
On Thursday, March 20th at 6:30 PM, climb aboard and Take Flight with JFS to benefit JFS mental health services and essential programs!
As an essential member of our flight crew, we can’t take off without you! Get your boarding pass for an evening of nonstop excitement at New Orleans Lakefront Airport. Your support will fuel our efforts to serve our community’s most vulnerable members.
Stanley and Ellen Kessler, supporters of Jews at home and aboard, deserve our highest accolades for their philanthropy over the years. The Kesslers have long flown under the radar, but their generosity has helped our community reach new altitudes. Please join us in celebrating these captains of compassion.
Passengers will enjoy a dairy dinner, cocktail hour, photo booth, swing dancers, a vintage plane, and more! Please wear your Golden Age of Flight best, i.e 40s-60s or aviation-themed costumes. Business casual also accepted onboard flight JFS2025.
Mail: 3300 W. Esplanade Ave., S., Suite 603 Metairie, LA 70002.
Write “Annual Event” in check memo.
Phone: (504) 831-8475
Ticket information
$25,000 Sky High Presenting Sponsor
- Recognition as Presenting Sponsor on 4,000 invitations
- Prominent seating at reserved table for 8
- Opportunity to speak and present corporate materials at event
- Recognition on all promotional materials, event-day signage, and program
- Listing on JFS website
- Dedicated recognition on JFS social media
$10,000 Soaring Sponsor
- Prominent seating at reserved table for 8
- Opportunity to speak and present corporate materials at event
- Recognition on invitation, event-day signage, and program
- Listing on JFS website
- Dedicated recognition on JFS social media
$7,500 Take-off Sponsor
- Tickets for 4
- Recognition on invitation, event-day signage, and program
- Listing on JFS website
- Recognition on JFS social media
$5,000 Jet Set Sponsor
- Tickets for 4
- Recognition on invitation, event-day signage and program
$2,500 Frequent Flyer Patron
- Tickets for 2
- Recognition on invitation, event-day signage and program
$1,000 First Class Patron
- Tickets for 2
- Recognition on invitation, event-day signage and program
$500 Pilot Patron
- Tickets for 2
- Recognition on invitation, event-day signage and program
$250 Flight Crew Patron
- Ticket for 1
- Recognition on invitation, event-day signage and program
Economy Class Tickets
- $175/person.
Basic Economy Class Tickets
- Young adults under 40 are $150 for one person and $125/person for multiples
Other Details
Food: We’re serving a buffet-style dairy dinner. We will not serve beef, pork, chicken, or shellfish. We will serve fish. If you require a kosher dinner, please email haley@jfsneworleans.org.
Parking: Lakefront Airport has free parking right out front
Security: We will have ample security and are consulting with NOPD and the Jewish Community Security Director, James Stewart.
Attire: Costumes encouraged but not required! Business casual is fine. Aviation-themed and 40s-60s style costumes preferred.
Location: 6001 Stars and Stripes Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70126
Our Honorees

Ellen and Stan Kessler met in July of 1984 at their 25th high school reunion in Miami, FL. In the past 40 years, they have blended their families, raised 5 children, and became major supporters of Jews at home and abroad. Whether developing a new congregation in Bentonville, AR or hosting IDF soldiers at their home in New Orleans, the Kesslers have truly lived the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam as active members of their synagogues and generous donors of their time, talents, and money.
Ellen Ruth Levy was born in Hialeah, Florida. She began her university career at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and completed undergraduate and graduate degrees from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Six years later, Ellen received her JD from the University of Maryland and initially practiced law in Columbia and Baltimore, MD. Ellen was first married her junior year of college and was blessed with three daughters. After moving to New Orleans in 1984, Ellen began practicing family law and related matters.
Stan Kessler was born in New York, NY, but his family moved to Miami, FL when he was five years old. He is a graduated of the University of Florida. Like Ellen, Stan was first married his junior year of college and was blessed with two sons. Stan became the president of his sales agency, Sales Marketing Services. Walmart was his primary customer; Stan directed 7 salesmen covering in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
With much of their time devoted to work and family, Stan and Ellen focused their efforts on their synagogue, Tikvat Shalom/Shir Chadash. They chaired various events and supported Jewish groups and goals financially. They became active in Sar-el (Volunteers for Israel) and volunteered for 3 different programs at Israeli army bases. In 2003, they received the President’s Award from Israel Bonds. Ellen served on the boards of Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans and Jewish Children’s Regional Services.
After Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home, the Kesslers lived for the next 5-6 years in Bentonville, AR, home of Walmart. Stan no longer needed to travel often, and Ellen worked part-time as Hurricane Katrina disrupted her law practice. Their new home brought new opportunities for service. They became active in developing Etz Chaim, a new congregation in Bentonville. Stan was an aggressive membership chairman, seeking out unaffiliated people with Jewish names! Ellen, the only attorney in the congregation, became legal advisor, negotiator of issues, and drafter of legal documents for Etz Chaim. Ellen also volunteered at a food bank/thrift store in Bentonville. Both were honored with the Tikkun Olam Award by the Arkansas Jewish Federation in Little Rock, presented to them by former president Bill Clinton
Stan and Ellen returned to New Orleans roughly 6 years after Hurricane Katrina. Since then, they both served on the boards of Shir Chadash and Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. They continue to be involved in Federation’s Partnership programs with Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel. Stan and Ellen are particularly devoted to the Partnership, forging deep friendships with Israeli members. They serve on the Partnership Committee and have welcomed Israeli members to their home, including young musicians who performed in New Orleans. Stan is also working with Federation CEO, Robert French, to create and implement a plan for high schoolers of different races and religions to travel and learn together in Israel. They served as co-sponsors of Federation’s 2024 October 7th Memorial program at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center. They are involved with the Jewish National Fund and support activities in Israel and at home, including hosting programs for IDF soldiers in their home. Strong supporters of AIPAC and current Club Members, the Kesslers are devoted to helping the world understand the challenges facing Israel.
Ellen and Stan are grateful that they have been able to contribute financially and personally to Jewish causes. As ardent Zionists, they try to live and fulfill the responsibilities implicit in the statement of reality, AM YISRAEL CHAI.
Stan and Ellen’s 5 children together and have blessed them with 11 grandchildren! They recently became great grandparents with the January 5th birth of Harper Madison Altman, daughter of their oldest granddaughter and her husband. Stan and Ellen celebrated their 40th anniversary on December 23rd, 2024.