David T. Brown, of Chicago, was elected Chairman of the Board of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago during the Federation's 112th annual meeting today.
The Jewish Federation helps fund and provide human welfare services to 300,000 Chicago-area residents of all faiths, and helps 2 million Jews in need in Israel and worldwide. It also supports Jewish education and community-building programs locally and overseas.
"Our Chicago community is second to none, it is strong and vibrant. Our Jewish Federation is second to none, and our commitment to Israel is second to none. But we cannot rest on our laurels," Brown said, addressing 1,400 members of the Federation and invited guests at a noon-time meeting at the Chicago Hilton.
"We must all work together to reach new heights, to build our community, our campaign, and the next generation of leaders. Together we can make a lasting difference," he said.
Brown, 52, accepted the gavel from outgoing Chairman, Skip Schrayer, who called his successor "a decisive leader with an incredibly wide-ranging knowledge base, and an extraordinarily quick study. He challenges people to think past what they thought was possible and find creative solutions to today's most pressing issues."
In his professional life, Brown is Chairman of the law firm, Much Shelist, P.C. He previously served as Chair of the firm's Management Committee for 13 years. He is a regular speaker and writer on numerous topics, including business planning and succession, and the business aspects of the legal profession. He is a member of the American, Illinois and Chicago bar associations, and of the WPO Chicago Chapter.
His volunteer service to the Jewish community is long-standing and distinguished. Most recently Brown chairs the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation's Overall Planning and Allocations Committee. He has served as End of Year Chairman for the organization's 2004 and 2008 fundraising campaigns; Chair of the Government Affairs Committee, where he presented the JUF's position on important policy issues to government officials in Washington, D.C. and Springfield, Illinois; President of the Young Leadership Division; and was a recipient of the JUF's Young Leadership Award.
Brown is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and chairs JFNA's Human Services and Public Policy Council where he works closely with professional leadership in JFNA's Washington, D.C. office and lay leadership throughout the United States on health and long-term care issues, care of the aged, disability and tax policies. Brown is active in AIPAC and is a regular visitor to Israel.
Brown has run in the Chicago Marathon nine times on behalf of the American Liver Foundation and most recently the American Cancer Society, and has served as founding chair of the American Liver Foundation's marathon steering committee.
Brown and his wife, Suzanne Muchin, live in Chicago with their five children. They are members of Anshe Emet Synagogue.
"I am honored today to have the opportunity to serve our community as Chairman of the Board, and to continue in the tradition of the leaders who have come before me," Brown said.
