With 50th anniversary pending, Temple Beth Shalom seeks sponsor support for upcoming book, celebration
A center for Jewish faith is celebrating its golden anniversary with members of the community while honoring a local frontline healthcare executive.
The Jewish Community Center of Lee County, also known as Temple Beth Shalom in Cape Coral, will remember 50 years of service to the community on the evening of April 1. The temple has chosen Lee Health President and CEO, Dr. Larry Antonucci, as its 2023 Honoree for “his unparalleled leadership and contributions to the local community.”
The event will begin with a cocktail hour, commemorative presentations, dinner, dance and silent auction. The gala will be held at Temple Beth Shalom’s social hall at 702 Southeast 24th Ave. The program will include speeches from Antonucci and his guests, as well as members of Temple Beth Shalom. The program will end with the presentation honoring Antonucci.
“Besides being a stellar physician in the community for a very long time, his attributes and experience speaks for itself,” said Temple Beth Shalom Spiritual Leader Barry Butensky of Antonucci. “In the two major moments in the community’s lives starting with COVID-19, getting the community through that, and then to have Hurricane Ian hit the shares as bad as it did and him be on the forefront of all the medical facilities in Lee County, kudos and hats off to him. It’s his vision and his drive that made the community come out of the rubble to rebuild. He was a main player in that.”
Temple Beth Shalom is currently seeking support for their special commemorative journal/book to be distributed at the event and to members of the synagogue.
“It’s a keepsake,” Butensky said. “There can be personal notes from families. Or, it’s an excellent opportunity to send a congratulatory message and/or highlight your practice or business while recognizing Dr. Antonucci’s many contributions and achievements along with the successes of Temple Beth Shalom.”
To show its appreciation, Temple Beth Shalom will donate 50% of the journal’s proceeds to the President of Lee Health’s “Special Projects Fund.” The fund provides staff training, development and certifications, recruiting of key personnel, essential equipment outside of budget, research funds for physicians, personal protective equipment for staff, and relief aid support to those suffering from loss.
“We believe in giving back,” Butensky said. “We want to give back to the hospital.”
Temple Beth Shalom was founded by a group in 1971 that belonged to a temple in Fort Myers that came to Cape Coral to create a new Reform synagogue. In 1973, they incorporated as the Jewish Community Center of Lee County, and adopted the (DBA) name of Temple Beth Shalom. In 1978, founding member Martin Pearlstein convinced the Rosen Brothers to donate the land and $5,000 to build a new synagogue at its present location.
Sponsorship opportunities start at $18 and go up to $5,000. For more information on the event and how to get involved as a sponsor, call 239-223-2310. Deadline for sponsorships are Feb. 28. For more information on Temple Beth Shalom, visit templebethshalomcc.org.
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