ncjw pit tsburgh section • annual report 2011–2012

PRESIDENTHilary Spatz

VICE PRESIDENTSCathy CohenPhyllis CohenDebbie levy greenJennifer HonigSusan JordanRoxanne Wolk

recorDing secretarYJan Engelberg

assistant recorDing secretarYDena Chottiner

corresponDing secretarYDorothy Grinberg

treasurerPaula Garret

assistant treasurercheryl braver

ncjw pittsburgh section 2011–2012 boarD oF Directors

DIRECTORSbeverly blockCarly Cooperlaurie gottliebhenry Krakovsky, jr.Karen lightmanDodie Roskieselena rovnernancy sansomCindy Shapira

past presiDentsJudy Greenwald Cohengene Dickmanelyse b. eichnerbarbara Felmanelizabeth FinegoldMarcia Frumermanlynne garfinkelpatty hourvitzlynne s. jacobsonJudi KasdanMina Kavalercarolyn lebovitzlynette lederman elaine londonSusan NitzbergMerrille weissmancarol williams

liFe boarD MeMbersSandy Chernewestelle Krumaneileen laneJanet Spear

special appointMentsservices to the elderly: Marion Damick, Dr. barbara shorechildren’s rooms in the courts: joan levyeconomic independence of women: amy platt

state public aFFairs Vice-chairChristine Stone

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORMindy Hedges

chieF operating oFFicerBonnie Rubin

Mission stateMent the national council of jewish women (ncjw) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. inspired by jewish values, ncjw strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.

Message FroM the presiDent

Dear Members,

a year of self-reflection and transition, coupled with collaboration with vibrant partners, has brought ncjw pittsburgh section to an exciting juncture in its 119-year history. it is my privilege to share with Membership the fiscal year in review and in so doing remind us all of the opportunities to make a difference that membership in ncjw presents.

we recently hired Mindy schwartz-hedges as our executive Director. Mindy’s professional experience in marketing and public relations and proven leadership abilities with ncjw in columbus and hadassah in birmingham ensure that we now have the full complement of staff to support section work. already her work with our board, membership, and staff has provided a good rudder, and her enthusiasm for our work is contagious.

we must also recognize coo bonnie rubin, whose able management of our retail operations and our annual Designer Days and patron event provides excellent opportunities for membership engagement and also substantial revenue to support ncjw pittsburgh section’s mission.

Where are our energies focused?

COMMUNITY SERVICE & COLLABORATION: Improving the Quality of Life for Women, Children, and Families

this organization continues to fill a unique place among the service organizations in pittsburgh. we are the only jewish women’s organization dedicated to grassroots advocacy and community service. over the last 119 years the strength of national council of jewish women, locally and nationally, has remained our unique ability to identify the current needs of the vulnerable in our community and to respond in an intelligent and pointed manner. that’s our style.

we do this now in a community where we are blessed with many excellent, similarly-dedicated non-profit organizations, and our work in the community is enriched and amplified by our many collaborations.

this year we worked with gwen’s girls, developing relationships with the organization and the children served by this unique female-only foster care, residential, and after-school program, in order to identify the best means to address the unmet challenges the young women face in attaining economic independence. our member volunteers are developing one-on-one relationships with young women in a myriad of programs.

our collaboration with power in providing back-to-work clothing continues, and this year we are proud that ncjw’s home consignments designer bedroom in power’s residential facility is complete. ncjw joins other well-known pittsburgh designers in providing power clients comfortable and beautiful rooms during their stay.

our oral history committee and the association of jewish learning are exploring the possibilities of offering ncjw’s oral history curriculum to the community in our wonderful anathan house facility this fall. and we were thrilled to partner with the jewish women’s Foundation and others to sponsor a parlor meeting with israeli activist anat hoffman prior to her community-wide address.

