Congratulations to Suzie Katz, Dayton’s 2016 Kipnis-Wilson Award Winner! This national award, to be presented at the 2016 Lion of Judah Conference in September in Washington D.C., is named for Lion of Judah founders Norma Kipnis-Wilson and Toby Friedland z”l. It honors the most inspiring women in our communities across the United States.
Susie Katz was born and raised in Dayton, and married her childhood sweetheart, Eddie, to whom she has been married for 41 years. After completing graduate school at the University of Virginia, Susie and Eddie moved back to Dayton, where she became involved in the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.
She joined the Young Women’s Division of the Jewish Federation, and held two terms as Chair. Susie served on the UJA’s National Young Leadership Board, and chaired their committee on Russian Jewry. She served as a campaign trainer for the UJA National Speaker’s Bureau, traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada assisting communities with their campaigns.
Susie has been a Lion of Judah for 25 year years and maintained her gift as a Ruby Lion for 4 of those 25 years. She has served our local community in many ways building the Federation’s Annual Campaign through her commitment to all the ideals of the United Jewish Appeal.
In recent years, Susie has returned to leadership for the annual campaign through her co-chairing of our Presidents Dinner. This newly instituted annual campaign signature event has reenergized giving in the Dayton Jewish community. Susie’s significant contribution to the event has been identifying and mentoring new leadership and developing a comprehensive and compelling story of how one gift impacts so many lives.
Susie Katz has contributed greatly to the broader Jewish community through her leadership as president of Beth Abraham Synagogue’s board for six years. She has also been involved in the Dayton Art Institute’s Auxiliary Board and has volunteered for numerous community organizations, providing leadership in their fundraising initiatives.
Of all her accomplishments, Susie is most proud of her family, especially her beautiful children and grandchildren. She has also inspired our Federation to develop an innovative program for PJ Library linking local grandparents with their grandchildren wherever they are, set to launch this fall.
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