Bill Benedikt, President, Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, announced the appointment of Alan Mirkin and Bruce Sherman as 2009 General Campaign Co-Chairmen.  Mr. Benedikt noted that, “Alan and Bruce are experienced and well-trained Federation leaders who will guide the Annual Campaign during these challenging times.  Both men have served in many volunteer roles within the Federation, and are not afraid to implement new community fundraising strategies.”

            Alan Mirkin, the immediate Past President of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, Budget Committee Chair, and member of the Planning, Implementation and Evaluation Committee (PIE), has previously served as President of the JCC, Treasurer of the Altshuler Akiva Academy, and Vice-President of Temple El Emeth.  In the general community, Alan has served as a board member of the Youngstown Area Agency on Aging, Leadership Youngstown, United Way-Financial Board, and the Western Reserve Health Foundation.  He is the recipient of the 1993 Abe Harshman Young Leadership Award of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation. 

            Bruce Sherman, currently serves on the Federation Board as a Past President and Chair of the PIE Committee.  He was President of B’nai B’rith Mahoning Lodge #339 from 1978 – 1980, and continues to be an active member.  A former Board member of Rodef Sholom Temple and the Commission for Jewish Education, he currently is a member of the Rodef Sholom Brotherhood and the Zionist Organization of America, Youngstown District.  Bruce’s community involvement includes serving as Past President and current Board member of the Youngstown State University Alumni Society, Past Board Chair and current board member of Leadership Mahoning Valley, and a board member of Interfaith Home Maintenance and the Children’s Center for Science and Technology.  He is a recipient of the 1987 Abe Harshman Young Leadership Award, the B’nai B’rith Guardian of the Menorah Award in 1996 and the 2008 Youngstown Area Zionist Organization of America K’far Silver and Justice Louis Brandeis Award.