Women's Philanthropy Newsletter |
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Hello Women’s Philanthropy!
It's hard to believe that I’m in my final few weeks as chair of Women's Philanthropy. Before my time in this role finishes, I would like to celebrate a few of our successes and say thank you.
In the last year, Women's Philanthropy (WP) has experienced substantial growth, both in terms of programs and members from September 2023 to today. This year, we DOUBLED our numbers, with Women's Philanthropy hosting a total of 13 programs and events that involved 826 total attendees!
We added new program partners including Jewish Women’s Circle and NCJW - Milwaukee. We continued our new tradition of recognizing Women’s History Month in March, and this year we did so with our International Women’s Day Lunch. The Edie Adelman Political Awareness Lecture returned in full force, and our WP Book Club attendance remained strong with close to 30 RSVPs for each gathering. We added 9 volunteer opportunities to our offerings as well as got back in the busineses of mission expereicnes, where 46 women participated in three different missions to Mexico City, Israel and Poland/Hungary. Lastly, we accomplished a huge feat of converting our annual luncheon into a gala-style, evening program called VALOR with over 200 attendees.
This has been a very successful year, and I am immensely proud of this group of resilient and powerful women. I want to express my deepest gratitude to all the women who actively engaged with Women's Philanthropy this year. I also must thank the women who worked alongside of me on all the events and intiatives that contributed to the success of Women's Philanthropy. First, to the Women's Philanthropy board: I am in awe of you all. Your energy, creativity, passion, and all the resources that you brought to the table. I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to do this year with you. Second, to Becca Guralnick, Women's Philanthropy Campaign Chair: thank you for your partnership this year. You have done an amazing job of leading our part in the annual campaign, and I admire your passion and drive. I’m so glad that we were able to share this year together. Third, to the Women's Philanthropy professional staff: Deb and Melissa, thank you for all your support and diligence. We are the dream team! I will miss all the time I've spent with you, but you are more than professionals to me. You are my friends. I look forward to working with you in a new way in the future.
I have been handed the baton in this line of strong women and will hand it off to the next capable leader who is Sara Hermanoff. I know that Women’s Philanthropy is in such competent and experienced hands with Sara. Please scroll down to read more about Sara in the Q&A below.
It has been an amazing opportunity for me to serve our Jewish community here in Milwaukee, but also in Israel and around the world. Sometimes, I am baffled by how I came into this role as chair. Yet, when I think about my life, it all makes sense. After arriving here in Milwaukee in 1989 with almost nothing, this community gave me everything.
Being a part of the Milwaukee Jewish community has always felt like the right thing, the place that I was supposed to be. This holy work that we do—the mission of taking care of the needs of the Jewish community and building a vibrant Jewish community in Milwaukee, Israel and around the world is the mission of my heart. However, this holy work is not finished, and I am also not finished. I'm excited to announce that I will be stepping into the role of Campaign Co-Chair alongside Susan Angel Miller for the 2025 Annual Campaign. So, Women's Philanthropy, is this not "goodbye", but rather "see you soon"!
Warmly,
Tanya Arbit
Women's Philanthropy Chair
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Roar with Pride in 2025!
Registration is officially open for the 2025 International Lion of Judah Conference in Atlanta, GA from January 12-14, 2025. This passionate group of women philanthropists will convene to learn, make connections, and feel inspired to continue our critical work supporting our local and global Jewish communities.
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At the 2025 conference, our Milwaukee Jewish community will have the honor to recognize Joan Lubar as a recipient of the nationally-known Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award! This award is given to women who embody the spirit and vision of the Lion of Judah through a commitment to tzedakah and tikkun olam as well as give women encouragement and opportunity to take a leadership role in philanthropy and Jewish community involvement. Our community will have an opportunity to celebrate Joan locally at our VALOR event this fall. Mazel tov Joan!
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Thursday, November 21 | Evening | Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel
VALOR Co-Chairs:
Jennifer Curnes, Judi Ketten, Linda Marcus, Jodi Sprinkmann
More information coming in August.
