Ann Agulnick Young Leadership Award
Celebrating our next generation of women leaders.
Overview
Since 1963, Women’s Philanthropy has awarded a young female leader in our community with a Young Leadership Award. In 1982, Milwaukee Jewish Federation named that leadership award in recognition of Ann Agulnick on her 80th birthday. Ann was a leader in every sense, serving as a role model to young leaders and to those who mentored them. She was known for beginning her service early, remaining deeply committed, and demonstrating an unmatched continuity of leadership throughout her life.
This award celebrates individuals who reflect Ann Agulnick’s enduring values: dedication, consistency, and a lifelong commitment to strengthening the Jewish community through leadership and service.
Criteria
Eligibility Requirements
- Nominee must be a woman aged 45 or under at the time of nomination
- Nominee must be a donor in good standing to Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign
Leadership & Community Involvement
- The nominee demonstrates meaningful leadership across multiple areas of Jewish communal life and shows strong potential for continued leadership.
- Engagement and leadership within Women’s Philanthropy and/or NextGen programs
- Active leadership in Federation committees and activities
Philanthropic Commitment
- The nominee shows a strong commitment to philanthropy and communal responsibility.
- Ongoing financial and volunteer investment in the Jewish community
- Demonstrated leadership and participation in the Annual Campaign
Commitment to Jewish Life & Israel
- The nominee actively supports and advocates for Jewish life locally, nationally, and globally.
- Commitment to and advocacy for Israel
- Involvement in other Jewish community activities, including constituent agencies, synagogues, and Israel advocacy organizations
“This award is not an endpoint; it’s a reminder of the responsibility we each have to continue pushing for progress— to create spaces where people feel valued, heard, and empowered to pursue their own potential. As a leader, I feel an incredible sense of duty to help create and support a Jewish Milwaukee where my children can thrive in living life Jewishly and where everyone finds where they belong.”
– Barbara Tenin, 2024
Award Recipients
This award honors young women leaders who exemplify what it means to be active, engaged, and deeply committed members of the Milwaukee Jewish community. Through their leadership and involvement, Missie is strengthening Jewish life in Milwaukee.
2026 Award Recipient
Missie Barnett
True to the legacy of philanthropist and leader Ann Agulnick, Missie was chosen for her deep commitment to Jewish communal life and her leadership across multiple facets of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. She currently serves as Chair of the Partnership2Gether (P2G) Committee, was one of Women’s Philanthropy’s fabulous 2025 VALOR Co-Chairs, is a member of the Israel and Overseas Committee, and participates on the Federation’s Strategic Planning Committee. Her past leadership includes co-chairing the 2024 October 7 Commemoration Event and participation in the Weinstein Fellowship (Cohort 8), MJF’s premier leadership development program.
Together with her husband David, Missie is raising their four children, George, Elsie, Andrew, and June, with strong Jewish values and a deep commitment to community. Her engagement extends globally and locally, including serving as a current ShinShin host family, participating in multiple Israel missions, attending JFNA’s 2024 and 2025 General Assemblies, and consistently showing up for VALOR.
Beyond Federation, Missie has contributed her leadership to the broader Jewish community through service on the Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC Board of Directors. Whether she is volunteering, hosting gatherings, or expressing creativity through sewing, art, and baking, Missie brings people together with warmth, intention, and generosity.
Previous Award Recipients
The Young Leadership Award was named for Ann Agulnick beginning in 1982.
* Of Blessed Memory
1963 – 1969
- 1963 – Judith Kaplan*
- 1964 – Lila Schwid*
- 1965 – Betty Liberman
- 1966 – Leah Knight*
- 1967 – Charlotte Slater*
- 1968 – Irene Edelstein*
- 1969 – Elysse Gellman*
1970 – 1979
- 1970 – Sally Bamberger*
- 1971 – Elaine B. Friedman*
- 1972 – Barbara Wiener*
- 1973 – Muriel Becker*
- 1974 – Susan Freeman
- 1975 – Barbara Grande
- 1976 – Betsy Green
- 1977 – Marsha Sehler
- 1978 – Lotta Brafman*
- 1979 – Sheri Levin
1980 – 1989
- 1980 – Elaine Appel
- 1980 – Barbara Blutstein*
- 1981 – Barbara Kohl-Spiro
- 1982 – Judy Guten
- 1983 – Louise Stein
- 1984 – Judith Mann
- 1985 – Anne Klein
- 1985 – Maureen (Komisar) Luddy
- 1986 – Bonnie Sumner
- 1987 – Marilyn Pelz
- 1988 – Jeanette Peckerman
- 1989 – Judi Ketten
1990 – 1999
- 1990 – Jody Kaufman Loewenstein
- 1991 – Claudia Cohen
- 1992 – Idy Goodman
- 1993 – Jane Gellman
- 1994 – Micaela Levine
- 1995 – Kathleen Heilbronner
- 1996 – Susan Strait
- 1997 – Connie Eastman
- 1998 – Marci Taxman
- 1999 – Joan Lubar
2000 – 2009
- 2000 – Susan Angel Miller
- 2001 – Terri Stevens
- 2002 – Andrea Schneider
- 2003 – Cheryl Moser
- 2004 – Laura Eder
- 2005 – Cindy Cooper
- 2006 – Stephanie Wagner
- 2007 – Sharyl Paley
- 2008 – Julie Sadoff
2010 – 2019
- 2010 – Jill Plavnick
- 2011 – Rebecca Guralnick
- 2013 – Rachael Marks
- 2015 – Monica Arnstein
- 2016 – Julie Lookatch
- 2017 – Lindy Liberman
- 2019 – Rachel Badt
- 2019 – Jori Broidy
- 2019 – Deb Carneol Fendrich
- 2019 – Sarah Siegel
- 2019 – Rachel Wagner
2020 – Present
- 2021 – Jodi Sprinkmann
- 2022 – Raisa Koltun
- 2023 – Leah Fiasca
- 2024 – Barbara Tenin
- 2026 – Melissa Barnett
Connect
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 Lions 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.
