Dear Gilboa Families, Tzevet, Alumni & Friends,
For over a year, we’ve been searching for just the right person who will continue stewarding the important mission and beautiful community that is Gilboa, as our new Executive Director. We are so happy to announce that we found her! Please welcome Elianna Friedman, Gilboa’s new Executive Director!
Elianna brings to Gilboa a wealth of relevant experience in nonprofit management, camp management, programming, and justice work - a perfect fit for Gilboa! We’ve been working together for the past month, and it’s been wonderful to get to know Elianna and to work with her. Please reach out to Elianna to say hi and welcome her to the community. We know you’ll all enjoy getting to know her.
- Dalit & Julie
From Elianna:
Wow! What an honor to be camp Gilboa's new Executive Director. I feel my whole career was preparing me for this role, helping craft experiences for campers and parents, using all of the professional skills I've acquired since my last camp shira session. Joining Camp Gilboa feels like coming home.
My earliest memories were my parents encouraging me to participate in social justice, from recycling commissioner in middle school to founder of the food recovery club in college. Jewish summer Camp gave me an outlet to express and engage deeper on social justice activities. Whether it was as a loud and energetic camper, committed CIT, and compassionate Unit Head, my time at camps Akiba, Swig, and Alonim instilled the Jewish values of Tikkun Olam.
As a young adult, I lived in Israel (Eisendrath International Exchange and Hebrew University) and with degrees from both the Culinary Institute of America and American Jewish University, I focused my career in food justice nonprofits. As a program manager at San Francisco Food Bank and CUESA, the nonprofit that runs the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, I was able to live the values of Tikun Olam and Tzedek. With this experience, I founded and ran Bay Leaf Kitchen, a cooking camp for kids that overnighted at Eatwell Farm.
I love being a nonprofit Executive Director of a camp because I enjoy problem-solving, supporting community growth, youth mentorship and occasionally dressing up in a purple carrot costume. I care about the wellbeing of youth and know that camp is the place where they find their independence and lifelong friendships. Kids are our future and I can’t wait to learn from them every day in this role as Gilboa’s ED.
I am excited to meet you and hear your Gilboa story. Please reach out with any questions, to say hi, and/or to share your favorite family recipe with me. I’ve got a couple of great ones up my sleeve to share with you!
Sincerely, Elianna
elianna@campgilboa.org
818-519-3515 (cell)
323-653-6772 (office)