J Life Fall 2025

FALL 2025 Vol. 9 | Issue 3

Welcomes Our community New Leaders Three Dynamic

CONTENTS

12 Neighbors Network keeps local seniors engaged 16 Local mom turns experience hosting refugees into charming children’s book 18 Longtime Canine Companions volunteer is full of puppy love

28 Chaim Society unites Jewish medical professionals 38 The Bridge Theatre brings The Diary of Anne Frank back for local students this fall 42 JNF-USA leads humanitarian efforts in Israel

A Little Bit of Hocus Pocus When it’s Dress Like a Magician or Wizard Day at The Roth

Family JCC’s Camp J, Estelle Kimlat doesn’t have to look very far for inspiration. This young camper dressed up as her own father, Kostya Kimlat, a real-life professional sleight- of-hand magician, theatrical mentalist, and founder of the magician booking company, See Magic Live. Hundreds of kids had a blast this summer at Camp J, and now that school is back in session, we’re already wishing someone would wave a magic wand and transport us to next summer.

In the Central Florida community, everyone’s from somewhere, right? With our region’s culture steeped in tourism and domestic/international travel, we’re never shy about welcoming new faces from around the country and the world, and the local Jewish community recently rolled out the red carpet for a trio of new leaders from as far away as Australia! ON THE COVER

Cover photo by Chip Colandreo

They’ve come to Central Florida to lead essential Jewish agencies that serve kids, college students, and elder adults. Turn to page 6 to meet Marylander Dr. Brocha Baum-Margolese, Missourian Rabbi Jordan Gerson, and Australian Wayne Green.

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IN EVERY ISSUE

FALL 2025 | VOL. 9 | ISSUE 3

AROUND TOWN A Night at the Catskills Brings Laughter, Nostalgia, and Community

PUBLISHER Samantha Taylor ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Chip Colandreo MANAGING EDITOR

SPONSORED BY

YOUR VOICE IN ISRAEL

From the President Something to Talk About A Humanitarian Hub

40 41 42

MAZEL TOV Summer Camp Sweethearts Celebrate Their 60th Anniversary 44 An Exciting Turn of Events 45 Sneakers That Fit Campaign Laces Up 45

COMMUNITY CORNER

To Subscribe or Read Previous Issues, Visit Us Online at JLIFEORLANDO.COM

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

Dear Readers,

When my family moved to Orlando in 1987 from East Brunswick, New Jersey, the very first stop my parents made was the JCC in Maitland. It was there they found a Realtor to help us buy a home, enrolled my brother in preschool, and signed me up for after-school tennis lessons. The JCC felt like home from the very beginning. My parents made friends, and before long, so did my brother and I. That was our entry point into the Orlando Jewish community. Nearly 40 years later, so much has changed. Synagogues have come and gone, a new JCC was built on the south side of town, and our Jewish agencies have grown and evolved. Our community has celebrated great joys and weathered challenges – but through it all, one thing has never changed: the indomitable spirit of the people, whether they be longtime residents or newcomers to our area. And that’s exactly what J Life magazine is all about.

In this issue, I’m excited to introduce three new leaders who bring fresh energy and vision to Orlando. Dr. Brocha Baum-Margolese joins Gotlib Jewish Academy as head of school, guiding our youngest learners. Rabbi Jordan Gerson steps in as CEO of Central Florida Hillel, inspiring

and supporting our college students. And Wayne Green launches the S’firot Foundation, ensuring our community’s seniors receive the programming, care, and respect they deserve. Together, they represent three pivotal stages of Jewish life – and each brings an inspiring story of why Orlando was the right place for them. Beyond these stories, you’ll also find big updates from the Rosen JCC, news from Shalom Orlando and Jewish Pavilion Senior Services, Israel coverage from JNF-USA, and so much more.

Our Jewish community may not look the same as it did when my family moved here four decades ago, and it will no doubt evolve again over the next 40 years. What will always remain is the responsibility we share to sustain it – for ourselves, for our children, and for the generations to come. As we enter the High Holiday season, I wish you and your loved ones a year filled with good health, joy, and meaningful connections. Shanah Tovah!

If you have information you’d like to share with J Life, please call 407-324-2644, or email Samantha@Jlifeorlando.com.

If you enjoy reading J Life magazine, we humbly ask you to consider supporting us. Visit JLifeOrlando.com/support to make a commitment of $ 18 (or any amount you wish).

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New leaders of essential local organizations have come from across the country – and the world! – to inject new life into Central Florida’s Jewish community

Here, There, and EVERYWHERE!

