Ann Bialkin, Chair, Co-Founder

Ann Bialkin received a Bachelors degree from Sarah Lawrence College in New York and earned a Master’s degree from the Columbia University School of Social Work in New York City. Upon graduating, she worked as a family therapist and treated youth similar to those ELEM serves.

Ann managed and supervised a liaison program at the Jewish Board of Guardians (now called Jewish Board) to support children who were in trouble with the law by linking them with volunteers in the family courts of New York City. These activities gave her insight into the functioning of the juvenile justice system and spurred the creation of ELEM in 1982.

She served as President of ELEM/America for 28 years, and currently serves as a member of the International Board of Directors of ELEM and as the Chair of ELEM’s American Board. Ann routinely travels between New York and Israel to participate in policymaking and professional issues.

Ann Bialkin’s civic and philanthropic commitments extend beyond ELEM. She is an executive committee member of the board of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, a patron of Carnegie Hall and an honorary director of the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services. She was married to attorney Kenneth J. Bialkin, who was a committed supporter of ELEM’s activities and a member of ELEM’s advisory board.

Click here for the story of ELEM’s founding: Ann’s Story.

Lenore Ruben, President

Lenore Ruben, LMSW co-founded the Group for ADHD, LLC, a multi-disciplined clinic providing full diagnostics and treatment for families, adults and children living with ADHD and/or learning disabilities. The clinic was dedicated to providing a combination of both traditional and alternative treatments for their clients. She holds a B.S. from Boston University School of Education and an MSW from the Shirley M. Ehrenkranz School of Social Work at New York University.

Ms. Ruben has been active in ELEM/Youth in Distress in Israel for the past 18 years. She currently holds the position of President of ELEM/America and is a member of the International Board of ELEM. She has been instrumental in the success and professionalism of ELEM’s vocational training program at Liliyot Restaurant in Tel Aviv. The program trains youth who have fallen out of traditional educational frameworks and trains them in the culinary arts.

Ms. Ruben is also a member on the Hillel International Board of Governors and sits on the board of the Bronfman Center at NYU and on the board of Hillel Israel.

Lori Michelle Gosset, Vice President

Lori has more than 25 years of experience in public relations helping companies and organizations find their unique position and communicate it to their audiences. At Robert Marston And Associates in New York City she created programs for The Juilliard School, generating exposure for the school’s centennial celebration and organizing its first leadership conference, and for the National Audubon Society, creating its centennial event honoring three generations of the Rockefeller family.

Prior to Marston, Lori provided media training and media relations counsel as head of Clarke & Company’s Media Center. She won a Silver Anvil, the public relations industry’s top award, for an anti-drug abuse program for a Johnson & Johnson company, McNeil Pharmaceutical. Lori also served as director of public relations at Howard Johnson Company, where she launched an integrated campaign to rebuild the image of the hotel division.

Lori’s love for Israel blossomed as a teenager when she stood on Masada one beautiful morning. Since then, she has been involved with a variety of activities related to Israel, including the Volunteers for Israel program at Haifa’s naval base, where she, unfortunately, painted the outdoor area of the officers’ quarters an attention-getting red. On the board of ELEM, Gosset heads up communications and branding.

*Connie Rubin

*Noam Laden

*Alan Hedrick

*Bobbie Glass

*Charlotte Frank

*Frances Katz

*Alon Harnoy

*Omri Amit

*Johanna Bialkin

Additional Members