The Women IN Philanthropy MaIN Event

Description

Featuring Debra Messing, Emmy Award-winning actress, producer, and human rights activist.

Join us for a special evening as we come together with friends old and new, and feel proud, informed, and inspired by the collective impact of our community’s annual Campaign.

Don’t miss an opportunity to hear from Emmy Award-winning actress, producer, and human rights activist Debra Messing, who will share insight from her advocacy work supporting the Jewish people and Israel. Through her activism and unwavering commitment to fighting antisemitism, Debra inspires audiences across the country with a message of strength, unity, and hope.

The evening will also include a special recognition of Sheila Allenick, recipient of the 2026 Irene Zehman Volunteer Award.

You will have the opportunity to make your commitment to the 2027 Campaign.

Doors Open: 5:45 pm
Welcome Reception: 6:00 pm
Seated program featuring Debra Messing: 7:15 pm
Followed by dessert reception and meet & greet with Debra Messing

Complimentary valet parking or self-parking available

Heavy appetizers and drinks will be served.
(kosher dietary laws observed)

Cost:

$90/person
+ a gift* to the community's annual Campaign for Jewish Needs

Students, young leadership, and Jewish communal professionals are invited to email Jessie Bruder at jbruder@jewishcleveland.org for a special promo code to purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $60.

Program tickets are not tax deductible. Federation policy follows current IRS guidance and does not permit payment of a DAF grant when there is a non-deductible component associated with the grant.

Kindy RSVP by Thursday, November 12

Register Here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-women-in-philanthropy-main-event-tickets-2003417483624?aff=websiteevent

MaIN Event is Women IN Philanthropy’s annual campaign event, open to all women in the Cleveland Jewish community. Women IN Philanthropy empowers women to leverage our collective power, strengthen our vibrant Cleveland community, and impact our world. Being part of our 2027 Campaign for Jewish Needs declares your personal commitment to honor traditional Jewish values of tzedek (justice) and gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness).

*An event ticket purchase is required for event admission, along with a suggested minimum $118 donation to the 2027 Campaign for Jewish Needs. Your gift helps address the growing needs of our local and global community — from caring for the most vulnerable to combating hate, and so much more. If you increase your gift by 10% or more and make it before November 1, the increased portion of your gift will be doubled through the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation’s generous “Mandel Match”. Donation payment is not due until December 31, 2027. Thank you in advance for your generosity.



Featuring Debra Messing
Emmy Award-winning actress, producer, and human rights activist.

Debra Messing is an Emmy Award-winning actress, Producer, and Human Rights Activist. She is best known for her Emmy and SAG Award-winning role as “Grace Adler” on NBC’s Emmy Award-winning comedy series Will & Grace, and starred in The Mysteries of Laura, and SMASH, both on NBC. Notable film credits include the award-winning Searching, Along Came Polly, The Wedding Date, Nothing Like The Holidays, The Women, and The Dark Divide. Messing has been honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Women In Film’s Lucy Award, The Gracie Allen Award, American Comedy Award, among 50 more nominations. Most recently, Messing starred in the Warner Brothers mob drama, The Alto Knights, opposite Robert De Niro.

Messing has worked as Global Health Ambassador for PSI focusing on HIV/AIDS, and has traveled extensively in Africa in support of the organization. She has testified before the House Foreign Affairs sub-committee on Africa and Global Health and spoke at the International AIDS conference.

She has been honored by the HRC as one of the world’s greatest supporters of the LGBTQ+ community both on screen and off screen, and by The Trevor Project with The Trevor Life Award in recognition of her contributions to the LGBTQ+ community. Messing is also a founding member of the nonpartisan civic engagement organization, i am a voter, and co-hosted the activism-focused podcast, The Dissenters, which spotlighted 22 individuals who have made an impact.

In the wake of the atrocities committed on October 7th, Debra has used her platform to be one of the strongest, clearest and most informed voices advocating for Israel, the end of hate and misinformation and the release of the hostages. She spoke at the March for Israel in D.C. and traveled to Israel in December 2023 to bear witness to the massacre and meet with hostage families and survivors. She executive produced the documentary, OCTOBER H8TE, about the explosion of antisemitism since October 7th and has been speaking around the country about the strength, resilience and divine purpose of the Jewish people.

Messing grew up in Rhode Island, received her BA from Brandeis University and earned her Masters of Fine Arts from NYU’s The Tisch School of the Arts. She resides in New York City.


Honoring Sheila Allenick
2026 Irene Zehman Volunteer Award Recipient

Volunteerism has been central to Sheila Allenick’s commitment to the Cleveland Jewish community. Sheila currently coordinates the volunteers who maintain the Hebrew Cultural Garden, helping preserve this important community landmark, and she has raised significant endowment funds to support its future.

Sheila serves on the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Community Relations Committee and has delivered Meals on Wheels through Jewish Family Service Association. She has also held leadership roles at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation and Gross Schechter Day School.

Sheila’s connection to Israel deepened during the Yom Kippur War, when she volunteered in the grapefruit orchards. In 1980, she and her husband, Bob, moved to Israel for a year, living on a moshav in the Golan Heights. These experiences strengthened her lifelong connection to Israel and the Jewish people.

After earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Cleveland State University in 1979, Sheila began her career at Price Waterhouse. She later served as Treasurer for First Union Real Estate Investments, a New York Stock Exchange REIT. In 1994, she joined the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, serving as Assistant Vice President, Fiscal Operations and Assistant Treasurer until her retirement in 2017. She managed daily fiscal operations and supported foundations with financial reporting. Today, she continues consulting with nonprofits on financial reporting.

Sheila enjoys pickleball and is a winter resident at Burnt Store Marina in Florida. She is a member of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation and the Shul Boys Motorcycle Club. She and Bob have been married for nearly 48 years and have two daughters, Karen and Shaina.

The Irene Zehman Volunteer Award recognizes a woman, group of women, or a women’s organization whose efforts on behalf of the Cleveland Jewish community demonstrate the highest ideals and practices of volunteer service. This award was established in 1980 by Roslyn Z. Wolf and Judith Z. Sherman, both of blessed memory, in loving memory of their mother, Irene Zehman, who personified the attributes this award celebrates.