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Mensch of the Year

Roger Friedman

Headliner

Yohay Sponder

Master of Ceremonies

Elon Gold

VIP Speaker

David Zucker

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Yohay Sponder

Headliner

Yohay Sponder

Elon Gold

Master of Ceremonies

Elon Gold

Roger Friedman

Mensch of the Year

Roger Friedman

David Zucker

VIP Speaker

David Zucker

Headliner

Yohay Sponder

Yohay Sponder, an Israeli bilingual standup comedian turned international sensation, brings his optimistic outlook on life to the stage. With more than 20 years of experience, he has starred in multiple television and radio shows, produces and headlines Funny Monday: Israeli Comedy in English, and performs internationally.

After completing his sold-out world tour of Self Loving Jew, Sponder debuts his new show, Genesis. In the show, Sponder explores new beginnings, rebirth, and the source of happiness. His smart and unapologetic humor gives audiences a unique perspective on life.

He believes laughter can help cure the world’s troubles one laugh at a time. This time, the joke is on him.

Master of Ceremonies

Elon Gold

Elon Gold is an internationally acclaimed comedian, actor, and writer who has performed to sold-out theaters across the globe. His stand-up special, Elon Gold: Chosen & Taken, premiered on Netflix and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

Gold’s comedy clips have earned tens of millions of views online and a large social-media following. He has made ten appearances on NBC’s The Tonight Show, starred in the FOX sitcom Stacked and the NBC series In-Laws, and appeared in Netflix’s Crashing.

Gold also had a memorable recurring role on season 11 of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. He stars opposite Israeli performer Shuli Rand in The Wedding Entertainer, directed by Israeli filmmaker Gidi Dar.

His podcast, Stars of David with Elon Gold, explores Jewish life in America and features guests including Larry David, Tiffany Haddish, and Yohay Sponder.

Mensch of the Year

Roger Friedman

Roger Friedman is a dedicated volunteer and donor committed to the Jewish community, the broader Orange County community, and Israel.  Roger is a lifelong volunteer and supporter of Jewish Federation of Orange County.  Roger also served on Federation's Board of Directors and several committees, including Finance, Strategic Planning, Nominations, and Community Planning & Grants from 2017–2024, and he continues to serve on Federation committees.

For more than a decade, Roger volunteered and served on the Board of Directors of We Give Thanks, helping to provide tens of thousands of free Thanksgiving and Veterans Day meals, awarding college scholarships, and engaging thousands of volunteers in giving back to the community.  Roger also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Cory Fights Back, an organization dedicated to raising awareness, funding research, and supporting women and families affected by ovarian cancer.

Roger has been an active member of Congregation Shir Ha-Ma'alot since 2002.  He also has been an integral member of Solomon Society since 2014, regularly participating in its events and volunteer initiatives, and he has traveled on two Solomon Society missions to Israel in 2023 and 2025.

Professionally, Roger is a partner of the law firm Rutan & Tucker, LLP, where he is a member of the firm's Business Litigation Section and Chair of its Corporate Restructuring and Creditors' Rights Group.

VIP Speaker

David Zucker

David Zucker is an iconic film director, writer, and producer best known for creating the unforgettable comedies Airplane! and the original Naked Gun trilogy, along with BASEketball, Top Secret!, The Kentucky Fried Movie, and Scary Movie 3 & 4.

Zucker is currently in production on Star of Malta, a comedy noir thriller in the spirit of Airplane!, and is producing Octoberfest, a German-language film for Traumfabrik Babelsberg and Amazon. He also teaches his signature ZAZ 15 Rules of Comedy through his online course, MasterCrash, now available as a free community for filmmakers, writers, and comedy fans.

His award-winning book, Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!, offers an inside look at the making of one of cinema's most quoted comedies. His previous book, Before the Invention of Smiling, traces the Zucker family's journey from Madison, Wisconsin to Hollywood.

Zucker's work has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, People, Time, Variety, and more, and he has appeared on The Rubin Report, TMZ, The Adam Carolla Show, and How I Write.

VIP Experience

Upgrade to VIP

Start your evening early with an exclusive VIP Pre-Reception, featuring a moderated conversation between Elon Gold and legendary comedy director David Zucker, the creative force behind Airplane! and The Naked Gun. VIP guests will also receive a signed copy of David's most recent book, Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!, a behind-the-scenes memoir of one of the most quoted comedies ever made, plus enjoy preferred seating for the main event.

A Look Back at Late Night 2025

Solomon Society

Impact Fund Frequently Asked Questions

At Late Night on Thursday, October 29, we’re launching the Solomon Society Impact Fund: a new way for Solomon Society to put its collective philanthropy to work on our community’s most pressing needs.

Here’s what to know before the event.

What is the Solomon Society Impact Fund?

A designated fund, held by Jewish Federation of Orange County, that Solomon Society will direct toward specific needs in our community. It connects members’ giving to tangible programs that matter to them and to Jewish Orange County.

Where did the idea come from?

From Solomon Society leadership. A task force of the Solomon Society Leadership Council spent this year exploring how to reinvigorate Solomon Society. Its central recommendation was to give Solomon Society a direct role in allocating a portion of its philanthropy to critical community needs. Federation’s Board of Directors approved the fund on September 28, 2026.

What does this mean for my Late Night gift?

Your Late Night gift supports Federation’s Annual Campaign, as it always has. To launch the Impact Fund, Federation’s Board of Directors has committed an amount equal to 25% of this year’s Late Night total to seed it. Your gift remains tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Who decides how the money is granted?

The Solomon Society Leadership Council is building a process to match community needs with members’ areas of interest. No less than 80% of money in the Impact Fund will be granted directly to our community partners/initiatives, with the balance used for programming expenses. A new Solomon Society Philanthropy Committee will identify and discuss funding opportunities, and Federation’s Board of Directors will then review and approve any expenditure over $1,000.

What will the fund support first?

The first grants, made next year, will help children and teens attend Jewish overnight camp. According to the 2024–25 Orange County Jewish Demographic Study, only 4% of Jewish K–12 students here attended Jewish overnight camp, and 20% of Jewish households with children skipped Jewish camp, education, or activities because of cost. Solomon Society can help close that gap.

What comes next?

This is a first step. In the coming months, we’ll share more with Solomon Society members about how the fund will grow and how members can take part.

Questions?

Have questions about Late Night, tickets, sponsorship opportunities, tribute gifts, or the impact fund? Our team is here to help.

Reach out to Sean Gadasy at .

We look forward to seeing you on October 29.

Contact Our Team

Jewish Federation of Orange County

1 Federation Way, Suite 210
Irvine, CA 92603-0174

www.JewishOC.org

Our Sponsors

Recognizing the generous supporters who have helped make Late Night possible.

Platinum Sponsors

Rutan & Tucker, LLP
Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.

Gold Sponsors

Irving and Nancy Chase
Ryan and Brooke Chase
Margolis Family Foundation
Scott Seigel

Silver Sponsor

Best Management Construction, Inc.

VIP Reception Sponsors

Grobstein Teeple
Kahana Feld
Leisure Capital Management
Wolfe & Wyman LLP

After Party Sponsors

Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP
Len Simon
U.S. Legal Support

Photo Booth Sponsor

Paul Vann, Wealth Preservation

Bar Sponsor

MMG LLP

Bronze Sponsors

TVT Community Day School
Kaufman Steinberg LLP