The Nashville Section of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), composed of community members of all ages, denominations, and life stages, has a long history of service to the Nashville community. On Wednesday, September 11 at the home of Sandra Hecklin, the membership of NCJW Nashville will kick off our 123rd programming year.
The year ahead brings added excitement. Our esteemed organization continues to serve the women, children, and families of Nashville and Middle Tennessee through our service work and partnerships, known as Projects. Projects developed and supported by NCJW Nashville serve both the Jewish and secular community and have become a part of the lives of many of the citizens of our city.
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, Julie Galbierz and Hayley Kupin.
Following Study and Survey, the NCJW Nashville membership voted to fund the following Projects:
- 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 Hashanah baskets with Jewish Family Service
- Snack Box Program with OUR KIDS
- Vanderbilt’s REACH for Survivorship
- Vanderbilt Hillel’s Shabbat Dinners for a Cause
NCJW Nashville is also honored to announce that its Scholarship Loan program, led by co-chairs Freya Sachs and Amy Smith and which provides interest-free loans to students pursuing higher education, will provide a record 13 loans to deserving students. Applications for the 2025-2026 loan cycle will open in February and close in mid-March. If you know of a student who would benefit, please contact nashvillencjw@gmail.com.
The funding for NCJW Nashville Projects is achieved primarily through contributions at the annual Ways & Means fundraiser, though they are also supported through gifts from private philanthropic foundations, corporate grants, and bequests by members naming NCJW Nashville as a beneficiary in their wills.
The 2024 Ways and Means fundraiser will be held on Sunday, November 24 at 11:30 AM. Barbara Turner will be honored with the prestigious Hannah G. Solomon award in recognition of her years of leadership and service to NCJW Nashville. And the Emerging Leader award, named in honor of Jamie Brook, Freya Sachs, and Erin Zagnoev, will be presented to Harriet Workman. Last year’s Ways and Means saw over 140 NCJW Nashville members and community members celebrate our accomplishments and raised over $53,000 in individual donations and sponsorships. NCJW Nashville is beyond grateful to everyone who made last year’s event a success and encourages the Nashville Jewish community to join them in this celebration of service, leadership and community.
Lastly, NCJW, Nashville Section is also honored to announce our 2024-2025 Executive Committee:
- Marci Kleinrock and Sheri Rosenberg, Presidents
- Jordana Loeb, La Quita Martin, Bryna Oleshansky Mody, and Rachel Whitney, VPs, Advocacy
- Felicia Abramson, Rachel Friedman, Harriet Workman, VPs, Membership
- Rebecca Kaduru, Hayley Kupin, and Lindsey Rosen, VPs, Programming
- Julie Galbierz and Stephanie Korn, VPs, Projects
- Olivia Heller and Kim Lapidus, Treasurers
- Julie Fortune and April Nemer, Secretaries
- Erin Coleman and Stephanie Kirschner, Past Presidents
The 2024-2025 Executive Committee invites all members of our Nashville Jewish community to join NCJW Nashville at the Opening Meeting on Wednesday, September 11 and for 2024 Ways and Means on Sunday, November 24, where they will continue to demonstrate support for their projects and honor deserving leaders. NCJW Nashville also encourages the Nashville community to show their support of these impactful and important projects, and join them at programming throughout the year. 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. To register for upcoming programs, donate, become a member, or learn more about NCJW Nashville, visit www.ncjwnashville.org.
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