PHILADELPHIA, Pa., April 25, 2022 —More than 300 Philadelphians attended Jewish National Fund-USA’s Tree of Life™ Gala at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue on Thursday, April 7, 2022, to honor global healthcare leader, Steven H. Collis, for his longtime philanthropic support of the land and people of Israel and Jewish people everywhere.
Dale Danilewitz (JNF-USA EPA Board President, Co-Chair, Century/Negev Council), Erin Miller (Co-Chair, Sapphire Society), Steve Collis (Tree of Life™ Honoree), Michala Collis, Russell F. Robinson (JNF-USA CEO), Jordan Collis
Friends, family, colleagues, philanthropic associates, and Jewish National Fund-USA leaders attended the gala, where Collis was presented with Jewish National Fund-USA’s prestigious Tree of Life™ Award — the organization’s highest honor — in recognition of his outstanding community involvement, professional leadership, dedication to the cause of American Israeli friendship, and a devotion to peace and the security of human life.
Dale Danilewitz, JNF-USA Eastern PA Board President, Co-Chair, Century/Negev Council
Collis, the Chairman, President, and CEO of AmerisourceBergen Corporation, a global healthcare solutions leader, is also a member of Jewish National Fund-USA’s Eastern Pennsylvania Board of Directors and has played a crucial role in helping the nonprofit organization realize its vision to ensure a bright, prosperous future for the Jewish homeland, particularly supporting crucial projects in Israel’s Negev and Galilee regions. Three of those projects that benefit the developing world were highlighted at the gala, including:
- The Arava International Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT), which teaches professional agricultural knowledge and skills to students from developing countries
- The Kasser Joint Institute for Food, Water, and Energy Security, a partnership of Jewish National Fund-USA, The University of Arizona, and the Arava Valley, which aims to solve some of the world’s greatest environmental challenges such as how we can feed 9.7 billion people by 2050
- And Special in Uniform, one of Jewish National Fund-USA’s most treasured affiliates in Israel that integrates Israeli teenagers with disabilities into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and in turn, into Israeli society
Samantha van Adelsberg (JNF-USA Director, EPA), Cara Barsky (Co-Vice President, JNFuture, EPA), Eli Plaut, Audrey Fein, Evan Benedon, Ryan Green, Dane Berkowitz, Juliet Stein, Alex Freedman, Josh Wigler, Sarah Goldenberg, Nate Hammel (President, JNFuture, EPA), Dani Barsky (Co-Vice President, JNFuture, EPA), Mitch Benedon, Alex Lebowitz
(center) Molli Weisband, Michelle Marowitz
In addition to his charitable investments and leadership role with Jewish National Fund-USA, Mr. Collis is a founding Vice Chairman of the American Cancer Society’s CEOs Against Cancer Pennsylvania chapter and serves on the Board of Governors for the American Red Cross. Furthermore, Mr. Collis served as past Chairman of American Friends of Meir Medical.
Professionally, Collis has led AmerisourceBergen through strategic investments and acquisitions, resulting in the expansion of services and solutions, unprecedented customer partnerships, global reach, and expertise that is shaping healthcare delivery.
For more information, contact Marina Furman, JNF-USA Executive Director, National Major Donor Advancement at 215.832.0690 x860 or MFurman@jnf.org.
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About Jewish National Fund-USA
JNF-USA is the leading philanthropic organization for Israel that supports critical environmental and nation building activities in Israel’s north and south. Through its One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade, JNF-USA is developing new communities in the Galilee and Negev, connecting the next generation to Israel, and creating infrastructure and programs that support ecology, individuals with special needs, and heritage site preservation.