ABOUT JANELLE FRIEDMAN
Janelle Friedman has a natural talent for entertaining. Local and national charities seek her advice to plan events that raise millions.
In a city where over-the-top events are the norm, a “Janelle party” has become legendary and one of the most coveted invitations in town. Everything she plans – from intimate dinner parties to galas – is a gift she gives her guests – one full of love, laughter, style and surprises.
Janelle is also CEO of Friedman & Feiger Attorneys At Law, an award-winning, Dallas-based law firm. She has been the law firm’s Administrator and Chief Operating Officer since 1986 and is also a certified paralegal.
She also manages the business operations of Friedman & Feiger’s law office in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her role is to oversee all business aspects of the company in both cities from marketing and new business development to revenue and finances as well as personnel and day-to-day problem solving.
Being one of the few women in Texas to run two law firms, she has also raised six children. Many of her peers call her “the modern-day Wonder Woman “ because she is a hard-working mother, author, businesswoman, civic leader, philanthropist and inventor.”
According to a quote published about her in The Wall Street Journal, “she’s very hip and in touch with fashion.” According to Janelle, “over the years, my shopping has become defined from meeting people in my professional life, charitable events, museums, and living my life to the fullest. I won’t buy an outfit that doesn’t make me feel sexy and confident. When I put on an outfit that feels right, I know I can accomplish anything that I set out to do.”
She is founder of a professional group of female business leaders called Essential Energy. Essential Energy’s mission statement is to share wisdom between successful women through personal friendships and business networking with a spirit of fellowship, enthusiasm, harmony and devotion to the power (essential energy) of the group.
Janelle is an active member of the Dallas community and generously contributes her time to worthwhile causes. Children’s Health named her and her husband, Larry, Co-Chairs of the “Celebration of Our Century” gala, which was a celebratory event to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the children’s hospital. Presented by Alliance Data, the evening’s festivities raised millions and featured live performances by Actress and Grammy Award-Winning Singer Jennifer Hudson, The Pointer Sisters and New York’s famed Starlight Orchestra. Janelle also served as co-chairwoman for the 100th Anniversary of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas.
The F&F Foundation was founded by Janelle and Larry as a charitable organization which benefits children. Each year, Friedman & Feiger Attorneys At Law donates time, party planning skills and fund-raising for notable children’s charities. Millions have been raised through the F&F Foundation for worthy charities such as Wednesday’s Child, Children’s Health and the Salvation Army’s Gene and Jerry Jones Center For Children among others.
She has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center and the Dallas Opera. She has also served as a Stradivarius member of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. She was also Co-Chair for the Opening Ceremonies of the Dallas Macabee Games, Co-Chair of the opening of Congregation Anshai Torah Synagogue and is a lifetime member of Kidney Texas. She commits her time, talent and monetary donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Gilda’s Club, Paws Cause, the SPCA, the Fur Ball, the Epilepsy Research Foundation, the National Kidney Foundation, Women That Soar, Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities, the Wheel To Survive benefit to find a cure for ovarian cancer and many others.
Janelle and Larry Friedman were named co-chairs of the “Celebrating Gloria” luncheon benefit for TRAC which celebrated renowned WFAA, Channel 8 Gloria Campos’ thirty year career with the television station and her years of making a difference in the lives of children in need of adoption.
Kidney Texas honored Janelle with the 2014 Sue Goodnight Award in appreciation of her passion for Kidney Texas and her efforts to help children’s charities.
She has won the Women That Soar award and the NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin Playmaker Community Service Award. The Dallas Business Journal named Janelle “a business leader to watch.”
Janelle is a member of the Association of Legal Administrators and the Dallas Legal Assistants Association. She has served as coordinator and fundraiser for local political campaigns and takes a very active role in fundraising for judges, Senators and many other political figures.
A native of Dallas, Janelle was raised in a large family in which “good manners, great style and the highest integrity are our most important values.” She attended Hillcrest High School and graduated from the University of Texas in Austin. Today, Janelle lives in Dallas with Larry, six children and two grandchildren.
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