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ncjw is also providing the community with mitzvah opportunities, as Mitzvah Day, j-site and temple sinai volunteers are working with our retail operations and our book Drive. we have partnered with the Ywca pink ribbon luncheon; pittsburgh Fashion week-eco chic; temple sinai’s sisterhood; and carnegie Mellon’s the spirit, providing their members with stunning outfits and modeling tips for their membership events. our work with these organizations builds our name in the community, which in turn increases our effectiveness.

our children’s rooms in the courts served more than 4,300 children in the first eight months of the fiscal year and is on course to break all records of care. under the direction of our new Manager, Misi bielich, we are fully staffed, and the number of volunteers in the rooms has increased over the prior year. critical to our strategic plan, the rooms served as an incubator for our economic independence of women initiative, providing internship opportunities for women in the eDs welfare-to-work program. ncjw hired two of these interns who are now full-time employees with benefits and have terminated their need for government assistance.

this summer the children’s rooms will provide internships for four young women in foster care as part of an internship program funded by a grant from the Fine Foundation. what an unexpected, additional, and appropriate use of our children’s rooms in the courts.

the 6th annual book Drive is under way and our young leadership is extending its reach to locations and families we’ve not touched before. in addition, the Family law section of the allegheny county bar association and the law firm of babst calland have chosen the drive as a social action project for their organizations this year. all children that visit the children’s rooms are given a book to take home.

our community service this year also included supplying back-to-school backpacks and supplies for at-risk children and preparing young women in foster care with a hygiene/self-care lecture and a supervised shopping experience. a product bank is in the works at anathan for women’s health and hygiene and infant supplies, so that we may adequately respond to all the requests for products we receive from children and Family services for our pic-a-bag program, the women’s center & shelter, and other organizations. and our members are tutoring and providing art experiences for girls in foster care (these young women in turn worked with members and staff at Designer Days).

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ncjw continues to utilize our retail operations as platforms for community service. supervised work opportunities were provided for members of the howard levin clubhouse; and we partnered, for the fourth year, with the glaxosmithKline workforce Development best practices training initiative to help clients of power who are preparing to enter the workforce—with ncjw providing wardrobe-building tips and shopping vouchers for work-appropriate attire.

ncjw pittsburgh section will continue to look for opportunities and synergies in our community during the coming fiscal year, joining like-minded organizations and bringing our talent and numbers to bear in the important work of improving the lives of women and their families. because that’s our style.

MEMBERSHIP: Our Core, Our Strength

we salute the work and engagement of the Young women’s group this year. with superior leadership, the opportunities for our younger women to gather and form the bonds of friendship, while participating in fund development and community service projects, has invigorated all of membership.

we also salute the members of ncjw’s heritage society, as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the society’s founding and renew our commitment to fund the security of ncjw pittsburgh section. we applaud the foresight and commitment of our heritage society members who, when asked, made a commitment to secure ncjw’s future through planned giving. it is now our turn, and we are rededicating our efforts to increase membership in the heritage society.

You’ll also be hearing about a new initiative, engage a Daughter, through which we will be encouraging you, our valued members, to help us promote and strengthen ncjw pittsburgh section through increased membership and engagement. as current members, it is our responsibility to promote and strengthen this organization which is dear to us and which continues to serve the values we hold so dear. that’s our style: to put our passion and values into action to make meaningful social change.

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CRITICAL ASSESSMENT: Best Practices & Distinctive Action

the work of our board Development committee during this past fiscal year has brought ncjw pittsburgh section to best governance practices and procedures. these are some of the highlights:

our search for board members will be an ongoing year-long process so that we may regularly identify the skill sets the board will need and identify committed candidates.

recognizing that our past presidents have a history and wealth of information to provide section, a president’s council has been established for their participation. we know that section will benefit immensely from this concentration of experience, talent, and commitment working directly with the president.

additional changes will reduce the size of the board to ensure nimble and flexible responses, and added term limits will ensure an infusion of interested and dedicated membership into leadership positions. committee chairs will come from our board to ensure we are working with one voice and one purpose on our strategic plan.

that’s our style: to always push ourselves to be the best, most effective and impactful organization we can be.

