The third Annual JUF’s Ben-Gurion Society (BGS) Luncheon, on May 7 at Winston & Strawn, celebrated Jewish honorees of Crain’s Chicago Business 2014 40 Under 40. Crain’s 40 Under 40 honors dealmakers, innovators, risk-takers, and job creators, all who have reached the top of their fields before their 40 ^th birthdays. The event was chaired by Steven Levine, with a host committee of 21.

Highlighting the sold-out program was an interactive panel, featuring three 40 Under 40 honorees-Lindsay Avner, Founder & CEO of Bright Pink, Zach Kaplan, Founder and CEO at Inventables, and Matt Spiegel, Senior Vice President and General Manager of MediaLink. The panelists told the audience about ventures past and present, challenges they’ve overcome, and words of wisdom.

BGS is a national donor recognition society for young adults, ages 25-45, who make a contribution of $1,000 or more to JUF’s Annual Campaign. BGS embodies David Ben-Gurion’s legacy that men and women use their passion and resources to build a strong and responsible Jewish community at home, in Israel, and around the world.

Thanks to the generosity of a group of former JUF Young Leadership Division Campaign chairs and board presidents, any new 2015 JUF Annual Campaign gifts of-or increases to–$1,000 will be matched, doubling the impact of the gift. Sixty new BGS members have already been secured through this match fund.