Midwest Benefit

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2025

7PM

HILTON ORRINGTON
1710 ORRINGTON AVENUE
EVANSTON, IL

Kosher dietary laws observed

2025 Midwest Champions

Maimonides Award

BIOS

Elana Meyers
Midwest Champion

Elana Meyers is a dedicated advocate for women’s health and a proactive leader in the fight against hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. As someone who took the courageous step of undergoing genetic testing for the BRCA mutation and chose to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy to reduce her risk, Elana embodies strength, resilience, and the power of informed decision making.

A devoted wife, mother, and community member, Elana has turned her personal health journey into an opportunity to educate and inspire others. She is a firm believer in the importance of genetic awareness and proactive healthcare, sharing her story to empower women to take control of their health. Her journey reflects not only her commitment to her family but also her dedication to raising awareness about the resources and support available for those facing similar decisions.

Elana is deeply honored to be recognized for her efforts. Through her advocacy and lived experience, Elana continues to shine a light on the importance of genetic testing, preventive measures, and community support.

 

Sharon Weiner
Midwest Champion

Sharon Weiner lives in Buffalo Grove with her husband, Harris, and is retired from over 40 years in home decor sales and management. She raised her two kids, Rebecca and Jake, in Buffalo Grove and has two precious grandsons in Chicago and an adorable granddog in DC. In addition to being a member of Congregation Beth Judea in Long Grove and the Henrietta Szold Hadassah Chapter, Sharon was an active chapter and region leader with ORT Chicago and served on the National Board of Directors for ORT America. She is a diehard Cub fan and a voracious reader and founding member of her book club.

Sharon never thought that breast cancer would be a factor in her life. However, on December 31, 2018, she was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Sharon was connected to Sharsheret through her daughter, who had known about Sharsheret through the philanthropic work of her AEPhi chapter at University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign. As a Sharsheret ambassador and peer supporter, Sharon helps to educate her community on the supportive resources that Sharsheret offers and helps support other women on their cancer journeys.

Dr. Edward Kaplan
Maimonides Award

Edward Kaplan, M.D., a medical oncologist at the new City of Hope® Cancer Care North Shore, specializes in the treatment of patients with various cancer types, including those with breast cancer and ovarian cancer. He is involved in developing approaches along the entire spectrum of cancer care–from early screening and diagnosis to developing personalized and individualized treatment plans in challenging conditions.  His special interests include cancer screening programs, risk management, and novel therapeutics in patients with inherited genetic mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Dr. Kaplan earned his medical degree from Loyola University Chicago–Stritch School of Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency and hematology/oncology fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago. After completing his training, he served as an assistant professor at Rush University’s medical school in Chicago, where he was co-founder and medical director of Rush Cancer Institute’s Comprehensive Center for Gastrointestinal Malignancies. For almost 20 years, he served as the chairman of the division of hematology and oncology, as well as the medical director of inpatient and outpatient oncology care at Rush North Shore Medical Center in Skokie.

Dr. Kaplan’s passion lives in providing the most up-to-date, effective treatments, all while providing compassionate care in a caring and nurturing environment. He has co-authored dozens of peer-reviewed biomedical publications and was instrumental in the modification of patented treatments designed to reduce side effects of certain anti-cancer therapies.  His interests include immunotherapy and targeted agents for many types of malignancies, and his publications include metrics on psychological and social impacts of lung cancer. He has given scores of invited lectures and presentations all over the country, on a broad range of subjects in cancer treatment.

Event Chairs

Leah Jones | Brittany Ray |  Teresa Robot  |
Rachel and Richard Silverman | Rebecca Weiner Malina 

 

Host Committee

Maya and Jordan Bass | Malka and Yisrael Bogopulsky | Mariya and Max Dayan | Dr. Allison DePersia | Aliza and Craig Frank | Yehudit and Aaron Gavant | Andrea and Moe Herman | Chani and Yehuda Isenberg | Adina and Aaron Kaplan | Ilana and Howard Karesh | Jo Ann Kirsch | Nora and Matthew Koenig | Ayelet and Rabbi Aaron Leibtag | Laura Levine | Marisa and Alan Loebmann | Drs. Yvette and Jeremy Miller | Suzy and Mike Nussbaum | Tova and Michael Perl | Elizabeth Richman and Mitch Dayan | Charlotte Rosenfield | Carol Silverman | Aliza and Ari Steinberg | Sari Winick

 

Midwest Community Advisory Committee

Chair, Dr. Carol Ellman

Iris Bass | Linda Cohen | Mitch Dayan | Vanessa Ehrlich |  Ashlyn Gorlin  |  Debra Hartman |  Leah Jones | Yael Ripstein | Teresa Robot | Heidi Schrage |  Jane Shapiro | Sari Winick

 

Underwriter Sponsor

Guardian Sponsor

Partner Supporter

Alex Grange Attorney/Realtor

To learn more about becoming a sponsor or for any other questions, contact Jenny Stein at [email protected] or call: 312.767.2045.