We are focused on ADVOCACY: Power in Numbers

as a member of ncjw pittsburgh section, you are part of a larger organization of 90,000 like-minded thinkers and doers in over 500 communities who share a commitment to the mission of ncjw and the belief that progressive ideals put into action can improve the world.

ncjw, inc. brings programs, advocacy campaigns, printed and online resources, and organizational direction to the pittsburgh section. this year, ncjw, inc. sponsored two excellent events: a benchmark judicial vacancies event featuring panelists Msnbc commentator ari Melber, pulitzer prize-winning author professor David garrow, and retired Federal judge timothy lewis; and a promote the Vote, protect the Vote event featuring estelle rogers from project Vote and Fred redmond, international Vp of the united steel workers.

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4,36610047

2464,8661,118

14 15

150

1,295

in addition to participating in national’s critical promote the Vote, protect the Vote 2012 campaign, ncjw pittsburgh section is collaborating in a project led by pa Voice to get out the vote in southwestern pennsylvania during this critical election year.

to use our collective voice to build the power to make meaningful social change: that’s our style!

PASSION: Fueling Positive Change

please take a moment to review our bY the nuMbers, which provides a synopsis of lives touched by ncjw this year. i know you will be as proud as i am to be a part of an organization that continues to meet the needs and improve the lives of women, children, and families of this community while joining with one voice, and that continues to promote the rights and freedoms of women in the areas of reproductive health, access to affordable health care and services.

the year ahead is full of promise and opportunity, and i thank you in advance for your ongoing and unfailing support.

with faith in the future and a belief in action.

that’s our style!

hilary a. spatz, president

bY the nuMbers

Children served through our threeChildren’s Rooms in the Courts

Backpacks filled with school suppliesprovided to girls in the foster care system

Girls in the foster care system who “shopped” for free back-to-school clothing

Suit Yourself Vouchers given to local womenre-entering the work force so they could select work-appropriate attire at Thriftique

Books collected and distributedthrough our annual book drive

Shoppers at Designer Days

Internships provided for womenre-entering the work force

Deserving students who received a total of $12,269 in NCJW Pittsburgh Section scholarships

Young students who benefited fromNCJW volunteer tutors

NCJW Pittsburgh Section Members

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OUR DONORS

2011–2012 stay-at-home ballleadership circlenancy bernsteinbernita buncherYetta elinofflynne garfinkelsusan Foreman jordanGerri Kaylynette r ledermansissy liebermanDaniel and Barbara Shapirahilary a spatzRoxanne Wolk

2011–2012 stay-at-home ballDonorsshirley abrambarbara b ackermanarleen adelsonjudy r alpertrosalind K alpertellen b amshelMarcella apterjane c arkusKathy w arnheimSusan BailsBette BalkGail S BallPhyllis M Baskinsusan beckermanMartha B Bergcarol F bergerMichael and eileen sherle j

BergerNatalie Bergercarol & Myles berkmansanford s. and patti bermanrose p bermanMrs. shelley bermanShirley Bilder

Edith Blattnerbeverly a. blockMarian r blockCharlotte G Bluestonepatricia bluestoneeva tansky blumMarcia braunercheryl braverPosy Brillanonymouslois Diamond bronpearl brostoffBarbara BurstinFrancine caplansheila chamovitzJoan G CharlsonSandra E ChernewGail ChildsDena ChottinerCathy R CohenJudy G CohenPhyllis Cohensally b and richard cohenTeri CowanCarol S Cozenlois croneMarion s DamickMarilyn Davisphyllis l DavisDebra Demchakedith a. Diamondbob and gene DickmanHolly DobkinKaren K Egorinlinda g ehrenreichelyse b eichnerrenie ellmanJan Engelbergbernice Faigentibey Falk

