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