JFS Announces Reel Hope-Take 14 Honorees
Community leaders Brent and Julie Morse, and businessman David Friedman will be honored at Reel Hope-Take 14, on Thursday, December 3, 6:30 p.m., at Regal Cinemas Continental Theatre, 3635 S. Monaco Pkwy. Reel Hope, an event of Jewish Family Service (JFS) in partnership with Variety of Colorado, benefits the programs of Jewish Family Service. Doors open at 6 p.m. and early arrival is advised for best seating.
Reel Hope, the perennially sold-out movie fundraiser, is in its fourteenth year. The festivities will feature the awards presentation, a JFS agency video, and a special movie screening of Summit Entertainment’s New Moon, the second installment of Stephenie Meyer’s successful Twilight romance series. Variety of Colorado, the children’s charity with its roots in the entertainment industry, provides event support and secured this year’s film.
Brent and Julie Morse will be presented with the Jack Shapiro Community Service Award for their outstanding longtime support and service to JFS and other community organizations. Brent owns several companies, which focus on acquiring oil and gas properties throughout the United States. Julie worked as an audiologist for several years and more recently worked as a bookseller at Tattered Cover Book Store.
David Friedman, president of D.H. Friedman Properties, LLC, a real estate development company whose projects include commercial and residential properties primarily in the Denver Technological Center area, will be honored with the Kal Zeff Business Leader of the Year Award.
Event co-chairs are Sheryl Goodman, and Rocky and Suzi Miller. This year’s event is also expected to be a sellout and JFS advises everyone to act now to reserve their seats. Tickets are $180 per seat and include a boxed dinner. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Information: Lynn Cooper, development associate, (303) 597-5000, ext. 365, lcooper@jewishfamilyservice.org.
Brent and Julie Morse, Jack Shapiro Community Service Award
About five years ago, Brent Morse met with JFS President & CEO Yana Vishnitsky and sought to volunteer for JFS in some capacity. “I said I didn’t want to sit on a board or fundraise, but wanted to directly work with JFS clients,” says Brent. “Yana gave me a tour of both JFS and SHALOM Denver and I decided to be a volunteer delivery driver with the Weinberg Food Pantry.” For the past five years, Brent has delivered food monthly to homebound people. “I really enjoy the relationships I’ve formed with the people to whom I deliver food, and feel that I am truly helping them since they cannot get out of the house on their own.” Brent and Julie have also generously supported JFS for many years.
In addition to their support of JFS, the Morses are active members of the community. Individually and as a couple they serve on several boards and committees, and have chaired many events.
While Brent and Julie are humble about receiving the Jack Shapiro Community Service Award at Reel Hope, Brent says, “We are happy to support and to be directly involved with such a great organization that does so much for the community. By enhancing the lives of others, we experience personal growth.”
David Friedman, Kal Zeff Business Leader of the Year Award
David and his family have a long-standing relationship with JFS. His brother, Brad, and his father, Sheldon, were past board chairs. Sheldon received the Business Leader of the Year Award in 2002. David is proud to follow in his father’s footsteps by being honored with the same award this year.
David’s commitment to JFS started more than 20 years ago. He was a member of the JFS board in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was instrumental in many real estate decisions since JFS left the Allied Jewish Federation building in 1992. David found space and negotiated the initial lease and expansions at Empire Park on behalf of the agency. David then headed the real estate committee that was responsible for the long-range plan of purchasing and owning both the SHALOM Denver building and JFS’s current home, the Joyce and Kal Zeff building, debt-free.
David has been involved with the JFS Executive Luncheon the past few years and was a co-chair for the event last year. He also served as the emcee for last year’s Annual Meeting.
“My greatest achievement with JFS is that I was part of the committee that interviewed and ultimately chose to promote Yana Vishnitsky to her current position of president & CEO,” says David.
Photos of the honorees are available upon request.