Frances Fallcharlese l Farkasbarbara s Felmanjana Finderlaryn Findersheila r Fineelizabeth a FinegoldMarian Finegoldlois Finkeljennifer Finkelsteinsylvia F Fischerleona h Fishereileen r Forstrebeca r Frankeljoan b Friedbergnatalie Friedberganonymousrobin r Friedmanroz FriedmanMarcia Frumermanesther garfinkelruth garfinkelPaula GarretToby Geiringeresther glickmannettie glickmanElinor GoldCarol Goldbergjack and elaine a goldbergZandra GoldbergJennifer Barber GoldensonSally and Martin GoldhaberEllen K Goldsteinsandra goodmanElizabeth Gordonlinda g gordonlucille gordonMarcia gordonMrs. ira gordonCarole Gottlieb

laurie gottliebJuliette GrauerDana S GreenDebbie l greenEdythe Greenbarbara F greenbergMarjorie c greenbergerDorothy a grinbergEdith B Grinbergleslie grodinCarol S GrossMarjorie c grosslori F guttmanClaire B HahnCaryl HalpernDr. anthony M and rosanne i

HarrisonSally HerruphighmarkVelma hirschJanet W HirshbergMarilyn rattner and Dr. carol

hoffmanVicky hoffmanjennifer and larry honigMarilyn S Honigsbergreva w hornrhonda horvitzpatty and Michael hourvitzgladys hunt-MasonKathy R Hurwitzrifkie jacobowitzlynne s jacobsoncarol stewart jamesnancy p johnsonBarbara Kallajoan Kaminjanet KamonDr. carol Kaplanlawrence w and natalie Kaplan

laura KaplanJudi Kasdanclarice KatzShirley C KatzMina M Kavaleramy Kellmanjack j and ellen p KesslerKathy U Kleinruth ann KleinMyrna KlineValerie K KramerElaine B Krasikanne l KriegerDonna Krumanestelle b Krumanharriet n KrumanFran landayMarjorie r landayrachel boreman landmanFrances F landoeileen l laneMarilyn s lattermancarolyn r lebovitzemily lebovitzjudith Kelsky lebovitzFlorence leebovangela leibowiczrhonda a letwinMarcia j levaurcecile h levensonKaren j levinanonymousgina levinerosanne M levinebetsy levine-brownlisa F levinsonjoan levylois g levysally t libsonsusan lieber

ncjw pittsburgh section extends our gratitude to all those who supported our work during the 2011–2012 fiscal year (as of April 9, 2012)

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Donald & sylvia robinson Family Foundation

sally & Fred rockMildred K Rogowbette romSandra H RosenBarbara Rosenberglaurel s rosenberglinda rosenbloomnancy rosenthalDodie Roskiesaudrey rothnancy rubensteinRuth S RubensteinBonnie S RubinDoris RudolphIna SableTwyla S Sablearlene and steve sablowskynancy sansomruth & allan schachterMiriam schaffelMarla sue scheinmanpatty schneideralece o schreiberanonymousSue Shaperacynthia and David shapiraDr. edith l shapiraJoan ShapiroRandi Shawnancy l shumanBarbara Siegellynne siegelpatricia l sigerina silverlinda r silvermanMarjorie K silvermanMarlene silvermanMyrna silvermannan silvermanjean b simonjoanne r simonnancy l simonlaurie s singerjudy smalley

elaine p smithnancy t smithcaren M snidermanCheryl B SnyderSaundra Snyderlynn j. snydermanViolet sofferlois l solomonMarcia c solomonPhyllis SpatzJanet and John Speargerri sperling and David

slesnickDorothy SpiegelShirley StarkFern josowitz steckelDiana SternMarcia M. stewartChristine M StoneMeredith B Strassburgersylvia sussnaMarilyn swimmerMrs. barbara tabachnickSusan V TanzerSharon TarterEllen J TokerMarilyn TurnerSuzanne Wagneriris amper walkersusan wechslerandrea wednerevelyn wednerGail WednerEthel R WeikersJudy Weinclaire weinbaumjoan l weinbaumliora weinbergDeborah l weingardenbeverly weinsteinsharon l weisbergruth F weisbergerMelanie WeisbordBetty Weisslila l weissMarcia j weiss