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Campaign Update from Becca Guralnick, Women's Philanthropy (WP) Campaign Chair
Happy Summer, Women's Philanthropy! I'm thrilled to give a final update on the 2024 Annual Campaign as we wrap up the campaign. As of June 18, our achievement is $5,953,104. We are still actively fundraising for the 2024 annual campaign through June 30, which gives us 10 days to go to reach our $7 million goal. Campaign leadership and I are confident we will hit our goal in the remaining days. I want to thank two groups of people for helping the Federation get this far in our goal.
To our donors: Thank you so much for your commitment for giving to this cause that helps take care of the needs of Jewish community in Milwaukee, Israel and around the world. This spring, we saw many manifestations of antisemitism on college campuses, including our own UW-Milwaukee and UW-Madison. Hillel Milwaukee, which serves 11 campuses in the Milwaukee area was on the front lines of combating this, and Federation stood alongside of Hillel the whole time.
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Your annual campaign dollars invests nearly $250,000 annually to ensure safe spaces for Jewish students as 12 campuses across the state that includes security, building services, programming dollars and other support systems. To learn more about how your participation in the annual campaign helps Milwaukee Jewish college students, watch this newly-released video.
To our volunteers: I want to thank my campaign team and all the women volunteer solicitors for their work in this campaign. A special shout-out to the Lion of Judah and Pomegranate vice-chairs who really followed through on the work we did this year, patiently pivoting when we were faced with the Israel crisis and launching an emergency campaign back in October. In addition to raising money, our campaign vice-chairs helped grow our Lion of Judah Society by 23 new Lions and our Pomegranate Society by 34 new Pomegranates. Thank you all for your vision, energy and resources that you brought to our team. We are so grateful that you choose to be partners with us in this work.
Again, if you haven't already made your annual campaign gift, please reach out to me before June 30. It would be my honor and privilege to talk to you about the annual campaign and the impact of your dollars on our community. Please feel free to contact me at Beccacooks@gmail.com.
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Welcome New Society Members | |
New members since the May publication of the Women's Philanthropy Newsletter. | |
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Chagall's Dead Souls: A Satirical Account of Imperialist Russia
NEW exhibit! Now open through September 8, 2024.
Learn more.
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Next Gen Give Back Day
June 25
10 am – 2 pm
Bradley Crossing (4375 W. Bradley Rd., Brown Deer)
Learn more.
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J-Pride Shabbat Dinner
June 28
6:30 - 9:00 pm
RSVP for address.
Learn more.
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Israel (No Sugar) Coffee with the Shlicha
July 10
3:30 - 4:30 pm
Ovation Chai Point
Learn more.
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July Opportunity: School Supply Drive
Co-Chairs: Amy Bazelon and Rachel Weinberg
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In 2023, Women's Philanthropy (WP) participated in the United Way Backpack Drive where over 7,000 brand new backpacks were filled with school supplies to children across our community.
Join Women's Philanthropy in 2024 to collect school supplies for the 2024-2025 school year. This upcoming school year, United Way expects to serve over 9,000 students in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, and Ozaukee Counties. With the increased need and the cost of supplies greater than ever, Women's Philanthropy needs your help!
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How can you help?
1. Purchase high priority school supply items:
- Crayons (24 count)
- Folders (paper or plastic)
- Markers (10-12 count, thin or broad tip)
- Composition notebooks (college or wide ruled)
- Spiral notebooks (college or wide ruled).
2. Drop off the items at one of the many drop off locations. If you need the address of a drop-off location, please reach out to Melissa Taylor.
