Wanted: CEO for Foundation for Jewish Camp

Now that Jerry Silverman is leaving for the UJC, the Foundation for Jewish Camp needs a new CEO.

COO Maggie Bar-Tura will serve as the acting CEO while the organization searches, its president Skip Vichness told me this afternoon. A search committee is in place and it will consider candidates from both inside and outside the organization.

POISED FOR THE FUTURE
Foundation for Jewish Camp Seeks New CEO to Replace Silverman

July 6, 2009 (New York, NY) – The Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC), widely recognized as one of the leading Jewish nonprofits in North America, announced today that CEO Jerry Silverman is leaving to assume the position of President/CEO of the United Jewish Communities. He will remain at the Foundation for Jewish Camp for another three months.

"We are proud of Jerry’s new appointment and wish him well," said Skip Vichness, Foundation for Jewish Camp board chair. "After five years at the helm, Jerry leaves a great legacy, helping to propel FJC into a major force igniting the Jewish camping movement. The Foundation is well-poised to continue its mission, and we look forward to partnering with Jerry and the UJC as we continue to further our work of making Jewish camp available to every Jewish child in North America."
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The Foundation for Jewish Camp, headquartered in New York City, is the umbrella organization for all North American nonprofit Jewish overnight camps. A public foundation with an annual budget of over $22 million, FJC raises awareness of and support for Jewish summer camps, highlighting their outstanding track record for building powerful Jewish commitment in young Jews. The Foundation works with nearly 150 Jewish camps, 70,000 campers and 10,000 counselors across North America to further its mission of increasing the number of Jewish children at camp.

Vichness has already appointed FJC board member Lee Weiss, founder and Managing Partner of Family Endowment Partners of Boston, to head the search committee to replace Silverman. The committee has begun an aggressive search for the new CEO and is comprised of both FJC board members, including FJC founders Elisa Spungen Bildner and Rob Bildner, as well as major Jewish funders and philanthropists.

"I am confident that the search committee will select an inspiring and visionary professional who shares FJC’s ideals and entrepreneurial spirit. We are looking at individuals from the private as well as nonprofit sectors," Vichness said. Silverman is a former for-profit CEO.

"And, I am very confident," Vichness continued, "that given the tremendous level of integrity and competency among FJC’s staff, headed by COO Maggie Bar-Tura, and its dedicated and highly professional working board, that the Foundation will continue to excel in its work as it looks for a CEO who can take the organization to a new zenith in carrying out its mission."

Individuals interested in being considered for the CEO position should contact Vichness or Weiss through Amy Kruglak, Director, Human Resources at 617-581-6819 or amy@jewishcamp.org.

For further information, contact Skip Vichness at skipv@nyc.rr.com or Elisa Spungen Bildner at 973-220-9677 or esbildner@gmail.com.
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