Staff
Sam Hoenig, Founder and President. Sam has had over 40 years of experience with foreign and domestic agricultural and land-related projects. He has assisted the United States Department of Agriculture and Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and coordinated agricultural transfer initiatives between the United States and Israel. Sam has also served as a consultant to the Minister for Agricultural Affairs to North America at the Israel Embassy in Washington. In addition, Sam is a member of several civic committees in Cleveland including the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, The Ohio Jewish Communities, and was Chairman of Kol Israel Foundation. Prior to becoming President of The Negev Foundation in 1991, Mr. Hoenig spent seventeen years as Regional Executive Director of the Jewish National Fund in Ohio. He attended Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the University of Wisconsin. He later went on to the Hebrew Union college and University of Southern California for Master’s degrees in Education and Nonprofit Administration.
Alain de Wolff, Director, OIACI. Alain was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and raised in Antwerp, Belgium. He holds an MBA in International Business, with a specialization in intercultural business relationships. For more than 25 years, he has supported primarily European and Israeli companies in successfully entering and expanding into new markets. His expertise is particularly focused on navigating regions with diverse cultures, languages, and business environments. Throughout his career, he has traveled extensively, visiting more than half of the countries worldwide. He is fluent in five languages and has working knowledge of two additional languages, enabling him to operate effectively across a wide range of international settings. Outside of his professional work, he is deeply committed to his family and enjoys spending time with his wife and twins. His personal interests include singing, traveling, reading, and actively supporting Jewish communities.
Karen Cohn, Marketing and Communications Manager. Karen has 40-plus years of experience as a visual communicator/marketing professional for both corporate and not-for-profit organizations. Born and raised in New York, Karen studied Art History and Archeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem before returning to the States to complete her studies in Graphic Design at the School of Visual Arts. Karen comes to The Negev Foundation from ORT America, where she was the Associate Director of Marketing. In this role, she was responsible for the design and production of all digital and print communications, including email, social media, newsletters, website pages, printed matter, and presentation graphics. In her spare time, Karen enjoys long-distance cycling and watercolor painting.
Kathleen Downey, Office Manager. Kathleen supports the organization’s daily operations, donor services, and administrative systems with care, accuracy, and attention to detail. Kathleen believes every donation represents a person’s trust and generosity, and she is committed to ensuring donor records, communications, and financial reporting are handled thoughtfully and accurately. With a background in nonprofit administration and communications, Kathleen enjoys creating organized systems that help the organization serve its mission more effectively. She values the relationships behind the work and appreciates the opportunity to support both her team and the broader community in meaningful ways. Outside of work, Kathleen enjoys baking, cooking, gardening, reading, and spending time with her family and pets. She especially loves working outdoors and creating gardens that have become a favorite part of the neighborhood for people passing by on their daily walks.
Board and Trustees
Richard J. Bogomolny, Founding Board Chair,
Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Sam Hoenig, President
Cleveland, OH
Stuart A. Mintz, Esq., Of Counsel
Cleveland, OH
Thomas Adler, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Cindy Attias, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Victor Cohn, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
David Goldberg, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Robert Goldberg, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Patricia M. Kozerefski, Trustee
Gates Mills, OH
Yankele Moscovitz, Trustee
Ramat HaNegev, Israel
David Rosenblum, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Tricia Rosenblum, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Joseph M. Shafran, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Of Blessed Memory
Morten Cohen, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Yoel DeMalach, Trustee
Ramat HaNegev, Israel
S. Lee Kohrman, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Shirley H. Levy, Founder, Trustee
Beverly Hills, CA
Jack N. Mandel, Founder, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Art Naperstek, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Shmulik Rifman, Trustee
Ramat HaNegev, Israel
Norton W. Rose, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Seymour Sacks, Trustee
Paradise Valley, AZ
Star Sacks, Trustee
Paradise Valley, AZ
Colette Serruya, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Robert Stein, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Ruth Viny, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Jerry Weinberger, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Ruth K. Viny, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Robert L. Stein: Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Marvin Kelner, Trustee
Cleveland, OH
Colette Serruya, Founder, Trustee
Israel
Philanthropic Partners
Jewish Federation of Palm Springs
Palm Springs, CA
David and Inez Myers Foundation
Cleveland, OH
Legacy Heritage Fund
New York, NY
Jack and Florence Berlin Foundation
Menifee, CA
Milton and Tamar Maltz Family Foundation
Cleveland, OH
Hod Foundation
New York, NY
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
New York, NY
Jewish Federation of Cleveland
Cleveland, OH
Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
Seattle, WA
Levy-Markus Foundation
Beverly Hills, CA
Jack N. and Lilyan Mandel Fund
Joseph C. and Florence Mandel Fund
Morton L. and Barbara Mandel Fund
Cleveland, OH
Merage Fund
Greenwood Village, CO
Mr. Francis Minkoff
Geneva, Switzerland
Richard and Patricia Bogolmony
Cleveland, OH