Winter may be fast approaching but we’re looking back on those summer days with our latest episode of Mensches in Cars Getting Coffee. This time, Yanky sits down with Sharan Kushner, The Associated’s 2025 Carole Sibel Outstanding Fundraising Achievement Award.

Meeting up for a cup of coffee on a beautiful, summer day, Sharan and Yanky sit down to chat about sororities, the meaning of the word mensch and what winning the Carole Sibel award means.

Sharan has been involved with The Associated and Jewish Baltimore for several years. She began her involvement with The Associated through Young Leadership (now The Associated’s Young Adult Division). From there she co-chaired the Women’s Young Leadership Council and eventually led the first women’s mission to Israel.

“When [Linda Hurwitz] called and said my name and ‘Carole Sibel Award’ my brain went ‘what is she talking about and why me?'” Sharan explains. “It meant a lot to me because Carole was a big friend of mine.”

This reaction is not uncommon to Sharan, who reflected on how impactful Carole was to the Baltimore Jewish community and the power she had to get things done and how much it means to be compared to such a dedicated member of Jewish Baltimore.

“Carole was the pinnacle of getting involved. All of a sudden twenty people would be around her. She’d start a party and then it’d become a fundraiser. There was something about her that had tremendous appeal… She just wanted you to be a part of it. It was great.”

The Carole Sibel Outstanding Fundraising Achievement Award is presented to an individual who has shown commitment to The Associated as a dedicated fundraiser over a significant period of time. Recognition is given to a campaigner whose volunteer efforts support and strengthen Jewish life, ensuring a vibrant Jewish community for the future.

Learn more about our other Leadership Awards and the young men and women who commit their time and support to the growth of Jewish Baltimore.

And if you can’t wait for more Mensches, check out our playlist featuring all our previous Mensches around town.