Unsung heroes of the Upper Fairfield County Jewish community will take center stage on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 4:15 p.m., when the Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County honors 11 volunteers at the third Mitzvah Hero Awards ceremony. 

Selected by area Jewish clergy and lay leaders, the honorees represent 15 communities that make up the Federation’s constituency.  

 “Whether it is active participation in their synagogues, helping Jewish Family Service pack and deliver food packages, bringing flowers to Jewish Senior Services residents after a synagogue event, providing emotional and practical support for children with cancer, undergoing rigorous EMT training, raising money and awareness for important social causes – just a few of their many accomplishments – our Mitzvah Heroes inspire us to reach out to others and to make a difference,” note event co–chairs Betty Feldman of Fairfield and Eileen Glickman of Westport. 

The award ceremony is just one component of TzedakahFest, Federation’s annual celebration of collective impact in the community. 

Held at Congregation B’nai Israel in Bridgeport, the event will feature an exhibit hall of Federation’s local and international partner organizations, and participatory philanthropy promoting social-service organizations in Federation’s sister region of Afula-Gilboa, Israel.  

Launched in 2018, the Mitzvah Hero Awards event are intended to acknowledge community volunteers, and to bring together members of the Federation’s 15-community region, bordered by Ridgefield, Monroe, Stratford, and Rowayton. 

“At its heart, our Federation is about the difference that we can all make together,” says Federation CEO David Weisberg. “I am so excited to have a day that is all about understanding and celebrating the power of our collective tzedakah.” 

The 3rd Mitzvah Hero Awards recipients include: 

Brian Barlaam – Congregation B’nai Israel (Bridgeport) 

Jane Hillman – Congregation Beth El (Fairfield) 

Mark Jaffe – Beth Israel of Westport/Norwalk (Norwalk) 

Ben Marcus – Beit Chaverim Synagogue (Westport) 

Dana Preis – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Fairfield County (Westport)  

Jodi Przybisiki – Temple Shalom (Norwalk) 

Hilary Shaefitz – Congregation Beth El–Norwalk 

Margery Verlezza – Congregation B’nai Torah (Trumbull) 

Sheri Warshaw – TCS (Westport) 

Carol Weinshel – Congregation Rodeph Sholom (Bridgeport) 

Maury Wind – Temple Israel (Westport) 

Federation for Jewish Philanthropy’s 3rd Mitzvah Hero Awards: Sunday, Dec. 15, 4:15 p.m. TzedakahFest begins at 3 p.m. At Congregation B’nai Israel, 2710 Park Ave., Bridgeport. For information: (203) 226–8197, shalomct.org/tzedakahfest.