Federation to Honor Howard and Sharon Rich

Howard and Sharon Rich will be honored as lifetime leaders by the Jewish Federation of the North Shore on Sunday, August 9. The “Lifetime of Leadership” Community Campaign Event for major donors will take place at a private harbor side home in Marblehead and will feature Combined Jewish Philanthropies President Barry Schrage. Shrage’s speech will focus on building a Jewish future and finding opportunities in difficult times.

Long-time Marblehead residents, the Riches have been devoted to the Jewish community for decades. A past Federation president, campaign chair and endowment chair, Howard is a member of the executive committee and a life board member. Sharon, a Ruby Lion, rose through the ranks of women’s division, becoming its president and chair of Lion of Judah. She is a life board member of the general and women’s division boards. The couple has numerous charitable interests. Howard is chair of the board for the North American Family Institute, a social service organization, and a board member of the Boston Biomedical Research Institute and the Peabody Essex Museum. Sharon is on the board of the Boston Ballet. They attribute their philanthropic involvement to the influence of family who set the tone for them. 

“It is about community and giving back,” explained Sharon of their activism, “We take tzedakah as a moral imperative. It means justice, and it is the right thing to do. It is a priority and we take it seriously. If youíve been lucky, you have the capacity to make a difference not just with money, but also by participating. How can you not support the Federation? There are so many needs in these tough times.”

The commitment of the Riches to the Jewish community on the North Shore, in Israel and elsewhere overseas, has not gone unnoticed by good friends and honorary co-chairs for the event, Judy and Shep Remis.

“They have been exemplary leaders for decades, and they continue to be so now in terms of time, energy and resources,” says Shep Remis, who shares the Rich’s commitment to the Federation.

“The Federation plays a critical role in terms of central planning and fundraising for institutions in our community,” adds Remis, “It needs and deserves the support of the entire community, especially in these difficult times.”

The evening, also hosted by Diana and Marc Cooper, is from 5 to 7 p.m. and will include cocktails and hors díoeuvres. For more information, contact the Federation at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).