FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                    Contact: Sara Feinstein at 215/561-6900 Ext. 119

 sfeinstein@maccabiusa.com

NEW YORK NATIVE ELECTED SECRETARY OF MACCABI USA/SPORTS FOR ISRAEL

December 14, Philadelphia, PA - Walter Klores was elected as Secretary for Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel (MUSA) on Sunday, December 6, 2009.  Klores is a native New Yorker.

Klores received his undergraduate degree from Brandeis University ('61) and his MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago ('64). Klores is the President of Lifespan Communications Inc., a marketing and market research company specializing in high net-worth financial services.  Prior to that, he was the President at Audiovisual Engineering and Calet, Hirsch & Spector Advertising. Klores is a Lifetime President's Counselor at Brandeis and has served as an alumni executive board member at the university.  Additionally, he has served as a Trustee of the Hurricane Island Outward Bound Program

A member of the [MUSA] Board of Directors since 1998, he first got involved with the organization as an athlete in 1995 when he competed on the Masters Track & Field Team at the 8^th Pan American Maccabi Games in Argentina.  Additionally, Klores was a member of the USA 18^th Maccabiah Organizing Committee which brought over 900 athletes to Israel in July, 2009, to compete in the 18^th Maccabiah Games, the third largest international sporting event. 

"When I had the opportunity to compete as a runner in the Pan American Maccabi Games over a decade ago, I was amazed and impressed not just by the spirit and camaraderie of the athletes but by the dedication of thee volunteers," Klores commented when asked about why he got involved as a volunteer. "I'm honored to join the volunteer team today and have the chance to work with admired close friends and new acquaintances.  This feels like it was besharert."

Along with Klores, a new slate of Officers was elected on December 6, including Jordan Weinstein, Uxbridge, MA, First Vice President; Seth Baron, Kennesaw, GA, Vice President;  Leland Faust, San Francisco, CA, Vice President; Donna Orender, Jacksonville, FL, Vice President; Jodi Reff, Rockville, MD, Vice President; Jeffrey Simon, Northbrook, IL, Treasurer; and Jeffrey Bukantz, Assistant Treasurer, Montville, NJ.  Additionally, over 40 individuals were elected as members of the Board of Directors.

About the organization:

Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel (MUSA) has an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs.  The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, the Pan American Maccabi Games and the Maccabi competitions in Europe and Australia, as well as a co-founder of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America.  As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.

MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities.  They strive to provide Jewish athletes the world over the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings.  MUSA supports programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish continuity, Zionism and excellence in sport. 

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