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Home > About Us: Women's Division

Today is:
5/12/2008
Women's Philanthropy Division

About the Women's Philanthropy Division

 

 

 

Women's Philanthropy Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle invites all women within our diverse Jewish community to become involved through outreach, fundraising, education, and leadership development. We mirror the overall mission of Federation by motivating women to devote their time and financial resources to the needs of Jewish people everywhere.

Below, you will see examples of the activities and opportunities that we offer, some past and some upcoming. We hope this will give you a sense of what Women's Philanthropy Division is all about, and encourage you to be in touch and fill out our Sign-Up reply form if you are not already on our mailing list.

For more information on Women's Philanthropy Division or any of our events, or just to learn about what's going on in Jewish Seattle email Women@JewishInSeattle.org or call (206) 774-2219.

Women's Campaign

Every year, Seattle women contribute almost $3 million to our annual Community Campaign– close to a third of the total raised annually by the Federation. Your gift as a woman expresses your personal commitment to Jewish life in Seattle and around the world.

Let's connect with each other by strengthening our community.

We’d love for you to become involved in the Women’s Philanthropy Division of the Federation. To receive more information, please email AnnaF@JewishInSeattle.org or call (206) 774-2226.

To make a women’s gift to our 2008 annual Community Campaign, click here.

Connections

Connections Brunch 2008
With special guest Mia Farrow

When: Sunday, February 10, 10:30 – 1pm
Where: Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th Street, Bellevue, WA 98004

Register online for Connections

Mia Farrow’s earliest memories come from the walled gardens and rocky shores of western Ireland, a time and place where she experienced multiple hardships as a young girl. The onset of polio at age nine and the deaths of two family members several years later profoundly affected her as a child and shattered any sense of family security. Making steps to put these misfortunes behind her, Farrow began her journey to the heights of Hollywood.

Now, as the mother of fourteen children, ten of whom are adopted, Mia Farrow has devoted her life to humanitarian efforts and the care of a truly remarkable family. Farrow has been a high profile advocate for children's rights, working to raise funds and awareness for children in conflict affected regions, predominantly Africa. Her latest humanitarian effort raises awareness of the genocide occurring in Darfur, Chad and Central African Republic. Mia is a woman who truly embodies the notion of following one's heart and continually tries to repair the world as in our own tradition of Tikkun Olam.


Connections
is the largest gathering of Jewish women in the Seattle area and the signature outreach event of the Women’s Philanthropy Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. In 2007, over 600 women attended Connections to hear the captivating speaker, Jennifer Weiner and financially support the Seattle Jewish community, Israel and Jews worldwide. There is no minimum gift to attend, making the event available to more women in the greater Seattle Jewish community.

Past speakers have included a variety of authors, scholars, political and entertainment figures – Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Jennifer Weiner, Lettie Cottin Pogrebin, Susan Estrich, Gloria Steinem, and others.

For more information, please email Women@JewishInSeattle.org or call (206) 774-2219.

Lion of Judah

2008 Lion of Judah Pamela Waechter z”l Luncheon
with special Guest Speaker Alina Gerlovin Spaulding

The story of Alina Gerlovin Spaulding is a miracle story in which we each share a part. The dollars raised by Federations like ours, have allowed Alina and her family to be part of the American Jewish community. Alina immigrated to this country in 1979 with the help of many Jewish agencies funded by our Federation dollars. Her parents tried to leave the Former Soviet Union for several years, but were granted permission only when the worldwide Jewish community stepped forth.

Alina is involved in humanitarian causes in the United States and overseas. Alina coordinated the Delet Camp program between Greensboro and Beltzy, Moldova for 5 years. She has also traveled to Minsk with Jewish Healthcare International on a mental health and Jewish education mission intended to build a more vibrant and healthy Jewish community in Belarus. Alina was one of 17 fellows from around the world to take part in the first class of the Brandeis/ Bronfman Institute for Informal Jewish Education and one of 10 fellows from North America to take part in the prestigious Covenant Fellowship program for Jewish Education. Alina currently works for the American Hebrew Academy as the Director of Communications.

See Pictures From the LOJE Luncheon.

About Lion of Judah
Traditionally, the Lion of Judah has been an internationally recognized designation for women who personally contribute $5000 or more to the Jewish Federation Community Campaign during a given year. Women who reach the "Lion" level with their campaign gifts are entitled to receive a gold pin in the shape of the Lion of Judah. Introduced in 1972 by the Miami Federation, thousands of women around the world proudly wear the Lion pin in recognition of their commitment to the Jewish community.

