First Annual Philanthropy Award Recipients

Lisa Green

 

Lisa graduated from Clark University with a B.A. in Chemistry and continued on at Columbia University where she received her Masters degree in Secondary Education. She worked in the pharmaceutical world for over 12 years, including 5 years at Barr Laboratories in Pomona.

    Rockland has been Lisa’s home since 1993. She joined Nanuet Hebrew Center in 2001 and immediately became a valuable asset. As a member on the NHC Board, Lisa held the position of VP of Fundraising & the VP Program and is the past President of Sisterhood. Lisa is also a generous supporter of JCC Rockland and other charities.

    Lisa partnered with the Jewish Federation of Rockland to start the Rockland Jewish Initiative to help strengthen the synagogues in our community through grants, programs and other resources. Lisa serves on the Federation’s grant committee and is the first Vice President. In addition she is a Life Member of Hasassah, and is the Girl Scout Troop Leader where her daughter Hannah participates. She also maintains a Board position on Focus Autism, which is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to exposing the cause of the autism epidemic.

    Lisa’s leadership, commitment, and philanthropy make Rockland County a better place for us all. 

Simona and Jerry Chazen

 

Simona Chivian and Jerry Chazen, natives of New Jersey and New York, respectively, met at the University of Wisconsin, where Simona was studying journalism and Jerry was studying labor economics. 

        Simona was one of the original seventeen volunteers at Volunteer Counselling Service (VCS). She attended the Fordham University School of Social Service and became the first full time Assistant Director of VCS when she graduated. She is currently a phychotherapist in private practice, specializing in issues of divorce and physical and sexual abuse. She serves as a board member and supervisor of VCS. She also serves on the board of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York and the Chazen Museum of Art at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She is a founding member of the Rockland Family Shelter and is a board member of the Rockland Community Foundation.

    Jerry received an MBA from the Columbia Graduate School of Business. His first job was as a security analyst on Wall Street. He then spent sixteen years in the fashion business in retailing and manufacturing. In 1976 he and three friends founded Liz Claiborne, Inc. He retired from there as CEO in 1996. He is presently the Chairman of Chazen Capital Parnters, LLC. He is the founder of the Jerome A. Chazen Institute of International Business at Columbia Business School. He served on the board of the Metropolitan Opera for 20 years. He is very active with the Museum of Arts and Design, which he chaired for many years. He also serves on the board of the 92nd Street Y, the Lupus Foundation, the New York City Partnership, the Rockland Center for the Arts and the Louie Armstrong House, as well as many other activities.

    The Chazens are art lovers, jazz aficionados and opera buffs.