The Nashville Section of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) has a long history of service to the Nashville community. And now, more than 120 years since our founding, NCJW Nashville is thrilled to announce that they continue to be able to support our community projects.
Projects developed and supported by the Section have become a part of the lives of many of the citizens of our city and help lift up women, children, and families in the Nashville Metropolitan area.
The funding for all Section projects is achieved primarily through contributions at the Section’s annual fundraiser, called Ways and Means, though is also supported through gifts from private philanthropic foundations, corporate grants, and bequests by members naming the Section as a beneficiary in their wills.
Each year, returning or new projects are invited to apply for support through a process called Study and Survey. After completing the application, projects are asked to attend an allocations meeting facilitated by our Study and Survey chairs and members of the committee. This past year’s chairs were Vice Presidents of Projects, Hayley Levy Kupin and April Nemer.
Like many other organizations, NCJW Nashville is returning to in person programming post-pandemic and evaluating how best to engage its membership and fulfill its mission to improve the lives of the women, children, and families of Middle Tennessee. The past few years has not only impacted NCJW’s ability to engage members through in person programming, they have also prevented members from volunteering with projects in the same way; however, members and donors have continued to support this meaningful work.
For the first time since 2019, the Ways and Means fundraiser, which funds the projects, was held in person. Nan Speller was honored with the prestigious Hannah G. Solomon award in recognition of her years of leadership and service to NCJW Nashville. And the new Emerging Leader award, named in honor of Jamie Brook, Freya Sachs, and Erin Zagnoev, was presented to Felicia Abramson. With 140 NCJW members and community members present, Ways and Means raised over $46,000 in individual donations and sponsorships.
NCJW Nashville is grateful to members for continuing to show their support, not only to the section, but also to the women, children, and families in Middle Tennessee who will benefit.
On Sunday, May 7, at NCJW, Nashville’s 2022-2023 Closing Meeting, the membership voted to fully fund the following project requests:
- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), funded through the Fensterwald Fund held by NCJW Nashville
- Gilda’s Club of Middle Tennessee’s children and teen programs
- Kosher Food Box with Jewish Family Service
- Kosher for Passover Food Boxes with Jewish Family Service
- Renewal House
- Senior Friends Rosh Hashannah baskets with Jewish Family Service
- Snack Box Program with OUR KIDS
- Vanderbilt’s REACH for Survivorship
- Vanderbilt Hillel’s Shabbat Dinners
Lastly, NCJW, Nashville Section is also honored to announce our 2023-2024 Executive Committee:
- Stephanie Kirschner and Marci Kleinrock, Presidents
- La Quita Martin, Sheri Rosenberg, Rachel Whitney and Harriet Workman, VPs, Advocacy
- Felicia Abramson and Rachel Friedman, VPs, Membership
- Rebecca Kaduru and Stephanie Korn, VPs, Programming
- Julie Galbierz and Hayley Kupin, VPs, Projects
- Kim Lapidus and Liza Star, Treasurers
- Julie Fortune and April Nemer, Secretaries
- Erin Coleman, Past President
NCJW demonstrated appreciation to the 2022-2023 Executive Committee, and will miss those who rolled off of the board:
- Amy R. Smith, Past President
- Katie Wayne, VP, Membership
- Tracey Leff, VP, Membership
- Mollie Perry, VP, Programming
- Lauren Wachsman, VP, Programming
The 2023-2024 Executive Committee invites all members of our Nashville Jewish community to join NCJW at the 2023 Opening Meeting on August 27 and for Ways and Means on November 19, where the Section will continue to demonstrate support for these projects. NCJW also encourages the Nashville community to show their support of these impactful and important projects. If you would like to volunteer or show your support for any of these projects, please contact Jennifer Hoffman, NCJW Nashville’s Executive Director at nashvillencjw@gmail.com.
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