Things in Seattle have changed! In an effort to be more inclusive of community members and donors, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle now proudly identifies Lion of Judah women as the following:

Individual women donors who give a minimum gift of $5,000 to the 2008 annual Community Campaign AND Women whose total combined household gift is a minimum of $5,000 to the 2008 annual Community Campaign.

For more information, please email AnnaF@JewishInSeattle.org or call (206) 774-2226.

 

 

Living Generously
2006 annual Community Campaign
“It becomes a habit to care...”
We are excited about our 2008 annual Community Campaign season! Your one gift to the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle contributes to meeting the needs of Jews locally and worldwide. Make 2008 a year of living generously.

 

Meet Anna
Women's Philanthropy Director

Meet Anna, Women's Philanthropy Director at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. Anna heads up the Women’s Philanthropy Division and will help plan the Women’s Mission to Israel, May 11-22nd.

Anna has extensive experience with Jewish communal work. She was employed with the Houston Hillel as their Program Director in 1999-2000 and then again as their Development Director in 2006. She also spent five years in development with the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston. Anna earned her BA in Psychology and her MS in Counseling and Human Development from the University of Rochester.

Thanks for taking the time to meet with us, Anna. You're pretty new to Seattle, aren't you?
Yes. I moved here a couple of months ago, from Houston.

How do you like it so far?
I've found the community to be warm and welcoming. You know, I drove all the way from Houston to Seattle.

All by yourself?
Nope, I had my dog, Morty with me.

You're not from Houston, though. Originally you're from Long Guy-land?
Nice accent. Yes, I'm from Long Island, where there are Jews everywhere. It's always been a part of my life. My favorite and earliest memories all have to do with being Jewish. Going to Hebrew School, helping prepare for high holidays…doing Jewish things always felt like a special time.

We’re guessing that your Jewish community participation has been pretty constant throughout your life.
Mostly. In high school I was Super-Jew! I was a Vice-President of LIFTY, the NFTY Long Island region. In college my participation dropped off. I had an experience with Hillel my freshman year that turned me off. In college I basically did nothing Jewish.

I do want to say that what Judaism taught me—about the importance of community –stuck with me. I got really involved with the Greek system and found my sense of community there. And I didn’t want to just be there, I wanted to give back to my community by taking on a leadership role.

That’s right in line with what I read on your resume, a lot of community engagement and relationship building.
So true. Caring for the community, engaging people…those things are really important to me.

So how did you find yourself working for Hillel after college?
By my senior year, Hillel hired a wonderful Rabbi, Rabbi Ari Israel, and I got re-involved with Hillel. Then I was graduating, trying to figure out what I should do, when my brother told me about the job. It was a crazy time, but the right time. At the Houston Hillel I got to staff the very first birthright israel trip—ever! I really wanted to be working for Federation, so when an appropriate job opportunity opened up, I applied.

And you worked there for a long time.
Five years. While I was there I started a second Women's Business and Professionals group. Each month, 70 women get together for a program with a speaker, breakfast and business referrals. Five years later, this group is going strong and is still growing!

I also created Men’s Nite Out for the Houston Jewish community, our first men-only philanthropy event. Participation grew from 750 attendees in the first year to 950 by the third! The event really has had a tremendous impact on the Houston Jewish community not just from an outreach perspective but from a fundraising standpoint as well. I feel like my time spent at the Federation in Houston was…extremely impactful.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle was lucky to find you!
I'm happy to be here. I love the excitement and enthusiasm of working with Women’s Philanthropy. The women’s dedication is so inspiring. Women make up a large portion of our Federation and community leadership, and also contribute a great deal to our annual Community Campaign – one third of its entire amount. Working with existing leadership and helping to cultivate new leaders with the Women's Philanthropy Division is really going to help impact our entire community! Plus, the power of philanthropic women, as a collective group, is exciting!

We love your enthusiasm. Now let's get personal: what’s your favorite Jewish food?
Chicken Noodle Soup. With lots of dill. And hold the matzoh balls.



Jewish Resources

Are you new to Seattle or simply wondering how to connect with other Jews in the area? The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is a great place to start building your personal Jewish community. Check out the links below, or email Outreach@JewishInSeattle.org to get connected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giving Opportunities

2008 Annual Community Campaign

Community Endowment Fund

Pam Waechter Memorial Fund

Brick By Brick Campaign

Israel Emergency Fund
When you give to the Israel Emergency Fund, please identify the Seattle Federation (at the top of the form), so we can acknowledge your generosity. Thank you!

Seattle Victim's Assistance Fund


 


The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle was established 1926. Our Mission is to ensure Jewish survival and enhance the quality of Jewish life locally, in Israel and worldwide.

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Seattle, WA 98121

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