs
Sandi Deshur, Samantha Gorelik, Linda Freedman, Melina Marcus
Thank you to our fantastic event co-chairs for their leadership in creating this event
In Conversation With
Rachel Goldberg-Polin
Rachel Goldberg-Polin is an American-Israeli Jewish educator and the New York Times bestselling author of When We See You Again, a searing portrait of a mother’s grief in the wake of unthinkable tragedy.
Rachel became one of the most visible voices of the hostage crisis after October 7, 2023, when her son, Hersh, was stolen by Hamas at the Nova Music Festival. In the months that followed, she and her husband, Jon Polin, became full-time advocates, speaking around the world about Hersh’s abduction and working tirelessly – in public and behind the scenes – for the release of all those taken captive.
Almost a year later, on Day 330, the IDF announced that Hersh had been murdered by Hamas in a tunnel in Gaza, along with five other young people later known as the Beautiful Six. Despite the devastating loss of their son, Rachel and Jon continued their advocacy on behalf of the remaining hostages and their families. Their efforts continued until the last hostage was recovered on January 26, 2026, Day 843.
Rachel was born and raised in Chicago and lives in Jerusalem. She and her husband Jon are the parents of three children.
Woman of Valor Award
Marianne Lubar, 2026 Recipient
Marianne Lubar is a champion of community development whose commitment to strengthening Milwaukee has left a lasting impact. As President of the Lubar Family Foundation, she has helped guide strategic philanthropic investments with a strong emphasis on Jewish causes while supporting initiatives that enrich the arts, education, healthcare, and civic life. Throughout her career, she has provided leadership to numerous organizations, including the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Film, Florentine Opera, Planned Parenthood, and the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation. She is also the founder of Jewish Museum Milwaukee, reflecting her dedication to preserving history, culture, and community.
Together with her family and the Lubar Family Foundation, Marianne has been a steadfast supporter of organizations that improve the quality of life in Wisconsin for several decades. Her thoughtful leadership, generosity, and collaborative approach have helped strengthen countless nonprofit institutions and inspire others to invest in their communities.
Marianne has received honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and the Medical College of Wisconsin, along with numerous awards from nonprofit organizations honoring her decades of leadership, civic engagement, and enduring commitment to community.
AMBASSADOR COMMITTEE
Tanya Arbit
Robin Arenzon*
Monica Arnstein
Linda Bader
Missie Barnett*
Shannon Bernstein
Marina Chester
Judy Coran
Jennifer Curnes*
Sandi Deshur
Elina Eliahu
Michele Ellner*
Linda Freedman
Barbara Glazer
Riv Goldman
Amy Goldstein
Deborah Gollin
Idy Goodman
Sammy Gorelik
Chris Gould
Barbara Grande
Eileen Graves
Becca Guralnick*
Sara Hermanoff*
Ellen Hoffman Pelz
Susie Honigberg*
Bonnie Jacobson
Debra Katz*
Judi Ketten
Patti Langer
Marlene Lauwasser
Sheri Levin
Cindy Levy
Lindy Liberman*
Joan Lubar
Susan Lubar
Kris MacDonald
Melina Marcus
Rachael Marks*
Felicia Miller
Amy Moller
Jennifer Noparstak*
Deb O’Connor
Mindy Palay*
Sharyl Paley
Jill Plavnick
Betsy Rosenblum*
Julie Rosenfeld*
Bonnie Shafrin
Jodi Sprinkmann*
Sue Strait*
Robyn Straub Swernoff
Barbara Tenin
Rosie Vayner
Melanie Wasserman
Diane Zall*
Andi Zimmerman
Julie Zvi*
* WP Board Member
FAQs
What can I expect at VALOR?
VALOR is an elegant and inspiring evening that includes dinner and drinks, meaningful storytelling, and community recognition. Guests enjoy the opportunity to connect with other Jewish women while learning about the impact of Women’s Philanthropy and supporting the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign. Guests will be asked to make a gift this evening.
Who attends VALOR?
VALOR brings together Jewish women from across the Milwaukee community, including long-time supporters, emerging leaders, and women who are newly exploring involvement with Women’s Philanthropy. Attendees share a commitment to Jewish life, community connection, and philanthropy through supporting the Federation’s 2027 Annual Campaign.
Leadership
Deb Carneol Fendrich serves as Senior Director of Affinities and Women’s Philanthropy at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. In her Women’s Philanthropy role, she leads strategy and execution for engagement, leadership development, and campaign efforts, overseeing volunteer leadership and donor stewardship. She also guides signature programs such as VALOR and International Women’s Day and stewards the growth of Women’s Philanthropy giving societies including Lion of Judah and Pomegranate Societies.
In her Affinities role, Deb partners with and supports the Federation’s Affinity Directors, helping them execute their visions through strategic guidance around campaign, engagement, and leadership development, while fostering cross-affinity collaboration and building strong lay leadership pipelines.
Outside of work, Deb enjoys singing, listening to audiobooks, and spending time with friends, her husband Ben, their daughters Logan and Micah, and their dog, Maya.
Julie Schack serves as Chief Development Officer at Milwaukee Jewish Federation, where she plays a key role in advancing the organization’s mission to strengthen and sustain Jewish life. In this position, Julie leads the Federation’s development efforts, helping to grow philanthropic support that fuels programs and services across Jewish Milwaukee.
At the Federation, Julie partners closely with colleagues, lay leaders, and donors to strengthen the annual campaign, cultivate meaningful relationships, and build a culture of generosity rooted in shared values. With more than 25 years of experience in advertising, marketing, and sales leadership, she brings a strategic and relationship-driven approach to philanthropy—often described as “sales with a soul.” Prior to joining the Federation, Julie held senior leadership roles within the Jewish community, including Director of Women’s Philanthropy and Affinities at the San Antonio Jewish Federation and Executive Director of Hillel Milwaukee, where she helped rebuild and reimagine Jewish life on campus and led award-winning fundraising initiatives.
Outside of work, Julie enjoys staying connected to the Milwaukee community she proudly calls home, as well as spending time with family and friends.