Shapira Medal

Frieda Shapira Medal for Exemplary Leadership

In 2003, The Forbes Funds inaugurated the Frieda Shapira Medal, honoring Frieda Shapira as a lifetime community reformer who, as a social worker for the Children’s Service Bureau, taught neglected and dependent children, and who, as a trustee, served numerous organizations, including The Pittsburgh Foundation, The United Way of Allegheny County, The United Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and The Forbes Funds.

Presented annually to a local nonprofit executive for exemplary leadership, The Frieda Shapira Medal is awarded to an individual who has demonstrated:

1. leadership across lines of race, class and religion to further the causes of others,
2. views people he/she serves as consumers and equal stakeholders rather than dependents, 
3. possesses a deep sense of compassion backed with the knowledge, work ethic and determination to effect change,
4. is a coalition builder,
5. an effective leader who encourages and inspires others,and
6. has a personal commitment to the betterment of the community by working on issues of social justice.

Shapira Medal recipients stand as exemplars for all people across the Pittsburgh region.

Presented by The Forbes Funds in cooperation with The Jewish Healthcare Foundation, The Frieda Shapira Medal includes a $5000 cash prize.  The picture below shows Al Condeluci receiving the Frieda Shapira medal from Karen Feinstein, President, The Jewish Healthcare Foundation. 

Frieda Shapira Medal Recipient VI

Al Condeluci
United Cerebral Palsy/CLASS

Al Condeluci, Ph.D. is CEO of United Cerebral Palsy/Community Living and Support Services (UCP/CLASS) and has served as such since 1991.

Under Al’s leadership, UCP/CLASS has been an outstanding example to the nonprofit community in regarding members of the organization’s participant group as equal stakeholders. People with disabilities, who are the primary participants in UCP services, have roles in the organization as board members, members of the Management Team, staff members, consultants and volunteers. On any given day, a visitor to the organization will see throughout the building an impressive group of people in many roles and from all racial, socio-economic and religious backgrounds, as well as people with and without various disabilities. In 1996, Al’s book Beyond Difference was published.

Like Frieda Shapira, Al Condeluci is known throughout the social work profession and other professions serving people with disabilities as a committed and effective change agent.

Past Frieda Shapira Medal Recipients

• V Joyce Rothermel, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
• IV Dr. Walter Smith, Family Resources
• III Father Regis Ryan, Focus on Renewal
• II Myrna Zelenitz, East End Cooperative Ministry
• I James Henry, Jr., Hill House Association