Volunteer Spotlight: Sidell Family

Carol Sidell and her two daughters Joanna Sandorffy and Sarah Walton are the phenomenal co-chairs of this year's Connections brunch on January 30. This philanthropic family is working together to organize the Jewish Federation's signature and ever-popular women's outreach and fundraising event, and their book-loving ways have made for a brunch around books. With a book drive, a special story-time for dads and kids, and Nancy Pearl, Seattle's favorite librarian, as the keynote speaker, Carol, Joanna and Sarah have made sure there will be no shortage of buzz around novels, short stories, picture books, and more.

This team of women and family came together in the early stages of planning for Connections because of a desire to work together for a cause they cared about. "We wanted to share our love of reading with our community," said Joanna. "We're a family of readers, so it made sense for us to come together around this amazing event." Carol, Joanna and Sarah have spent the past few months meeting regularly with Jewish Federation staff, touring hotels, tasting food, and more (all with the next generation of young readers, sons Markus Sandorffy and Jesse Walton, in tow) to make this event even more special than usual. These amazing women  also love the community engagement side of the event: they've all been instrumental in coordinating a city-wide book drive at over fifteen locations of new and gently used books.

Without the enthusiasm and incredible efforts of committee chairs like Carol, Joanna and Sarah, community events of this scale and impact simply can't come together. "Thank goodness for chairs like these," says Kelly Joseph, the Jewish Federation's special events manager. "It's fantastic to have community members who are so willing to go out of their way to volunteer their time and make an impact on this level."

"I love the fact that people are thanking me for simply doing what I love to do: getting involved and helping to make a difference in our Jewish community," says Carol when asked about co-chairing the event. We at the Jewish Federation can't ask for much more!