Jewish Federations of North America are pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees has elected Gary Torgow as Chair.
Torgow previously served as National Campaign Chair, led the 2024 General Assembly, and is currently chair of The Jewish Federation of Detroit. His term will begin on July 1.
“I am appreciative and honored to be elected Chair,” said Torgow. “The North American Jewish community is at an inflection point, and looking to its Federation leadership to ensure that we not only overcome the challenges we face, but thrive. As chair, I will work with the broad Jewish Federations leadership to fight for our community’s security, work together to rebuild Israel, and deepen Jewish education so that our communities can flourish.”
Torgow is the Chairman of Huntington Bank, the 16th largest bank in the United States of America, and Business Leaders for Michigan, a roundtable of the top 100 CEOs and Chairpeople of the state’s leading companies. He also serves on the public company boards of DTE Energy and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and is a trustee of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.
Torgow is Chairman of the 2025 NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, and was the recipient of the NAACP’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Urban League’s Distinguished Warrior Award. He was the commencement speaker at both Alma College and Eastern Michigan University, where he received honorary doctorate degrees. He has led numerous and critical efforts to support communities all across the state, including leading the corporate fundraising for the City of Detroit’s Strategic Neighborhood Fund, where over $250 million was raised for seven Detroit neighborhoods. Torgow is the author of two books, Raising the Bar and Holy Warrior.
“While we have done so much in the past three years, the work is not yet done,” said Julie Platt, who served as chair over the past three years, and will continue to be active as Immediate Past Chair. “Jewish Federations of North America are so fortunate to have Gary as our next chair, and I look forward to working with him to ensure that, even in these difficult times, our vital work will continue to provide leadership, resources, and hope as we build and secure flourishing Jewish communities.”
In addition to Torgow, the board inaugurated a new slate of officers, including:
Jeffrey Schoenfeld, Vice Chair
J. David Heller, National Campaign Chair
Dena B Rashes, Treasurer
David Golder, Secretary
Julie Platt, Immediate Past Chair
“Our system could not be more fortunate to have Gary Torgow taking the helm during this critical period, in which we are battling an unprecedented spike in antisemitism and working to meet the moment offered by the recent surge in Jewish engagement,” said Jewish Federations of North America President and CEO Eric D. Fingerhut.
“I’d also like to thank Julie Platt for the unbelievable work she has done over the past three years, helping our system overcome some of the most daunting and historic challenges we have faced in our modern history with ability, kindness, and determination,” he added.