JFS of Metrowest Honors Outstanding Community Leaders at 2014 Seize The Dream Gala

Online, April 11, 2014 (Newswire.com) - JFS of Metrowest is pleased to announce that Leslie and Jonathan Gerber of Holliston, Robin Welch of Framingham, and Ellie and Barry Shrage of Chestnut Hill will be honored at the annual Seize the Dream Gala event on May 4th, 2014 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center from 6-9 PM. This year's gala will be catered by 25 local food providers.

Seize the Dream honors area leaders and volunteers who have demonstrated an unfailing commitment and personal dedication to supporting vulnerable children, families, and senior adults in the local community. This year's honorees have made it their life's work to stand up for those left behind and it is a privilege to recognize these exceptional individuals.

Leslie and Jonathan Gerber: Leslie sits on the JFS Board of Directors and Jonathan is Chief Trading Officer and owner at Horizon Technologies, which specializes in information storage and display products. For many years, Jonathan and Leslie have quietly worked on behalf of vulnerable children and families, supporting JFS' Reducing Achievement Gaps and Family Assistance initiatives. As founders of an annual holiday gift drive, they have changed the holiday season for more than 1,500 local children.

Robin Welch: Robin is a member of the JFS Board of Directors and recently retired as Principal of the Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Framingham. Robin is an education leader and advocate for low-income children and their families - many of whom are immigrants striving for a better life - and consistently demonstrates that children's lives should be filled with hope. In addition to Robin's investment in child and family success, he has a strong passion for the arts and has worked in children's theatre since 1975.

Ellie and Barry Shrage: Ellie is a Certified Development Specialist and has worked for the past fifteen years at Thom Charles River Early Intervention Center with children from birth to age 3 with developmental delays and disabilities. Ellie also serves on the boards of Gateways, the Children's Advocacy Center of Suffolk County and was on the original board of Etgar L'Noar. Barry has served as President of Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) for 27 years and has reshaped the focus of Boston's Jewish federation to strengthen Jewish education, engage the next generation and build connection to Israel through community-to-community and people-to-people partnerships. He helped to develop CJP's Economic Response, which provided crisis funding to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, including isolated seniors, immigrants, the unemployed and people with disabilities.

To learn more about JFS, order tickets to the event, or view the event's on-line auction, visit www.jfsmw.org