Meet the Team

Founders

Helen & David Zalik

Helen Zalik

Helen Zalik is a social entrepreneur, attorney, and philanthropist. In 2018, Helen co-founded the Zalik Foundation, which has granted over $100 million to date for education, children and families in need, behavioral mental health and Jewish communities in the U.S and Israel. Helen began her career as a corporate attorney at Powell Goldstein, LLP, and eventually served as General Counsel of a privately held healthcare management company. She is the Immediate Past President of Momentum Unlimited, an alumna of the Wexner Heritage Program, a board member of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Jewish Federations of North America, and the co-founder of the Jewish Women’s Connection of Atlanta.

David Zalik

David Zalik is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of GreenSky. Born in Be’er-Sheva, Israel, David immigrated with his family to Auburn, Alabama as a young child. While life in America presented opportunity and promise, maintaining an active Jewish life in a small, Southern town was challenging but remained a priority for David’s parents. David built his first company, MicroTech Information Systems, at age 14 while attending Auburn University. He eventually moved to Atlanta, where he founded and successfully operated companies in the technology automation, real estate, and e-commerce sectors. David’s most successful business venture to date has been the creation of GreenSky, a fin-tech that he eventually took public and later sold to Goldman Sachs.

Amanda Abrams

Executive Director

Amanda began her career in advertising, and quickly realized her passion lay in working to better the Jewish community. Prior to helping launch the Zalik Foundation, Amanda served in executive roles at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta and Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. She was an inaugural Education Fellow at the Institute of Southern Jewish Life and is a member of the Wexner Field Fellowship Class 7. She holds an MBA from University of Southern California, an MA in Jewish Nonprofit Management from Hebrew Union College and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Dr. Michael Karlin

Senior Advisor

Michael is a technology entrepreneur, real estate investor, and Jewish studies scholar. As co-founder of Security First Network Bank and S1 Corporation, he was a pioneer in financial technology. After a successful business career, Michael deepened his Jewish learning through the Wexner Heritage Program and earned a Ph.D. in Religious Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Jewish Studies from Emory University. He now manages Greene Karlin Real Estate and serves as President of the Weber School Board. Passionate about the intersection of business, education, and Jewish community, Michael works to bridge traditional Jewish values with modern approaches to learning and leadership.

Michael Fingerman

Program Officer

Michael is passionate about fostering vibrant Jewish communities. He holds an MA in Jewish Professional Leadership and an MBA from Brandeis University, along with a BA in Urban Studies including advanced coursework in Economics, Social Work, and Jewish Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. He has held roles at Emory Hillel and Ramah Darom, where he served as Camp Program Director. Michael is a former Moishe House Toco Hills resident and a member of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship/Davidson Scholars Class 33.

Alli Brown

Grants Manager

After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in Business and Spanish, Alli Brown started her professional career in Human Resources at Texas Instruments before moving home to Atlanta, GA to become a small business owner.

After growing and operating a successful business, Alli decided to follow her passion for Jewish philanthropy by joining the Zalik Foundation. As a grants manager, she helps further the foundation’s mission by working directly with the organizations making an impact in the Jewish community, empowering them to navigate the grants process with ease.

Alli lives in Atlanta with her husband and son.

Neema St. Louis

Administrative Associate

Neema brings over five years of experience in the nonprofit sector. A graduate of Florida International University, Neema is deeply committed to empowering others and fostering community growth. Her work has focused on program management, stakeholder engagement, and resource development, driving initiatives that create meaningful impact. With a passion for building connections and promoting equity, Neema excels in supporting organizations that improve lives and strengthen communities. She continues to dedicate her career to creating opportunities for positive change and collaborative success.