Gotlib Jewish Academy welcomes its new head of school – a leader who believes in helping people tap into their own special talents

Empowering Others Is Her Superpower by Laura Breen Galante

T his summer, Gotlib Jewish Academy (GJA) welcomed its new head of school – Dr. Brocha Baum-Margolese, an experienced educator whose goal is to build on the school’s already strong foundation. “My goal as a Head of School is to lead from behind,” says Brocha, “to allow experts to do what they do best, to empower our teachers to be the best teachers they can be, to empower directors to be the best directors they can be. I work hard to allow everyone to tap into and express their own talents.” Gotlib Jewish Academy (formerly Jewish Academy of Orlando) introduced Brocha to the community with the following social media post:

Dr. Brocha Baum-Margolese with staff members at Gotlib Jewish Academy.

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The closeness and the culture of a shared mission was so strong across the board that it really did change my mind about making a move sooner.”

“Dr. Brocha is deeply committed to academic excellence and fostering a vibrant Jewish school culture. Her passion for education, teacher

empowerment, and community is already evident, and she shares our excitement for GJA’s mission. She brings the perfect balance of strategic vision and personal warmth.” Brocha is relocating to the Orlando area from Baltimore, Maryland, where she founded the Darchei Noam Montessori in 2009 and has been serving as its head of school. She holds a teaching certificate in K-12 Judaic studies, an American Montessori Society

(AMS) teaching credential, a bachelor’s degree in business, a master’s degree in educational leadership, and a PhD in educational administration. Sooner Rather Than Later Brocha grew up in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, and later lived in Israel and New Jersey before moving to Baltimore about 18 years ago. In recent years, Florida has been on her radar as a place where she might want to live and work, in part because she has family here. When a recruiter reached out to Brocha about GJA’s head-of-school position, the timing seemed fortuitous.

– Dr. Brocha Baum-Margolese

“It was at the same time that the school I founded was going through wonderful growth,” says Brocha, who realized it was time for her to step back from Darchei Noam Montessori. Timing aside, Brocha wasn’t completely sold on making the leap this year to a new job in a new city – until she visited Orlando and met members of the local Jewish community. “I saw the Shalom Orlando campus and met the alumni who are now board members, educators, or directors in some capacity of Gotlib Jewish Academy,” says Brocha. “The closeness and the culture of a shared mission was so strong across the board that it really did change my mind about making a move sooner.” She was hired on July 1 and spent the summer traveling back and forth between Baltimore and Orlando. Brocha and her husband Binny will officially move here later this year. Brocha says she isn’t planning to make any major changes at GJA because the school is already in such a good position, thanks to Chana Ben-Abraham, the previous head of school. “Chana has set it up for

tremendous growth, so I feel I’ve been handed the school on a silver platter,” says Brocha. “The leadership and administrative team are so capable and fantastic,” says Brocha. “My goal is to be able to support the staff in what they’re doing and to be able to help them develop and continue to grow.”

Jacqui Drazen McGrail, director of school operations, Samra Gotlib, Brocha, and Daniel Gotlib

Gotlib Jewish Academy’s new head of school is Dr. Brocha Baum-Margolese.

Brocha’s six children

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Central Florida Hillel’s new executive director is eager to lead the Jewish student organization to even greater success

An Offer He Couldn’t Refuse

by Kevin Fritz

T here’s a new rabbi in town, and he’s prepared to take Central Florida Hillel to new heights. Rabbi Jordan Gerson began his tenure as the Jewish student organization’s executive director in June. Central Florida Hillel, headquartered right off the University of Central Florida’s main campus, serves UCF, Full Sail University, Valencia College, and Seminole State College. Previously, Jordan was the Silk Foundation campus rabbi/chief experience officer serving Hillel at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Express Yourself The Central Florida Hillel position finds Jordan serving Jewish students from a much larger campus than what he was used to. Washington University is home to 8,000 undergraduates, compared to UCF’s 70,000. Jordan is more than ready for the task and wants to ensure that all Jewish students here are seen and heard. “There are many different ways to express Judaism,” he says. “It’s all about students learning and developing a practice authentic to themselves.” Jordan’s rabbinic path began at an early age, even though a career as a rabbi was not officially on his radar then. “I grew up in a Zionist household and have always been deeply connected to my Jewish identity,” says Jordan. “I actually liked Hebrew school.” Jordan remembers a rabbi from his confirmation class being impressed with his knowledge and encouraging him to become a rabbi, too. Nevertheless, Jordan enrolled in premed

“This was an opportunity I could not pass up,” he says. “I love WashU, but I believe the UCF Hillel is poised to be the flagship for the entire Hillel movement.” Jordan learned about the opening at Central Florida Hillel as a participant in the Debra

S. and Joseph S. Weinberg Accelerate Executive Advancement Program, an 18-month leadership development program designed to create dynamic leaders within the Hillel movement. “I saw all UCF had to offer,” says Jordan. “After 11 years in the movement, I decided this is where I want to be.”

studies at Binghamton University in New York, where he continued to be involved in the Jewish community.

