Meet The Team
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Naomi serves as Senior Vice President of the Center for Designed Philanthropy at the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles. In this role, she oversees development and implementation of The Foundation’s grant programs, works with major fund holders, and philanthropic advising services to individuals and families. Each year, Naomi and her team facilitate more than $20 million in philanthropic dollars to community organizations locally, nationally and in Israel.
Naomi brings extensive experience in program development and management, grantmaking, and relationship building to this role. Naomi joined The Foundation in 2009 with a background in direct social services and fundraising. She has guided hundreds of donors on a diverse range of philanthropic topics with her expertise in engaging next generations in philanthropy, multi-gen giving, charitable mission & vision development, and giving interest-area issues such as early childhood development, economic development in Israel, and the Jewish nonprofit landscape in Los Angeles.
Naomi earned her Masters in Social Work with a concentration in Community Organizing, Planning and Administration from the University of Southern California, and her Bachelor of Arts in Human Development from UC San Diego. She is a Certified 21/64 Philanthropic Advisor.
To contact Naomi Strongin please email nstrongin@jewishfoundationla.org
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A skilled nonprofit, special events and communications manager, Michelle Ohayon is director of operations for The SAM Initiative. Knowing the tremendous impact that collaborative giving makes in the community, Michelle is fervidly committed to SAM’s mission. Joining SAM in 2016, she has helped the organization grow immensely from granting $250,000 to the Los Angeles community to now over $3 million.
Prior to her work with SAM, Michelle planned corporate travel and events in the entertainment and beauty industries. She worked for O.P.I. Products Inc in North Hollywood for over six years.
Michelle's personal philanthropic passion includes providing support and tools for neurodiverse children and young adults to prepare them for adulthood. With her passion for special needs social justice, she is immersed in the autism community, where she promotes the respect and inclusion of children and adults on the autism spectrum.
Michelle was born and raised in the Bay Area. She graduated from The University of Arizona in 2005 with a degree in Communications. Michelle moved back to Arizona after thirteen years in Los Angeles. In her spare time, she enjoys golfing, working out and traveling.
For more information about SAM please email michelle@saminitiative.org
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Laurie Bahar has devoted much of her adult life to philanthropy, civic engagement, and nonprofit work. After leaving her career to raise her children, she worked with fellow Encino community members to help transform Lanai Road School into a standout neighborhood public elementary school. Throughout her sons’ time there, she held leadership roles working to raise several hundred thousand dollars annually for programming, facilities, and extra staff.
Laurie expanded her philanthropic work through The Sherwood Foundation, founded by her grandparents to support the community and inspire philanthropy in future generations. She later became its president and continues to lead the foundation.
In 2019, Laurie joined The SAM Initiative and quickly embraced its collaborative giving model. After several years of active volunteering, she joined the leadership team in 2022 and now serves as Director of Member Engagement. In addition to her work with SAM and The Sherwood Foundation, Laurie serves as Treasurer on the board of Wise Readers to Leaders.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Laurie earned a journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She and her husband, Ron, are empty nesters in Encino but consider themselves lucky that their grown kids live nearby and they see them often.
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Charlotte Friedman serves as a Senior Program Officer with the Center for Designed Philanthropy at the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles. In this role, Charlotte manages grant programs focused on the Jewish and larger communities in Los Angeles, and provides philanthropic advising services to The Foundation’s community of donors. Her expertise spans the Jewish nonprofit landscape and combatting antisemitism to early childhood development, at-risk youth initiatives and social justice efforts.
Charlotte came to The Foundation from the Downtown Women’s Center, where she helped raise millions of dollars for programs that support and empower women experiencing homelessness. She has worked to advance social and environmental justice throughout her career. At The Foundation, Charlotte leverages her experience in fundraising, grantmaking, community organizing, and program development to help nonprofits grow and succeed and to advise donors on impactful giving strategies.
Charlotte earned her master's in social work with a concentration in community organizing, planning, and administration from the University of Southern California, and her bachelor's degree in women and gender studies and environmental studies from Bates College. She is a Certified 21/64 Philanthropic Advisor.
Please contact cfriedman@jewishfoundationla.org for all nonprofit inquiries.
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Mindy Freedman is an innovative philanthropist who is in constant pursuit of creating sustainable social change. A long-time proponent of the power of collaborative giving, Mindy is the Founder and Senior Advisor of The SAM Initiative—a giving circle comprised of philanthropic women who passionately pool their charitable dollars to fund and support programs committed to driving social change and promoting nonprofit sustainability.
Mindy created The SAM Initiative with the belief that we have more impact together than we have alone. For the past decade, she has helped evolve SAM’s approach to giving—ensuring it remains responsive to the changing needs of the Los Angeles community. Through this engaged approach, her work continues to inspire others to fund, support, and build momentum for sustainable social change.
An expert in micro-lending programs, Mindy spent several years early in her career in Latin America consulting with NGOs and the U.S. Agency for International Development. She later turned her focus to the United States, applying her expertise in strategic planning, implementation, innovation, and executive coaching to individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
Named a 2023 Leader of Influence: Nonprofit & Philanthropy by the Los Angeles Business Journal, Mindy also serves as a Trustee at the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and Spanish from the University of Colorado and a Master’s in Public Administration in International Development and Spanish from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.
To contact Mindy Freedman please email mindy@saminitiative.org