Almost 500 people attended The Rashi School’s annual fundraising dinner on Wednesday, May 16, at the Boston Marriott Newton. This year the school honored Heidi and Lew Pearlson with the prestigious 2018 Kehillah Award for their outstanding leadership and commitment to the school, as well as the local community.

The Pearlsons have served, and continue to serve, in many leadership roles at The Rashi School, making a profound impact on its development and success. Heidi is a member of the budget and finance and executive committees of the Board of Trustees; she is also immediate past board treasurer. Lew has served on the development committee and volunteered his time in the school’s athletics department. Over the years, they have opened their home and graciously hosted countless parent and student socials and gatherings where all have felt welcome. At sporting events, they have cheered for every child participating and warmly greeted every family.

Heidi and Lew are very dedicated to the broader community and hold leadership positions in Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP), Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JF&CS), Facing History and Ourselves and more. They are the proud parents of two Rashi alumni, Joshua ’17 and Harrison ’14, both of whom attend The Rivers School. Both boys were in attendance at the gala. A highlight of the evening was a video that paid tribute to the wonderful work of the Pearlsons. Joshua and Harrison Pearlson, as well as many close friends, were featured in a heartfelt and emotional video that captured the generosity, spirit and dedication of Heidi and Lew.

“We were thrilled to present Heidi and Lew Pearlson with this prestigious award,” stated Head of School Mallory Rome. “Their work on behalf of The Rashi School is truly exceptional. The Pearlsons embody Rashi core values and have contributed to our community for years with their time, effort, heart and soul. These two individuals set such a wonderful example for all of us.”

Heidi Carter Pearlson is a founder and managing partner of Adamas Partners, LLC, which runs two hedge fund fund-of-funds products. Prior to Adamas, Heidi worked as an investment consultant at Cambridge Associates. Heidi holds a BA in law and public policy from Brown University and is a graduate of the Yale University School of Management. Lew Pearlson served as director of investor relations and a partner at LCB Senior Living, LLC, a real estate development and management company of senior housing communities. He worked as vice president at State Street Global Advisors and as director of investor relations for Sowood Capital Management LP. Lew holds a BA in economics from Tufts University and an MPPM from the Yale School of Management.

The Rashi School also honored Liza Comart (Rashi ’06) with the 2018 Tikkun Alum Award. Currently, Liza is living in Lesvos, Greece, working at a refugee camp supporting those who have sought asylum from the instability and violence of their home countries. She collaborates in the development of a forest-based kindergarten program that integrates the refugees residing at the camp with local Greek children. Liza accepted her award via video. The program also included remarks from outgoing CJP president Barry Shrage, who, it was announced, will be joining The Rashi School Board of Trustees. The evening was enhanced with special introductions and addresses by various members of the Rashi Class of 2018.

This year’s event co-chairs were Kathy and Scott Cohen, Laure and Hal Garnick, and Sonya and Sean Wilder. The Rashi School’s annual dinner is the school’s largest and most important fundraiser of the year.

About The Rashi School

The Rashi School is the Boston area’s only Reform Jewish independent K-8 school. Rashi draws from more than two dozen communities. Boston, Brookline, Newton, Needham, Natick, Wellesley and Weston together make up approximately 85 percent of the school population. Rashi’s diverse community welcomes interfaith families.  The mission of The Rashi School is to provide a dynamic, child-centered program of academic excellence that integrates rich secular and Jewish studies curricula and nurtures in its students critical minds and compassionate hearts.

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