2025 Award Recipients
JFS Lifetime Philanthropy Award
Thelma & Richard Florin
The Florins have spent decades bringing their limitless energy, leadership skills, and resources to vital community projects. Through their unwavering philanthropic support, dedication, and commitment to JFS and Rachel Coalition, they’ve played an instrumental role in helping us build a healthier and stronger community. Thelma and Richie have been involved with JFS since the late 90’s, both as loyal donors and engaged volunteers. Thelma was a founding member and past chair of Rachel Coalition, the domestic violence division of JFS. Thelma and Richie endowed the Florin Education Series, a yearly educational event, which brings in renowned speakers to raise awareness about domestic violence. They also significantly contributed to JFS with the naming of the Florin Family Library, Family Support Center, and the Florin Family Waiting Room. Richie was instrumental in helping at the Run for Rachel and other Rachel Coalition events by donating personalized “swag bags” for all participants. Thelma and Richie have also served on many local Jewish organization boards and have supported many local programs, including at their synagogue, Temple B’nai Jeshurun.
JFS is proud to recognize Thelma and Richie Florin with the JFS Lifetime Philanthropy Award. They are so deserving of this special honor. We are thankful for their support.
JFS Community Partner Award
New Frontier
New Frontier, a strategic marketing and web development agency based in Millburn, has proudly partnered with JFS and Rachel Coalition for over a decade. Most recently, New Frontier created the jfsmetrowest.org website, allowing the agency to showcase its services in unprecedented ways and enabling website visitors to seamlessly support the agency. New Frontier added creative touches to the JFS website such as an “escape” button on the domestic violence page to ensure domestic violence victims can safely exit the website without their search history being detected.
Founded in 2012 by former JFS Vice President, David Sorkin, this 12-member agency has been called a New York-style agency with the accessibility and cost control of a small business consultancy, sharing the same in-house talent and industry leading creative resources as the larger agencies, without the red tape and overhead found at larger counterparts. Most recently, New Frontier has expanded its reach through “StoreFront” a program recognized by the State of New Jersey for its positive impact on over 200 small businesses and countless charitable efforts statewide. Visit newfrontier.com/storefront to learn more.
We are honored to present New Frontier with the JFS Community Partner Award and look forward to many more years of impactful collaboration and partnership.
JFS Community Impact Award
Terri Friedman
Terri Friedman is a long-time volunteer for Rachel Coalition and in the broader Jewish community. She has served on the Rachel Coalition Steering Committee and currently co-chairs the Rachel Coalition Outreach Committee, raising awareness of domestic violence in our community and fundraising to support Rachel Coalition domestic violence counseling and legal programs. Terri also serves on the JFS Fundraising Committee.
Terri is a member of the Board of Trustees of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest where she recently served as the Vice Chair for Federation’s Centennial Local Community Engagement and as a Vice-Chair for the 2023 Centennial Mega-Mission to Israel. She also serves on the Boards of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest’s Women’s Philanthropy as well as National Women’s Philanthropy for Jewish Federations of North America. Terri is the current co-chair of the JCC Metrowest New Jersey Jewish Film Festival and has held additional leadership positions at her synagogue and other area nonprofits.
Terri prides herself on being a connector and a convener. She encourages friends, family, and even strangers to join her in both service and philanthropy. Terri and her husband Mark live in Livingston, NJ where they raised their family. We are thrilled to present Terri with the JFS Community Impact Award recognizing the significant contributions Terri makes to our community.
JFS Maxine Myers Volunteer Award
Howard Medow
Howard Medow has been volunteering with Reading Buddies since 2019, where he started at Redwood Elementary. During the pandemic, he pivoted to meal and care package delivery to at-risk older adults and Holocaust survivors which he continues to the present day. When Reading Buddies returned in-person in 2022, so did Howard, who now volunteers at Betty Maddalena, a Pre-K for students with disabilities where he is beloved by students and teachers alike. Howard is dedicated, flexible, and always willing to step up where needed to make sure the program is running smoothly and the kids are getting the attention they need. Howard credits his wife, Marion who is a JFS Past President, with inspiring him and their adult children to volunteer. Volunteering is a Medow family tradition.
We are thrilled to present Howard with the JFS Maxine Myers Volunteer Award!
