- April 3, 2025
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Lori and Jay Solomon, president and CEO of Aviva Senior Living
Photo by Janet CombsJulie Pietrantonio and Dina Phillips
Photo by Janet CombsAmy Eliezer with Erwin and Carol Segal
Photo by Janet CombsAlex Kryssine and his wife, Leatha Pfanmiller
Photo by Janet CombsDavid Lipton and Isabel Becker dine with David's son, Brian, and Wendy Feinstein.
Photo by Janet CombsAlways smiling are Esther Rose, Mickie Kaye, Leon and Marge Ellin and Bart Levenson.
Photo by Janet CombsFormer board President Randy Mallitz with board Treasurer, Gordon Metsky.
Photo by Janet CombsKathy and Paul Easley with Maria Leonardo, and Bal Agrawal
Photo by Janet CombsHelene Rosenberg and Buddy Mishkin
Photo by Janet CombsCarryl Alexander said, "I'm 98!", Linda Lipson (no age divulged!), and Carolyn Kaplan, not to be overshadowed said, "I'm 99!"
Photo by Janet CombsDolly Fogel is a young 84, and her friend and fellow resident, Gigi Hersh, is 96.
Photo by Janet CombsAnnette Paige, Paige Paige, David Klein and Sandy Klein
Photo by Janet CombsWith a career in newspapers around the country spanning over 40 years, Linda Lipson has many colorful stories to share.
Photo by Janet CombsA Jersey Girl from Passaic, former Out-of-Door Academy teacher Carolyn Blau has contributed a piece of her artwork to the silent auction.
Photo by Janet CombsTrustee Sheila Birnbaum with her husband, Jerry
Photo by Janet CombsSally Schule with Chief Development Officer Karen Zelden
Photo by Janet CombsCarol Somers and Joe Bornstein with the artwork contributed to the silent auction.
Photo by Janet CombsAviva residents participate in an art program, and several donated to the silent auction.
Photo by Janet CombsPresident and CEO Jay Solomon with Iris Starr
Photo by Janet CombsCarol Hochman Dierksen, Dina Phillips and Barrie Lazarus
Photo by Janet CombsMaria Leonardo and Harriet Borgida
Photo by Janet CombsEdie Chaifetz, Judy Fox, Pam Adelstein, and "Yes, one name, just like Cher" Chop
Photo by Janet CombsEllis Lasberg, Rabbi Rachel Dulin and Bernice Lasberg
Photo by Janet CombsCynthia Deveaux-Moona and Karyn D. Hartline
Photo by Janet CombsMaria Leonardo and Ernie Kent
Photo by Janet CombsKaren Zelden, chief development officer, emcees the Aviva Keep the Dream Alive event.
Photo by Janet CombsRabbi Rachel Dulin presents a message of hope to the Aviva guests.
Photo by Janet CombsCharlene Altenhain and Andrea Lane
Photo by Janet CombsSusan Steenbargar celebrated her 75th birthday at the event.
Photo by Janet CombsHarriet Koren
Photo by Janet CombsMary Katz, Gerry Ronkin, Meredith Dropkin, Bonnie Southern, Phil McElfresh, Jason and Mary Collier and James Lynch
Photo by Janet CombsMarsha Eisenberg and Jeremy Lisitza
Photo by Janet CombsThe Island Boys provided the night's music.
Photo by Janet CombsMichael's On East serves up a tasty trio for dessert.
Photo by Janet CombsSuncoast Florist designed the table centerpieces.
Photo by Janet CombsIf you aren't familiar with the Hebrew word tzedakah, it means "charity and justice," and that is what Aviva's Keep the Dream Alive event is all about.
With skyrocketing numbers of seniors living below the poverty level in America, Aviva Senior Living pushes back with a Benevolent Care Fund, which assures residents will not be moved out of their homes when they outlive their financial resources.
Michael's On East hosted the event on Nov. 13 with 160 guests in attendance. With a cocktail hour before dinner, invitees enjoyed mingling and mixing with the residents who painted lovely descriptions of life at Aviva. Through the art program on-site, several resident artists donated their works to be placed in the silent auction.
Chief Development Officer and emcee Karen Zelden kicked the event off, and Rabbi Rachel Dulin opened with a prayer. President and CEO Jay Solomon gave an eloquent speech explaining how these situations arise and told the story of his own grandmother who outlived her finances. Speaking from the heart, Solomon left only a few eyes dry in the room.
Aviva is a Jewish senior living community, and many people in attendance were leaving Sarasota the next day for Washington, D.C., where a March for Israel was taking place. With over half a million predicted to march, guest Jeremy Lisitza explained that a private plane was taking 170 people from the Sarasota/Manatee/Tampa Bay area for the day.
