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UJA Federation Of Greater Toronto Leadership Biographies

Ted Sokolsky, President, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
David Engel, Chair of the Board, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
Peter Ekstein, United Jewish Communities 2005 General Assembly Host Community Co-Chair
Debbie Kimel, United Jewish Communities 2005 General Assembly Host Community Co-Chair
Julia Koschitzky, United Jewish Communities 2005 General Assembly International Chair

Ted Sokolsky, President, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
Ted Sokolsky assumed the presidency of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto following a successful five-year term as the organization’s vice president, Integrated Fundraising. A native Torontonian, Sokolsky began his communal career with B’nai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO) in 1972, moving to Canadian Friends of Haifa University as campaign director, before joining UJA Federation in 1986. At UJA, Sokolsky has served as senior campaign associate, associate campaign director, annual campaign director and vice president, Integrated Fundraising. Under his leadership UJA Federation’s Annual Campaign grew from $34 million in 1995 to a record $65 million in 2003, making it the third largest campaign of its kind in North America; he has managed the planning and implementation of Jewish Toronto Tomorrow, a groundbreaking initiative that will invest $1.5 billion in the Greater Toronto Area – the largest-ever redevelopment of Toronto’s Jewish community infrastructure – and is overseeing the restructuring of the federation Foundation that has resulted in the rapid expansion of its assets from $23 million to nearly $130 million over a five-year period.

Sokolsky was a regular faculty member of United Jewish Community’s Continuing Education courses and was honored as the winner of the Vivian Rabineau Award for Outstanding Achievement in Federation Fundraising. He was an active volunteer as a Big Brother for the Native Children’s Centre and served as a member of the Fundraising Cabinet for United Synagogue Day Schools of Toronto.

Sokolsky is a graduate of York University’s Sociology program.

David Engel, Chair of the Board, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
A native Montrealer, David Engel became UJA Federation of Greater Toronto chair in June 2005. He began his career in 1978 with Federation CJA of Montreal as chair of the Young Leadership Division. Engel has held many other roles within UJA Federation, including chair of the annual Walk with Israel, chair of Campaign 2000, and treasurer.

Secretary Treasurer of the Canadian Marketing Association, Engel owns the specialty printing company Innovative Graphics, which helps marketers increase their response rates.
He is a graduate of McGill University and continued to pursue a Masters in Science degree at the Rochester Institute of Technology in printing technology.

Peter Ekstein, United Jewish Communities 2005 General Assembly Host Community Co-Chair
Peter Ekstein sits on the board of directors for the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, and has held numerous leadership roles there including Campaign Cabinet, the Real Estate Division, Volunteer Relations, Walk for Israel, and telethons. Ekstein is the CEO of the Weston Forest Group of Companies, which he owns together with his brother.  The company is a wholesaler, distributor, and re-manufacturer of forest products to more than 45 countries around the world. He is a past recipient of the annual Phil Granovsky Award for Campaign Excellence. 

Debbie Kimel, United Jewish Communities 2005 General Assembly Host Community Co-Chair
Debbie Kimel is a member of the Jewish Toronto Tomorrow Leadership Campaign Committee.
She is a past chair of Women's Campaign and Advocacy Committee and was the first chair of the Lion of Judah Endowment in Toronto. She was awarded the Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award at the 2004 International Lion of Judah conference and is also the recipient of the Phil Granovsky Award for Campaign Excellence, 2001 and the Golda Meir Award, State of Israel Bonds, 2003. Kimel also serves on the boards of Baycrest Hospital, Jewish National Fund, and Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation.

Julia Koschitzky, United Jewish Communities 2005 General Assembly International Chair
Julia Koschitzky serves as a vice chair of UJC’s Board of Trustees, is a member of its officers team and the Israel and Overseas Pillar. She served as chair of the Toronto UJA Women’s Division Campaign and co-chair of the Toronto UJA campaign. Koschitzky serves as an officer of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, chair of the Israel Now Consortium, and chair of the Israel Advocacy Committee. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Canadian Jewish News and was president of the United Israel Appeal of Canada. In addition to her involvement in the Jewish community, Koschitzky is a member of the Board of Trustees of the York University Foundation and is chair of the Advisory Committee, Centre for Jewish Studies at York University. Mrs. Koschitzky served as chair of the Keren Hayesod World Board of Trustees and has been actively involved with the Jewish Agency for Israel, serving as a member of the Board of Governors, a member of the Executive, and is co-chair of the Jewish Agency’s Education Department. Koschitzky is the recipient of many awards in recognition of her distinguished career of service.