Recipients of the Samuel A. Wolfson Community Leadership Award

Meet Adrian and Melinda Stern, the proud parents of four daughters, three sons-in-law, three grandchildren, and one on the way! Their deep commitment to philanthropy stems from generations of service, and it continues today in how they show up for Congregation Or Ami and the wider community.

That legacy reaches back to Adrian’s great-grandfather, who was the head of the first Jewish orphanage in Chicago. It also lives in Adrian’s family today. His aunt is the moving force for fundraising for Hadassah Hospital on the West Coast. For Adrian and Melinda, this inherited sense of responsibility has become a life of leadership, generosity, and hands-on service.

Adrian’s involvement ranges from chairing the boards of Child Care Resource Center, Partners In Care Foundation, and the California Center For Public Health Advocacy. He is also a board member and treasurer of Tzedek America. He is best known in our Congregation Or Ami community for delivering the moving High Holy Days appeal in 2021 as our world was starting its recovery from the COVID pandemic. Adrian is a founding Partner in the public accounting firm of Clumeck Stern Schenkelberg & Getzoff, whose charitable support is well known throughout the community. He and Melinda have long been active members of Congregation Or Ami, and Adrian is a trusted advisor to Congregation Or Ami’s Rabbi Paul Kipnes. Adrian previously served as a board member at Temple Adat Elohim (his previous synagogue).

Melinda is also deeply committed to supporting numerous civic and charitable groups. She actively supports a wide spectrum of causes, including Boxer Rescue LA, Rovers Retreat, and Heal the Bay. Her community leadership has helped shape events for the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, among others. Melinda has been an active participant in past Or Ami gala events, leading the silent auction and volunteering at numerous school events, while also leading their youngest daughter’s Girl Scouts troop.

Adrian and Melinda are deeply honored to receive the Samuel A. Wolfson Community Leadership Award this year and are excited to share the evening’s events with Daniel and Bonnie Germain, who have done so much for the Or Ami community.