- Milwaukee: Milwaukee Jewish Federation (1360 N Prospect Avenue)
- Glendale: Home of Deb Carneol Fendrich
- Shorewood: Home of Sharon Grinker
- Fox Point: Home of Rachel Weinberg or Home of Amy Bazelon
- Mequon: Home of Andi Zimmerman
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Spotlight: Incoming WP Chair | |
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Women's Philanthropy (WP) is excited to welcome Sara Hermanoff as incoming chair in the next campaign year! We had a chance to connect with Sara about her Federation and Women's Philanthropy involvement and what's next for Women's Philanthropy.
Q: What has your Federation journey looked like over the year?
A: The Milwaukee Jewish Federation holds a special place in my heart and is where I have concentrated the majority of my volunteer work for the past fifteen years. My first ten years were focused on the planning and allocations side of our philanthropy. I loved seeing the positive impact of our collective giving as a member and chair of the Agency Review Council followed by helping make critical distribution decisions as a committee member and chair of the Community Planning and Allocation Committee. Along the way, I served on the Governance Committee, a variety of Task Force committees, and have been a member of the MJF Board of Directors. After recently completing two years as the Women's Philanthropy Campaign Chair, I am finishing a year as chair of the Strategic Lay-Leadership Stewardship committee which creates intentional volunteer paths within our federation.
Q: What qualities do you admire in a woman leader?
A: Our Women's Philanthropy community has many wise women that I greatly admire. Jewish values are foremost for me: how women in leadership positions use their influence to better our community and how they make others feel in the process. The qualities I most admire in my philanthropic friends are kindness, flexibility, dedication, perseverance, and intellectual curiosity. I am fortunate to work with women who possess many of these characteristics. We have an incredible community of leaders, and I am excited to help others create their own philanthropic careers within Women's Philanthropy.
Q: What are your hopes for WP in the future?
A: I hope to continue our exciting momentum by following in the steps of past Women's Philanthropy leaders whom I greatly admire. My top three goals this year are to: support Deb and Melissa in their professional visions for Women's Philanthropy, create meaningful engagement and leadership opportunities for our younger members, and continue to expand our collective philanthropic giving and subsequent impact. All of this will be accomplished in a warm and welcoming community - come join us!
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Mazel tov to the Jewish Women's Endowment Fund (JWEF) on another successful grant cycle!
In 2024, JWEF gave four grants totalling $31,900 to local Jewish and non-Jewish non-profits that support women and children:
Greater Milwaukee Urban League - $10,000
Jewish Community Pantry - $9,900
MJDS - $5,000
Lad Lake - $7,600
The Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund responds to critical needs in the Milwaukee community by making grants focused on programs relating to women’s health care, women’s economic self-sufficiency, and children at risk. Since 1995, the Fund has awarded grants of over $400,000 benefitting 66 local agencies and has grown to over 240 members. Learn more about JWEF and how to get involved.
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Women's Philanthropy in Photos | |
Thank You,
Women's Philanthropy!
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Thank you to all the women who participated in Women's Philanthropy (WP) in 2023-2024—whether you attended an event for the first time or if you've been volunteering for years. We are so appreciative of the time, talent and treasure that you’ve invested in Women’s Philanthropy and the Federation.
A special thank you to our entire Women's Philanthropy board. You bolstered all our successes this year, and we couldn't have done it without you. Becca Guralnick, thank you for leading the charge in our 2024 Annual Campaign. Because of you, Women's Philanthropy continues to be the backbone of the annual campaign. Tanya Arbit, there isn't enough space in this newsletter to say how lucky I feel to have worked in partnership with you for the last two years. You are my mentor, inspiration and friend. I'm so excited for you to stay involved in Women's Philanthropy.
Lastly, I'm thrilled to yet again work with Sara Hermanoff in her new role as Women's Philanthropy chair. I look forward to continuing to build on the success of Women's Philanthropy over the last two years. The sky is the limit!
I count it a great privilege to be working with the women of our community everyday to make sure the needs of the Jewish community are taken care of in Milwaukee, Israel and around the world. We look forward to connecting with you through our newsletter again in August.
B'Shalom (to peace),
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Deb Carneol Fendrich
Women's Philanthropy Director
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