Over time, however, Jordan found heightened meaning and enjoyment in the Jewish sector and left premed behind, eventually attending the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies

Rabbi Jordan Gerson is the new executive director of Central Florida Hillel.

in Los Angeles, California. He was ordained in 2011 and served as a rabbi in Pensacola, Florida, for three years.

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I believe the UCF Hillel is poised to be the flagship for the entire Hillel movement.” – Rabbi Jordan Gerson

Making a Change “I loved it, but I wanted to change people’s lives,” says Jordan. “I remembered college and my involvement with Hillel and Chabad. So, I went back to St. Louis [at WashU’s Hillel].” Jordan indeed made a difference in students’ lives at WashU, and he is ready to do the same

In addition, he plans to empower students by teaching them how to bring Hillel to other groups on campus, such as clubs, fraternities, and sororities. And, Jordan intends to roll out a microgrant initiative that would enable students to host holiday celebrations and other events in their own spaces. Jordan and his wife Rebecca live in Oviedo with their three daughters (ages 15, 12, and 8) and one son (4). The Gersons chose to settle there to be close to the UCF campus, so Jordan can invite students into their home, augmenting their Hillel experience. “Hillel can show students the various ways to enhance Judaism,” says Jordan. “Hillel is a major asset to the Jewish world.”

at Central Florida Hillel. He intends to create an enhanced Hillel experience here with the help of colleagues Dr. Jeff Levin, senior Jewish educator, Andie Gerszuny, director of development, and JAFI Israel Fellow Liri Goshen. Among Jordan’s initiatives, his primary goal will be to increase student engagement with Hillel. Although he says last school year’s engagement number of 2,000 students was positive, Jordan wants to take those figures to record levels moving forward. Jordan will also continue to tap into his vast knowledge of Birthright Israel, a program that offers free heritage trips to Israel for young Jewish adults. While at Washington University, he led 15 transformative Birthright Israel trips. Paramount to Jordan’s agenda will be listening to the needs of students and developing programs and activities around their requests.

Central Florida Hillel is a warm and welcoming space for Jewish students and their friends at UCF and surrounding colleges.

Jordan enjoying a St. Louis Cardinals game in his previous home of Missouri.

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Wayne Green, new executive director of the S’firot Foundation, has helped people of all ages in every corner of the world, and he’s now here to enhance the lives of local seniors

From Australia With Love (for Seniors)

by Chip Colandreo

D own under, they call it Aussie-dox – a uniquely Australian blend of Jewish Orthodox traditions distilled from those who somehow, someway, made it to the Diaspora’s final frontier. And there, in the island continent’s southwestern coastal city of Perth, Wayne Green fit perfectly into this eclectic menagerie. “Perth is one of the most remote cities on Earth,” Wayne explains, noting that about 80 percent of those who live in the entire western half of Australia call Perth home. “There is a small but strong Jewish community there.”

Foundation with a simple but powerful mission to reinvest millions of dollars every year back into Central Florida’s elder- adult community. The needs of this 60+ population are more diverse than ever before, and it’s now Wayne’s job – along with his dedicated Board of Directors – to engage the local community to thoroughly assess those needs so the Foundation can create the most impact with its funding. “The ability to care for older adults, and to ensure that they live out their lives with dignity, love, support, and wellness is something I’m extremely passionate about,” says Wayne, whose first job during his university years in Perth was at the local Jewish old-age home. He then went on to build a stellar career in philanthropic and nonprofit management in Australia, the U.K., and the United States. “Our goal at the S’firot Foundation is to work with

