Dear Friends:

It was a dark and stormy night at the 40th Annual InterFaith Leadership Award Dinner! Our five hundred and fifty guests were ready to receive the procession of Board, honorees, Round Table of Faith Leaders and staff just at the moment that an earthshaking lightning bolt took out the electrical transformer on the OCC campus, casting the night into darkness. Within moments, the backup generators kicked in, and the auxiliary lighting appeared. What a start!

Despite our inability to share the carefully crafted video of our amazing co-chairs and honorees, our President’s agency slide show, and even our opening music from “The Boss,” we still had a memorable and heartwarming evening together. With a handheld microphone linked to a hotspot, we were able to carry on. Most notable are the eight honorees who received awards for their Faith in the Future – people who not only have big visions, but who know how to roll up their sleeves to put equity into action.

We celebrated the explosive growth of the agency and announced the creation of our new Center for Healthy Aging (more to come!). We acknowledged this pivotal moment in our history that has come about through partnerships across our whole community.

Due to the storm, we could not show the tribute video of our honorees, so we are posting it for your personal viewing at the link below. There is also a link to our event program, and the Executive Summary of our 2022 Annual Report. We hope you will share these widely with your circles.

Our mission lives and breathes and continues to grow because we are in community with all of you. Together, we affirm dignity, now and forevermore.

Beth A. Broadway

President/CEO

P.S. We are grateful to OCC’s Dr. Warren Hilton, Sue Tormey, the arena staff, and to Melanie Littlejohn and the National Grid team who worked so hard to restore power throughout the evening. 

Faith In Our Future - Honoree Video

The 2023 Faith In Our Future Honorees: 

Michael Balanoff, Esq.

President & CEO

Jewish Federation of CNY

Sharon Brangman, MD

Distinguished Service Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Department Chief, Geriatrics

Upstate Medical University

Dom Cambareri, Esq.

Executive Director, Syracuse Challenger Baseball; Founder & Board Member

Carrier Park Field of Dreams Athletic Complex

Ruth Chen, PhD

Professor of Practice

Syracuse University College of Engineering & Computer Science

Anthony Davis

Superintendent

Syracuse City School District

Sharon Owens

Deputy Mayor

City of Syracuse

Tim Saka

Board President

CNY RISE Center

Kent Syverud

Chancellor & President

Syracuse University

InterFaith Works would like

to thank the generous sponsors

and supporters of the

2023 InterFaith Leadership Award Dinner

Event Presenting Sponsors/

Honorary Co-Chairs

Dr. Baljinder Singh and Gurvinder Kaur & Sikh Foundation of Syracuse

Leadership Sponsors

The Ahmad and Elizabeth El-Hindi

Foundation

The Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman

Foundation

Honoree Presenting Sponsors

Bethany Baptist Church

Cambareri & Brenneck, PLLC

Jewish Community Center of Syracuse

Jewish Federation of Central New York

Stickley Furniture | Mattress

Upstate Medical University

The Hon. Ben Walsh

Mission Hope Community

Justice Sponsors

Nancy and William Byrne

Project C | National Grid

Stickley Furniture | Mattress

Diversity Sponsors

Dr. Mustafa Awayda and Dr. Fatme

Allam

Crouse Health

Loretto

Collaboration Sponsors

The Rev. Monsignor Ronald C. Bill

Bousquet Holstein PLLC

Cambareri & Brenneck, PLLC

Anthony Davis

Ferrara Fiorenza PC

Catherine Gerard and Joseph

Moorman

Elaine and Steve Jacobs

John and Candace Marsellus

Mercy Works Inc.

Onondaga Community College

Foundation

Elaine Rubenstein

Syracuse University

Faith Community Collaboration

Sponsors

Bethany Baptist Church

Cazenovia Welcomes Refugees

The Episcopal Diocese of CNY

Islamic Society of Central New York

Mission Hope Community

Rangrig Yeshe, Dzogchen Ati Ling

Center

The Rev. John Rose

Temple Concord

Faith Community Sponsors

Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ

CNY RISE

The Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints

Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra

Shas

The Epstein School

North Side Learning Center

Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse

Syracuse Community Hebrew School

Syracuse Hebrew Day School,

Women Transcending Boundaries

DONATIONS

In Honor of Michael Balanoff

Judy and William Licker

In Honor of Dr. Sharon Brangman

Karen Clark

In Honor of Dr. Ruth Chen and Chancellor Kent Syverud

Mary Roberts Bailey and Jack S.

Bailey

Susan and Jeff Bastable

The Book Club

Carol Decker

Karen Low and Dr. Dana Radcliffe

In Honor of the El-Hindi Center for Dialogue & Action

Cheryl and Edwin Willner

In Memory of Mark Wasmund

Jeanne and Jamal El-Hindi

InterFaith Works affirms the dignity of each person and every faith tradition, builds racial and religious equity, and creates bridges of understanding among us.