Stephanie Goldfarb, JUF’s program director for youth philanthropy and leadership, has been awarded The Hadassah Foundation’s 2017 Bernice S. Tannenbaum Prize.

The national honor recognizes emerging professionals who have made innovative contributions to advance the status of women and girls in Israel and the United States.

The Foundation noted that, during seven years at JUF, Goldfarb has expanded Voices: The Chicago Jewish Teen Foundation , a philanthropy program for Jewish teens that awards more than $50,000 annually to local and Israeli non-profits, and brought the innovative feminist Research Training Internship program for Jewish girls to the Chicago region.

“As the newest Bernice S. Tannenbaum Prize winner,” Goldfarb said, “I not only feel a sense of unity with the women who recognized my commitment to social change for Jewish women and girls, I also feel as though I have an army of forward-thinking sisters behind me, pushing me to continue growing personally and professionally.”

“Stephanie Goldfarb is a talented, charismatic educator, filled with talent and passion,” said Julie Morris, chair of the Foundation. “Bernice Tannenbaum would be so proud of the Foundation’s selection.”

The prize provides $500 in general operating support to JUF, as well as $2,500 to further Goldfarb’s professional development.

In addition to her work for JUF, Goldfarb serves as a resource to other community organizations serving teens. She has run “philanthropy boot camps” at summer camps and for BBYO programs serving Jewish youth, “taste of philanthropy” programs at congregations, and provided trainings for other Jewish professionals about philanthropy, LGBTQ issues, and experiential Jewish education.

She also has run programs on Jewish cooking, which takes advantage of her experience as an award-winning chef who has appeared on multiple Food Network and NBC shows. And she created and runs the Seven Species Supper Club, a monthly underground dinner club where she prepares a unique menu and donates all proceeds to local charities.