December 17, Philadelphia, PA – Leland Faust, of San Francisco, CA, was elected Vice-President of Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel (MUSA) at its annual meeting in New York on December 6. Faust has a lengthy history with MUSA as an athlete and volunteer.
He has been involved with athletics most of his life – in Water Polo, Open Water Swimming, Triathlete and Maccabi Supporter. Over the years, he has achieved many goals in sport and through his work as an investment advisor, has helped many professional athletes achieve their own personal goals. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley (’68) and Harvard Law School (’71), Faust is founder and President of CSI Capital Management in San Francisco.
He was an All-CIF Water Polo Player at Beverly Hills High School in 1963 and continued to compete in Water Polo at U.C. Berkeley and at Harvard. Faust’s tenure with MUSA began in 1965 when he was a member of the gold medal Water Polo Team. He continued to compete in Water Polo at the 9th Maccabiah in 1973 and at the 16th Maccabiah in 2001, both times a member of the gold medal Team. Most recently, Faust competed in the Triathlon at the 17th Maccabiah in 2005. In addition to his illustrious Water Polo career, he has competed in many Triathlons, primarily on the West Coast. In 2006, he won his age group in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon and was named to the age-group All-American Team by USA Triathlon. Faust was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Faust continued his involvement with MUSA as a volunteer involved with Organizing the USA Water Polo Teams for the last three Maccabiah Games as well as Pan American Maccabi Games. He joined the Board of Directors in 2003 as a member of the Executive Committee. “I have stayed involved with Maccabi USA over my entire adult life because its mission is so important and positive,” Faust said when remarking on his most recent appointment. “We solidify the Jewish identity of American youth and strengthen ties to Israel. The vehicle of high level sports competition which I love makes this a true joy.”
Along with Faust, a new slate of Officers was elected on December 6, including Jordan Weinstein, Uxbridge, MA, to First Vice President; Seth Baron, Kennesaw, GA, Vice President; Donna Orender, Jacksonville, FL, Vice President; Jodi Reff, Rockville, MD, Vice President; Walter Klores, New York, NY, Secretary; Jeffrey Simon, Northbrook, IL, Treasurer and Jeffrey Bukantz, Montville, NJ, Assistant Treasurer. 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.