This year, we are thrilled to honor Reenie Kavalar as our CEEBJ Volunteer of the Year. Reenie's volunteer accomplishments are wide-ranging and deep -- from CEEBJ to the JCC, JCRC and Tikkun Ha-Ir. Her volunteer work touches virtually every corner of CEEBJ and its programming and we are so lucky to have her.

At CEEBJ, she is currently the Vice President for Social Action on the CEEBJ board, spearding Mitzvah Day, meals for various non-profit organizations, Get out the Vote initiatives, and various speakers.  She has done much to advance CEEBJ environmental work -- shepherding the Salinsky fund -- managing the garden and funding requests, leading efforts for composting and sustainability.  And she works on all manner of special projects -- from finding grant opportunities to helping Rabbi Berkson with the monumental task of organizing and clearing out many years of books and documents. On any given day you can find Reenie tackling the Baron Museum, the kitchen or even the basement. Although Reenie's volunteer work at CEEBJ seems like it would fully fill her plate, for Reenie, it is only one of the many places where she gives back -- She serves as an Officer of the Board of the JCC, volunteering twice a week at the Jewish Community Pantry and serving on the Pantry's steering committee, and leading the task force of the JCC Volunteer Hub. She is the JCC Appointee to the Jewish Community Relations Council, a frequent volunteer at Tikun Ha-Ir and a regular canvasser for Grass Roots Glendale.

In her professional life, Reenie worked as a Physical Therapist for 35 years, most recently 15 years with National Easter Seals developing programs for people with disabilities. She has served in many capacities both locally and nationally with the Wisconsin chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association and continues to volunteer with the Scholarship committee and as the Election Chair for the organization. Reenie and her husband Gary are the proud parents of Becca, Deborah and Jake, who were all part of CEEBJ since birth and were Bat/Bar mitzvah here. Becca and family continue to be members. They have five grandchildren, all in Milwaukee - Adelyne, Ian, Elliott, Cameron, and Owen.

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