Wayne was born in South Africa, where a large community of Jews settled in the late 1800s. Political and cultural instability in the early 1990s prompted many of those Jewish families to move again, which is what brought 14-year- old Wayne to Perth. After college. Wayne and his family settled in Melbourne, Australia, home to a thriving Jewish community. In fact, Melbourne is home to the largest population of Holocaust survivors outside of Israel. His grandmother remained in South Africa, and Wayne’s fond memories of her would lay the foundation for the career opportunity that recently brought him half-a-world away to his new home here in Central Florida. Wayne is the new (and first) executive director of the S’firot Foundation, an initiative born from the Kinneret Apartments, a decades-old elder-living community in downtown Orlando. When the buildings were sold in 2022, the proceeds were used to create the S’firot

the community to best support both older adults and their caregivers. What are the existing initiatives that we can continue to fund and help them build capacity? Also, what is new out there in the sector that is not in Central Florida, and how can we bring those ideas here?” Wayne is especially proud of his deep experience with Giving Circles, groups of like-minded philanthropists who pool their donations to fund causes close to their collective hearts. One of the signature groups Wayne organized was

Wayne Green, the new executive director of the S’firot Foundation

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Together, we can do so much. If I can

a gay men’s Jewish Giving Circle in New York during the COVID pandemic. Their first donation, ironically, was to an organization that provided tablet computers to older adults who were isolated and cut off from friends and relatives during the pandemic. Only Wayne, a South African-born, Aussie-dox Australian, could rally a group of gay Jewish men to direct their philanthropic hearts to seniors. Now, Wayne is bringing his love and appreciation for seniors and his extensive experience in building and managing philanthropy to his new home of Central Florida. “Together, we can do so much,” he says. “If I can bring life and kindness and gather together the organizations that care for our elders and help them all do their best work – how lucky am I to do that? My favorite childhood memories are of my grandmother’s flat in Cape Town, surrounded by family at Shabbat dinners during holiday breaks with the

bring life and kindness and gather together the organizations that care for our elders and help them all do their best work – how lucky am I to do that? ” – Wayne Green

smell of the ocean outside. I want to help so many more seniors be engaged, connected, and make memories like that. It’s a gift I hope to bring to this community and to this work.”

Wayne outside the South Carolina home where he lived during the Covid pandemic

Wayne and his beloved grandmother during a cable-car ride up the Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa

A global adventurer, Wayne has worked, lived, and traveled in many of the most iconic cities around the world.

Wayne and his family at his sister’s home in Melbourne, Australia

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A local nonprofit organization lends a helping hand to those ages 55 and older who need assistance

by Charlotte Skipper Neighborly

MIGHTY F or older adults, the world can become more isolating with each passing day. Simple tasks might become difficult, and reaching out to neighbors could feel awkward. Fortunately, Neighbors Network is here to help seniors combat the loneliness and isolation that can come with aging. Neighbors Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013, connects active older adults with volunteers who assist them with remaining independent and engaged in their communities. Cathy Lieblich, president of the organization, says many older adults can safely avoid moving to senior living communities with just a little assistance every now and then. “We’re helping people thrive,” says Cathy. “More people are staying independent and staying connected to the community because of Neighbors Network.” Neighbors Network assists anyone age 55 or older who lives in Maitland, Eatonville, Winter Park, Casselberry, Fern Park, Orlando north of Colonial Drive, College Park, Baldwin Park, and Altamonte Springs below State Road 436. Volunteers are not required to reside in one of those areas. A Community-Minded Approach A fter paying an annual fee ($300 for an individual; $400 for a household of two or three people), network members gain access to volunteers who can drive them to appointments, take care of tasks around the house, or even just sit and chat. While seeking assistance from an adult care agency works in some situations, it lacks the emphasis on community togetherness that Neighbors Network offers. “We’re trying to be an intentional community,” says Cathy. “It used to be that neighbors always helped neighbors, but this doesn’t always happen, or some people may not even know their neighbor. We’re providing this community of people who will help each other when it’s needed, and they truly spend time together. It’s all about that community of belonging.” After a background check, volunteers are given a list of tasks and times that have been requested, allowing them to help out as their schedules permit. Although the main goal of Neighbors Network is to assist its members, the volunteers often benefit, too. Emily and Marty Glickstein of Maitland have volunteered for eight years with Neighbors Network, frequently driving members around town or assisting them at their homes.

< Emily and Marty Glickstein have volunteered with Neighbors Network for eight years.

