Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles (JBBBSLA) gathered hundreds of supporters at Stephen S. Wise Temple for its annual gala, The Big Event, raising more than $900,000 to support mentorship and youth development programs across Los Angeles. The event welcomed more than 400 attendees and was held at Wise—where Sanford “Sandy” Sigal has been a congregant for more than 50 years and currently serves as a board member.
The evening honored three community leaders whose lives and service reflect the organization’s mission. Sigal, Founder, Chairman, CEO, and President of NewMark Merrill Companies, received the Sydney J. Rosenberg Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his extraordinary leadership, philanthropy, and longstanding commitment to Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters and Camp Bob Waldorf. JBBBSLA also presented The Big Spotlight Award to Susan Kurshner and Ethan Stern for their dedicated mentorship and longtime involvement with the organization.
The program also included special recognition from California State Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel and was attended by the rabbis and cantor of Stephen S. Wise Temple, along with Rabbi Dan Moscovitz of Temple Shalom (Vancouver), who joined the community in honoring Sigal.
For Sigal, the night marked a personal full-circle moment.
Raised by a devoted single mother, Sigal credits one decision—his mother “picking up the phone” and asking for help—with changing the direction of his life. That call led to a formative experience at Camp Max Straus (now Camp Bob Waldorf), where he found structure, confidence, belonging, and his first mentors.
“This honor is deeply personal. When I was seven, my mom picked up the phone and called Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters—not for charity, but for help. They answered, and that call changed my life. Camp gave me confidence, mentors, and a sense of belonging, and I’ve spent my life trying to pay that gift forward. I love the proverb: ‘A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.’ That’s what mentorship is—and that’s what tonight is about.”
Sigal, a former camper, has remained deeply connected to JBBBSLA’s mission for decades—having just completing his 3-year term as Chairman of the Board, serving in other leadership roles and continuing to support the camp and its impact on young people from diverse backgrounds. He often points to the influence of camp counselors and mentors as the beginning of a lifelong commitment to paying that gift forward.
Funds raised through The Big Event support JBBBSLA’s core initiatives, including one-to-one mentoring, Camp Bob Waldorf, and College Access and Success programs—helping children and teens build confidence, resilience, and a lasting sense of belonging through consistent relationships and supportive experiences.
A UCLA graduate, Sigal has built NewMark Merrill into one of the fastest-rising private retail development and ownership firms operating in California, Colorado, and Illinois. The company currently owns and/or manages over 100 shopping centers in California, Colorado, and Illinois, with over 2,000 tenants representing over $3 billion in value.
For more than a century, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles has served youth and families throughout the region. To donate, become a mentor, or learn more, visit www.jbbbsla.org.
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