Merrille c weissmanbarbara r weschlerruth westermancarol s williamsMaxine WillisDeborah O Wintersbarbara Y wollmanCarole Wolshlynda wrennsusan YoungDebbie Zidellbarbara K Zimmtshirley l ZiontsStuart ZolotMadeline Zukermanlois and barry Zwibel

2011 Designer Days sponsorsbank of americabuchanan, ingersoll and rooney

PCBarbara ChaitCathy R CohenColdwell Bankerjamini V DaviesFidelity bank - shadysideGiant EagleDr. paul lebovitz and Mr. Mark

CaldoneMr. robert levinCarol NeylandPittsburgh Oral SurgeryFern schwartzMadelain TaubergUBSwpXi-tVwagner agencywealth Management strategies,

inc.

2011 Designer Days in-Kind Donorsandrew leo hair salonBeautiful BeadsBig Burritobig easy animal hospitalCaesar’s DesignsCarabellacarl hermann FursCheekschoicesColor Me MineDale’s MaximaDirect jewelry outletDoncaster on FifthFiler chiropractic centerHarris GrillIzzazu International Hair Salonjeffrey smith salonjewish community centerKards unlimitedlamar advertisingle Mixlittle’s shoesMarjie allon Fine stationeryNota BeneOne Brilliantpamarbrian pekarcikPerloraperspectives inprintPittsburgh BalletMary Preziosojon princeRJW Mediasalon destefinoschiller’s pharmacyFern schwartzSephorasewickley spaspoiled chicssushi 2T’s UpholsteryTennis VillageTournesolRoberta Weissburg

Karen lightmangerrie littmannelaine w londonpamela ludinlouise r Malakoffstephanie F MallingerSherry H MaloneMilton and carol F ManesEstelle MannEllen D MarksBarbara Marslinda MatesKathryn Maurinemily s Medinebarbara sachnoff Mendlowitzbeverly s Mermelsteinjack and bernice MeyersEnid MillerMargery M Mitnickanne Molloyjane Moravitzbunny & Marvin MorrisBee Jee MorrisonCarole NeibergIrene Nelkinsusan l nernbergSusan Nitzbergphyllis ochsBarbara PennerShelley Petropfizer Foundation Matching gifts

programamy plattlori plungMarolee pollocksusan l portnoyestelle F rabinShirley C RapportMarilyn rattner and Dr. carol

hoffmanlynn rayvidjoan reichFaye h reidbordCathy Reiferbeverly s riegercarol robinson & jeffrey Markel

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Tributes and Other Donationsbernice alpernjudy r alpertlaurie barkmanharriet D baumBetty BelleDeborah berkovitzGeorgia BernerCarol BleierSusan R BlinnMarian r blockcheryl braverbernita buncherBarbara Burstinsylvia busisFrancine caplanMarci caplanDena Chottineramy w cohenJudy G CohenMary Jane ColenMarion s Damickeve Daterbernice g DavisDebra DemchakFrances Denmarklaura D DinkinPhyllis DreyfussKaren K Egorinelyse b eichnerJan Engelbergtibey Falklynn Farberjamie b Feldsteinjune Feldsteinsheila r Finesylvia F Fischerruth o Frankharriet l Franklinjoan b FriedbergMarcia Frumermanlynne garfinkel

ruth garfinkeleva gelmanCarol J GoldenNanette Gordonlaurie gottliebRita J GouldDana S GreenDebbie l greenMarjorie c greenbergerDorothy a grinbergEdith B Grinbergallison grodinleslie grodinMerris groffMarcia gumberglana guttmansusan g guttmanirvin guyettlisa hackamMarlene R HausSally HerrupVelma hirschVicky hoffmanJennifer Honiggladys hunt-Masonlynne s jacobsonMyra Juddlaura KaplanShirley C KatzMina M KavalerStephen and Myrna Klinehenry w Krakovsky, jr.corinne a Krauseestelle b KrumanFrances F landoeileen l laneFlorence leebovandrea lehmanclaire b levineDory levinejoan levysusan lieber