The camaraderie that Marty has developed with those he helps has given him a greater appreciation for his community and the people in it. “The members trust us to come to their home or drive them around, and I trust them,” says Marty. “It’s a feel-good venture. It always feels great to help others. It’s a win-win.” In addition to providing individual visits, Neighbors Network organizes monthly outings for members and volunteers. Get- togethers have included boat tours, crafting days, and museum visits, giving everyone an opportunity to enjoy a fun day out on the town. In a world where many people barely know the folks living next door to them, Neighbors Network helps build true connections. Cathy believes it’s the simple things – from changing a light bulb for someone or chatting with them on the phone – that go a long way toward making the world a better place. “Doing a mitzvah feels just as good for the person being helped as it does for the volunteer who’s doing something meaningful for somebody,” says Cathy. “Everyone will get something good out of it.” ^ Marty Glickstein with a member of Neighbors Network

For more information, visit NeighborsNetworkFL.org.

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AROUND TOWN

A Night at the Catskills Brings Laughter, Nostalgia, and Community The Holocaust Center of Florida brought the spirit of New York’s iconic Catskills resorts to Orlando with A Night at the Catskills , held recently at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Guests stepped back in time for an evening of comedy and live entertainment, presented with a retro flair. Local performers channeled the spirit of the legendary Jewish resorts that launched some of America’s greatest comedians, filling the evening with laughter and charm. Guests enjoyed a lively celebration of a cherished cultural tradition, complete with cocktails and light snacks. The program blended entertainment with purpose, celebrating Jewish history, community, and resilience through the timeless joy of comedy. From tap dancing to music to quick-witted jokes, the show delivered an unforgettable experience to an enthusiastic audience. The Holocaust Center extends its gratitude to the Dr. Phillips Center, New Generation Theatrical, and the Florida Theatrical Association for their partnership in making the evening possible.

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Author Emily Raij’s latest children’s book was

Putting Out the inspired by her own family’s experience playing host to a refugee mom and her kids Welcome Mat

by Emma Dixon

T he Torah teaches us to treat strangers well, remembering that the Jewish people have been strangers, too. “The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives

for educational publisher Capstone. To date, she has written more than 50 books on topics ranging from science and animals to careers and holidays. In 2017, Emily felt called to offer

among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:33-34) Emily Raij and her family have personally lived this tradition of welcoming strangers. A contributing writer for J Life magazine, Emily is also a prolific children’s book author. A native of Chicago, Illinois, she now lives in Winter Park with Andrew, her husband of 17 years, and their two children, Tilly (15) and Adam (12). Emily’s latest book, Just Say Welcome , has a deeply personal

help and support to a refugee family after becoming disheartened by the political climate regarding people from other countries. As a Jewish person, Emily wanted to reach out to the Muslim community, which was especially impacted during this time. After contacting a local Islamic center, Emily mentioned that she had a guest room for a family in transition. A case worker reached out, and mom Ana, son Youssef, and daughter Dani, both high schoolers,

The Raij family: Tilly, Andrew, Adam, and Emily

were on Emily’s doorstep the following day. “I didn’t really know how to prepare before they arrived,” says Emily, “so I bought halal food at a market, got the guest room ready, and moved the kids into our room, so that their rooms could be used by the teens.” The family, originally from Iraq, lived in Libya and then Turkey before coming to the United States. Finding Common Ground “I was nervous, but when Ana came and gave me a big, tearful hug on my driveway, I knew it would be OK,” says Emily.

meaning to her. It’s based on her family’s experience hosting a refugee family in their home, and how that experience changed both families for the better. A Storyteller at Heart Emily’s writing journey began early, when she was a child in elementary school. “I’m one of those people who always loved writing and always knew what I wanted to do,” she says. After graduating with a degree in journalism from Northwestern University, Emily began working as a freelance writer and editor

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“We shared meals and stories and realized how much we had in common,” adds Emily. “We went shopping at the mall, visited the Orlando Science Center, went to an indoor trampoline spot, and played outside. Ana said she hadn’t seen her kids smile and sleep soundly like that in years. Tilly and Dani bonded over music and Moana . Youssef showed Adam soccer tricks. We all ate falafel and couscous.” After a week, Ana and her

Just Say Welcome , which will be released on September 9, can be found wherever books are sold. To learn more, visit EmilyRaij.com.

I think we can probably all be more welcoming

Author Emily Raij’s latest book, Just Say Welcome , is based on her family’s experience hosting a refugee family.

