Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy invites you to join us for the Susan S. Pritzker Signature Luncheon honoring Women’s Philanthropy leaders Karen Getelman and Marlyse Scherr and featuring guest speaker Samantha Ettus. You will also hear an update on the many ways our Federation is addressing the ongoing crisis in Israel.

Who: Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy
What: 2023 Pritzker Signature Luncheon honoring Karen Getelman and Marlyse Scherr
When: Tuesday, December 12th, 2023│11:00 AM Registration • 11:30 AM Program
Where: Luxe Hotel│11461 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Registration for this event is now closed. If you would like to attend, please contact Lauren Shorten at LShorten@JewishLA.org or (323) 761-8306.

Guest Speaker:
Samantha Ettus

Author, speaker, and TV contributor Samantha Ettus was named one of 2021’s 100 Women of Impact by Entrepreneur Magazine. She previously devoted her work to guiding women toward financial independence through a fintech company that she built over five years and recently sold. However, in the wake of the October 7th massacre, she has shifted her focus to being a full-time activist fighting antisemitism and supporting Israel.

Sam is a bestselling author of five books, a renowned speaker, and co-hosted iHeart’s leading women in business podcast. Sam was a long-time contributor to Forbes and hosted a nationally syndicated call-in radio show. She has made hundreds of TV appearances and has spoken on stages across America from TEDx to Fortune 500 companies.

Sam earned both her undergraduate and MBA degrees from Harvard. She co-founded the Los Angeles Women’s Collective, aimed at supporting women in national races. She serves on the advisory board of the Forbes School of Business and Technology and Sparks and Honey. Sam is the mother of three teenagers.

Our Honorees:

Karen Getelman
2023 Rita Reznikoff Leadership Award Recipient

Karen Getelman has been active in the Los Angeles Jewish community since she and her family moved to Los Angeles 27 years ago. A Miami native, she was active in her Jewish high school youth group and developed a love of Israel and her strong connection to her Jewish community after attending Alexander Muss High School in Israel during her senior year. Karen currently serves as chair of the Federation’s Caring for Jews in Need Strategic Initiative, as a Federation board and Executive Committee member and as co-chair of Sylvia Weisz Woman’s Philanthropy (SWWP) Lion of Judah Endowment. Most recently, Karen served as co-chair of SWWP and has held a number of positions over the years on both the SWWP board and Valley Alliance board, including Major Gifts co-chair of the Valley Alliance. Karen has been a proud Lion of Judah since 2004, and she has received a number of Federation awards for her dedication and service, including the Golda Award, the Women’s Campaign Award, and the Valley Alliance Young Leadership Award. 

Karen has also been an active and long-standing board member and Executive Committee member of her synagogue Valley Beth Shalom. She continues to serve as co-chair of the Diller Advisory Committee and she previously served as the chair of the Jewish World Watch Walk to End Genocide and as a board member of University Women at American Jewish University. Additionally, Karen volunteers her time assisting those in need as a Community Change Agent for the Change Reaction and provides volunteer counseling services for clients at the VBS Counseling Center. 

Karen received a Bachelor of Science degree from Tulane University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida. She has been married to her husband Mark for 35 years and together they have three children, Nicole, Zachary, and Jayme. They are excited to celebrate Nicole’s wedding to Yaron Kariv this April. 

Marlyse Scherr
2023 Doris Factor Leadership Award Recipient

Marlyse Scherr has a deep-rooted commitment to community and leadership within The Jewish Federation. Her journey into the heart of community service began with a twist of fate. She met her husband on a Birthright trip in 2012, sparking a lifelong connection to her Jewish heritage and a shared commitment to making a difference.

At the heart of Marlyse's dedication is her passion for cultivating the next generation of leaders within the Jewish community. She sat as the Chair of YALA, now known as NuRoots, and currently sits on the NuRoots board, where she has continued to support programs that provide innovative pathways for young Jewish adults to engage and connect. In recognition of her early leadership, Marlyse was honored with the Women's Young Leadership Award in 2018. This prestigious accolade highlights her exceptional contributions and dedication to the local Jewish community, particularly in empowering and mobilizing young adult lay leaders.

For the past six years, she has enjoyed being a part of the National Leadership Cabinet for the Jewish Federations of North America where she has not only built lifelong friendships but has been able to see the direct impact of The Jewish Federation’s efforts to support and enliven Jewish communities across the globe.

Marlyse, alongside her husband Adam, co-chairs LA Couples, fostering a vibrant sense of togetherness and shared purpose within the community. Beyond their community work, Marlyse and Adam are the proud parents of two incredible children, Adelaide and Carter. They are raising their children in the rich tapestry of a strong Jewish community, instilling in them the values of service, leadership, and profound connection to their heritage.

Tracy Berger, Stephanie Jacobs, Allison Martini, Darcy Silver, Dana Simon
Pritzker Signature Luncheon Co-Chairs

Laura Ozer and Linda Schwimmer
Sylvia Weisz Women's Philanthropy Co-Chairs

Kathi Mangel and Lauren Schiff
Sylvia Weisz Women's Philanthropy Vice Chairs

Special thanks to Jeanne and Tony Pritzker for underwriting the series as a loving tribute to Tony’s late mother, Susan S. Pritzker. The goal of the Pritzker series is to feature dynamic and educational presentations by top professionals, appealing to women of all stages of life.

By signing up to attend this event, you agree to irrevocably grant to The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles — and to their employees, agents, and assigns — the right to take your photograph, record you, or use your image, silhouette, and/or other reproductions of your physical likeness, as well as your voice and/or words, for all purposes related to marketing and promotion of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, across all media. These rights are granted in perpetuity. You hereby certify and represent that you are of at least 18 years of age and have read the foregoing and fully understand the meaning and effect thereof.