Native Chicagoan to Focus on Engaging Jewish Communities Across the Midwest
NEW YORK, NY – American Jewish World Service (AJWS) has appointed Brad Sugar, a veteran nonprofit professional with extensive experience leading and growing institutions, as its Director for the Midwest Region. Sugar comes to AJWS, the leading Jewish international human rights and development organization, from American Friends of The Hebrew University, where he previously served as Senior Development Executive. Sugar’s deep commitment to Jewish values and his familiarity with Jewish communities in the region make him a valuable addition to AJWS’s leadership team.
AJWS, which has an annual operating budget of nearly $38 million, is unique among American Jewish organizations in raising most of its funds from American Jewish donors to realize human rights and end poverty in the developing world. AJWS supports more than 450 grantee organizations in 19 developing countries to defend civil and political rights, advance sexual health and rights, promote climate justice and aid communities in the aftermath of disasters.
“Brad’s passion for the Jewish value of pursuing justice and AJWS’s mission to help some of the poorest and most oppressed people in the world, as well as his extensive experience in the Jewish nonprofit world, make him an ideal fit for AJWS and our supporters in the Midwest,” said Robert Bank, President and CEO of AJWS. “I am excited for Brad to connect Chicago and other Midwestern cities with the inspiring advocates and important human rights work that AJWS supports in the developing world. With Brad’s partnership, I look forward to continuing to put our hearts, minds, resources and influence together to support the creation of just societies around the world.”
“We are all part of one international community and share responsibility for it,” said Sugar. “AJWS is the premier global Jewish institution working to support the rights of the most vulnerable people on this planet, and provides American Jews with the opportunity to stand up in support of human rights for people in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. I am humbled to be a part of it.
“I am the grandson of Holocaust survivors, and they were shown immense kindness from the human rights community upon being freed from the camps. It is gratifying to know that AJWS consistently demonstrates this kind of compassion every single day in its work around the world for some of the most oppressed people in the world,” added Sugar.
Before his tenure at American Friends of The Hebrew University, Sugar served as Executive Director of Jewish Student Connection, a national network of high school extracurricular clubs focused on the Jewish community and Israel. He began his career as Senior Associate with the Jewish United Fund in Chicago. Sugar holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in Jewish professional studies from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. He recently earned his MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. Sugar resides in Evanston, Illinois, with his spouse and three sons.
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About American Jewish World Service
American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is the leading Jewish organization working to realize human rights and end poverty in the developing world. AJWS defends civil and political rights, advances sexual health and rights, promotes climate justice and aids communities in the aftermath of disasters. We pursue lasting change by supporting grassroots and global human rights organizations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and by advocating for U.S. and international policies for justice and equality worldwide. Learn more at www.ajws.org.
For More Information
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