Emily also serves on the boards of Temple Israel and Kinneret Council on Aging, is a program director for Jewish Pavilion Senior Services, and is a representative on the Jewish Community Relations Council. “I think we can probably all be more welcoming in our daily lives,” says Emily, “and doing so can really improve our communities and relationships. It all starts with listening to people’s stories, sharing your own, and saying ‘Welcome.’ I honestly think it can be that simple.” in our daily lives and doing so can really improve our communities and relationships.”

children moved from Emily’s home into an apartment in Orlando, beginning their new lives here. Both kids graduated from high school, and Youssef joined the Army. Like Emily, Tilly has fond memories of the time her family spent with Ana, Dani, and Youssef. “The best thing about sharing our home was connecting with Dani,” says Tilly. “I looked up to her. It was really cool to have somebody in the house be like an older sister for a week.” In addition to her writing career, Emily is also deeply involved with her local Jewish community. “Our synagogue, Temple Israel, has been a place where my family felt welcome immediately and where we’ve been able to build community,” she says.

– Emily Raij

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Pawprints on Her Heart

FOR THREE DECADES, THIS WINTER PARK WOMAN HAS BEEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN HER COMMUNITY AND BEYOND AS A CANINE COMPANIONS VOLUNTEER

by Jill Duff-Hoppes

F or Nancy Baumann, there was simply no turning back once she started volunteering for Canine Companions. The national nonprofit organization, founded in 1975, provides greater independence to children, adults, and veterans with disabilities through the help of expertly trained service dogs, at no cost to the recipient. “It’s a very, very powerful circle of love that goes ‘round and ‘round,” says Nancy about why Canine Companions holds such a special place in her heart. “I’m very passionate and committed to the organization.” A Winter Park resident and dog lover, Nancy has been involved with Canine Companions in various capacities for

“The biggest question I always got was, ‘How do you give them up?’ And my answer always was, ‘You truly are giving your heart away on a leash,’” says Nancy. “But rather than cry about giving them up, you’re so joyful about the life that they’re going to have, and that you’ve had such a part in it.” Nancy ranks her experiences as a puppy raiser as some of her fondest memories. Her first Canine Companions puppy was Isaac, which her son Ross helped raise as his bar mitzvah project. In addition to her son’s bar mitzvah party, Nancy threw a bark mitzvah for Isaac, who went on to have a successful career as a service dog.

Longtime Canine Companions volunteer Nancy Baumann, and a cute puppy, with singer Kenny Loggins at a fundraising gala for the organization.

A Dream Come True “When you get that phone call that your dog has been matched [with a client],” Nancy says, “it’s pretty high up there with your big joys in life.” Currently, Nancy’s house is also home to Chandra and Heaven, both Canine Companions change-of-career dogs, meaning they were released from the organization’s training program for various reasons. Instead of working as service dogs, they now do therapy work in the community. In addition to her time spent as a puppy raiser, Nancy has introduced friends and community leaders to the organization who have become volunteers and supporters. Nancy also helped launch the Southeast Region’s annual fundraising gala

30 years. She is on the board of directors for the organization’s Southeast Region and for a time served as its president. Her first job was stuffing envelopes as an administrative volunteer at the Southeast Regional Center, which at the time was housed in a small warehouse in Altamonte Springs. “I checked them out while they were checking me out,” recalls Nancy, who quickly fell in love with the organization and its mission. Nancy became a puppy raiser, going on to raise eight dogs for the organization. Puppy raisers care for Canine Companions dogs for the first 18 months of their lives, teaching them basic commands and providing love and socialization until it is time for them to leave for professional, advanced training.

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The Canine Care Center Lobby of the Canine Companions Southeast Training Center in Orlando is called the Baumann Lobby, in honor of Nancy Baumann and her husband Jeffrey.

and served as the event’s chair for many years. She has done so much for the organization, in fact, that a Canine Companions puppy was named Baumann in her honor. The dog went on to become a prolific breeder, siring more than 450 Canine Companions puppies. Cathy Rodgers, executive director of the Southeast Region of Canine Companions, is grateful for Nancy’s devotion to the organization. “Nancy has been the kind of volunteer every

nonprofit dreams of,” says Cathy. “She doesn’t just give her time, she also brings others along with her, making the mission personal to everyone she meets. We are so thankful for Nancy’s involvement with Canine Companions and our mission throughout the years.” However, as far as Nancy is concerned, she is the fortunate one. “I’ve always felt that I got more from them [the dogs and the organization] than I could give,” she says. “It is so rewarding – a sense of being, a sense of connection, a sense of making a difference.”

Nancy cuddles an adorable Canine Companions puppy.

It is so rewarding – a sense of being, a sense of connection, a sense of making a difference.”

– Nancy Baumann

The Southeast Region of Canine Companions will have its Independence Is Golden gala on October 25 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando. Canine Companions, a national nonprofit organization, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT CANINE.ORG.

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Senior Life