20 | APRIL 20 • 2023
OUR COMMUNITY
F
rankel Jewish
Academy (FJA) is
holding its Annual
Gala on Thursday, May 11,
spotlighting two honorees
— David Kurzmann as
the distinguished alumni
honoree and Pat Anderson
as the distinguished staff
honoree.
The event will begin at
6:30 p.m. with a strolling
dinner in the lobby of the
JCC. The event will then
move to the Berman Center.
As in years past, attendees
will hear from school
leadership, the honorees and
some amazing students.
The best way to support
the event is to purchase an
ad in the Ad Journal. There
are many levels of ads for
every budget, from a $36
Mazal Tov Greeting and up.
Journal ads purchased for
$1,000+ include tickets to
the event.
Tickets are required to
attend the event and strolling
dinner in-person.
Every year, FJA raises
nearly a third of its annual
fundraising total at the
Annual Gala. Donations
help the school meet its
annual budget and continue
to provide quality education
to its students for years to
come.
David Kurzmann was a
freshman student at FJA
when it opened in 2000.
Following graduation
in 2004, he attended the
University of Michigan
where he majored in Hebrew
and Jewish cultural studies
and political science.
Kurzmann began his
career as part of the
founding professional team
of the Illinois Holocaust
Museum and Education
Center in Skokie, Illinois.
Seeking professional growth,
in 2011, Kurzmann moved
to the Anti-Defamation
League’s (ADL) Midwest
Office in Chicago where he
served as assistant regional
director until 2015.
In the summer of 2015,
Kurzmann returned
home to Detroit to lead
the Jewish Community
Relations Council (JCRC).
Within a year, he seized an
opportunity to combine
forces with the American
Jewish Committee (AJC).
The outcome — JCRC/
AJC — united the local
community outreach work
of JCRC with the global
advocacy resources of AJC.
Kurzmann’s service to the
Jewish people brought him
to the Jewish Federation in
2019 where he is currently
senior director of community
affairs. Kurzmann serves as
liaison to Jewish Community
Security Inc (JCSI) and has
numerous additional respon-
sibilities in the areas of board
governance, government
relations, crisis management
and fundraising.
He previously served on
the boards of the Interfaith
Leadership Council and New
Detroit.
As FJA’s receptionist for
over 16 years, Pat Anderson
was the voice of FJA and
the first friendly face one
encountered upon entering
the school. Hundreds of stu-
dents and parents can picture
calling the school and hear-
ing her greeting “Shalom,
Frankel Jewish Academy, Pat
speaking.”
During her time at
FJA, Anderson became
an integral part of the
community. Students knew
they could stop at her desk
throughout the day for a
smile, laugh or Band-Aid.
An alumni visit to the
school wasn’t complete
without catching up with
Anderson at the front desk.
In February 2023, Anderson
retired from FJA, leaving a
lasting legacy at the school.
Jackie Yashinsky, associate
director of FJA’s Annual
Campaign, says attendees
can expect a beautiful
evening out spent with the
FJA community and FJA
supporters.
“And a special way to
honor David Kurzman,
who was one of our first
graduating class alumni, and
Pat Anderson, who really has
been a legend at FJA for 16
years,” Yashinsky said.
“It’s going to be a special
evening to pay tribute to both
of them and a way to support
the school. We hope people
walk away feeling proud of
FJA and our community —
and more connected and
energized by all the amazing
things FJA is doing for our
future community leaders.”
Buy tickets, purchase an ad in the Ad
Journal and learn more at www.
frankelja.org/giving/gala.
Academy alumnus David Kurzmann and staffer Pat Anderson to be feted.
FJA Gala Honors Two of Its Own
DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER
Pat
Anderson
PHOTOS BY JOHN HARDWICK
David
Kurzmann