Hillel Board Presidents’ Challenge

Wayne

As immediate past president, I have seen firsthand how Hillel of San Diego has grown to meet the increasing demands from the Jewish students across our four San Diego campuses.

I’m so proud of how far we’ve come, but much work still needs to be done! Student participation doubled last year and has increased by an additional 20% already this year.

On the heels of Mitch Siegler’s Presidents’ Challenge, I’m pleased to share that Mitch Siegler, Todd Kirschen, David Michan, Emily Jennewein, and I have been joined by other past Hillel of San Diego board presidents Herb Solomon, Steve Solomon, Joel Smith, Hollie Bierman, Bob Lapidus, Michael Breslauer, Jane Scher, and Judy Gumbiner to challenge our community to match our increased annual gifts and raise $175,000 by midnight, December 31st!

Naomi and I have been longtime supporters of Hillel, but now, we all must step up even more. We give to Hillel because Jewish continuity matters to us. Hillel impacts Jewish students beyond their four years of college.

Hillel’s Board Presidents’ will match your gift dollar-for-dollar. Please join us in building a brighter Jewish future.

With sincere appreciation,

Wayne

Other Stories From Hillel

Not Our Grandparents’ Hillel

December 17, 2025

When we were children, our grandparents posed a simple but enduring question: If the Jewish people don’t take care of the Jewish people, who will? That question inspired our parents to lead and to give, and today, as third-generation Hillel supporters, it sits squarely before us.

A Proud Night for Hillel of San Diego

December 16, 2025

Hillel of San Diego and its CEO, Karen Parry, were honored with multiple excellence awards at Hillel International’s 2025 Global Assembly (HIGA) in Boston this week, earning recognition among a global network of 850 Hillels. The awards were presented by Hillel International, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, during its annual conference which brought together more than 1,200 campus leaders, supporters, and sponsors from around the world to celebrate leadership, innovation, and commitment to Jewish life.

We’re standing with Bryan, Sheava, and Hillel

December 10, 2025

On Monday, you heard from our son Bryan and his wife Sheava about why they support Hillel of San Diego and why they are committed to helping raise $500,000 for Jewish college students by December 31, the first $50,000 of which will be matched, dollar-for-dollar. Their message of why this moment matters and why supporting our young adults is so urgent reminded us of the responsibility we all share to lift up this next generation. That is why we are joining them in this effort.

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