If we have omitted or incorrectly listed your name, please accept our heartfelt apology and know that your financial support is greatly appreciated.

our Donors (continueD)

Karen lightmansusan lippardjacquelyn loblalan and elaine w londonandrea lowensteinMartin lubetskypamela ludinlouise r MalakoffGertrude Malletandee MillsteinEsther M NathansonCarole NeibergSusan Nitzbergphyllis ochsjacqueline orlanskyBarbara ParkerDonna Paulpfizer Foundation Matching gifts

programHelen M Posnernancy rackoffnancy rechtjames and joan D reichCharlotte ReiterJudy RobinsonRobin J RosenSandra H Rosennancy rosenthalIlene Rosselena rovnerBonnie S Rubinselma p ryavelinda siegelMarla s scheinmanFlorence schneidersuzanne schreiberlenore s schwartzlinda shensaalice siegelBarbara SiegelEllen B Siegellynne siegel

anna lisa silbermanlaurie s singerhope soloffFlorita sonnenklarJudy K Spahrhilary a spatzJessy R Steincarol steinbachChristine M StoneRita Taubergherb and becky torbinrichard l. and suzanne wagnerevelyn wednerGail WednerRuth N WinerRoxanne Wolkharvey and carole wolshlinda wozmanadrienne YoungRita M Zolot

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ncjw heritage societYthe ncjw heritage society provides means to build an endowment to ensure the future of ncjw pittsburgh section. a donor may establish a permanent endowment in his or her name, as a memorial, or in recognition of another person. individuals may become members by designating a bequest or an estate gift, or by making a current contribution of cash, stock, or other eligible asset in an amount not less than $5,000.

special thanks to the following individuals whose planned gift supports ncjw’s ongoing efforts to improve the lives of women, children, and families—generation to generation:

A special tribute to those NCJW members who have passed away since our last annual report.

Deborah berkman

Eleanor Caplan

Sara Chetlin

Rita Green

aaronel gruber

claire levine

ruth linton

helen lipsitz

sylvia plutchok

Barbara Rudkin

cookie schaer

Hope Shapiro

Joan Tanzer

Shirley Tyson

in MeMoriaM

anonymous (1)Kathy arnheimMarjorie balter*Martha Berglois blaufeldCharlotte Bluestonejane broff*gertrude caplan*Sandra Chernewgene DickmanKaren EgorinJan Engelbergelizabeth FinegoldMarcella Finegold*Marian Finegoldruth o. Frankruth garfinkeljacki herzogpatty hourvitzlynne s. jacobsonNatalie Kaplan

Judi Kasdananne Kriegertheresa cohen lackenbach*eileen lanelynette ledermananne leifer*ruth w. lieber*bernice Meyersgail Kronheim neustadtrachel porter*joan reichMildred rosenberg*ilene Freilich rosstwyla s. sableBarbara Siegelellen b. siegellynne siegelMarsha SternMona Strassburgerjoan weinbaumcarol s. williams

*deceased

1620 MurraY aVenue

pittsburgh, pa 15217

phone: (412) 421-6118

FaX: (412) 421-1121

eMail: info@ncjwpgh.org

www.ncjwpgh.orgfacebook.com/ncjwpgh

twitter.com/ncjwpgh

non proFit org.u.s. postage

p a i Dpittsburgh, pa

permit no. 708