For nearly 20 years, the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago has brought women philanthropists together to transform the lives of Jewish women and girls through grant-making to further social change and strengthen families and communities.

Ellen Carmell, JWF Executive Director, talked about the Foundation’s history during JWF’s Annual Meeting on Jan. 25. “From the very beginning, JWF had a bold vision and an ambitious agenda-to expand opportunities and choices for Jewish women and girls, and to position women in our community as philanthropic leaders and decision-makers. As we prepare to embark on our 20 ^th anniversary celebration in 2017, we continue to think big and bold.”

“The founders’ vision of a giving circle in which women have a hands-on role in grant-making became a national model,” said Gerri Kahnweiler, JWF Chair. “We have the firm belief that philanthropy can effect positive social change. When you invest resources in women and girls, you create ripple effects throughout society.”

With over 315 trustees and a nearly $9 million endowment, JWF has awarded over $3.2 million in grants since its inception. Trustees represent numerous backgrounds and age groups. “We truly are a diverse multigenerational group,” Carmell said.

Through its grant-making, JWF helps fund programs affecting Jewish women and girls in Chicago, Israel and other countries, focusing on economic security, legal reform, education and leadership development, health and well-being, and violence prevention. “Our grants are changing lives,” Carmell said.

In addition, JWF provides opportunities to enhance women’s leadership roles and skills. This past year, JWF sponsored its first mission to Israel. “This connected us in new ways,” Carmell said, noting that participants personally saw the impact of JWF’s funding in Israel while experiencing Israel from a feminist perspective. As a direct outgrowth of the mission, JWF focused on women’s philanthropy and social change at the 2016 Annual Meeting.

The keynote address was presented by Hamutal Gouri, executive director of the Dafna Fund, the first and currently only Israeli feminist fund; founder of Consult4Good, a consulting firm committed to promote social justice and gender equality; and recipient of the National Council of Jewish Women 2015 Outstanding Israeli Feminist Award.

Gouri said collaboration between organizations is critical for creating change in the lives of women and girls. Since its inception, JWF has consulted with Gouri about projects throughout Israel. Those grants address human trafficking in Israel; promote women’s rights by filing precedent setting lawsuits in Israeli civil courts to address discriminatory policies decided by Israeli’s rabbinic courts; work to change discriminatory divorce laws in Israel; and empower Israeli women to become politically active in their communities.

“Women are critical for a world that is just and inclusive,” Gouri said. “No single sector or organization can solve difficult problems. It takes partnership and coordination if you really want to make a difference for women and girls … Leadership is important. We need to train and empower women to be effective agents of change. This is what you’re all doing here.”

For more information on the Jewish Women’s Foundation, call 312-357-4850 or visit www.jwfchicago.org .

Alona Anspach honored as multigenerational trustee at 2016 Annual Meeting

Gerri Kahnweiler, Jewish Women’s Foundation Chair, presents Alona Anspach with a Miriam’s Cup at the JWF Annual Meeting, held Jan. 25 in the Jewish United Fund Conference Center.

Almost 20 years since its founding, the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago remains committed to expanding and improving opportunities for Jewish women and girls through strategic grant-making and empowering Jewish women as leaders, funders, and decision-makers.

Alona Anspach served as the Foundation’s first chair. In recognition of her new commitment as a multigenerational trustee, Anspach received a Miriam’s Cup on Jan. 25, during the JWF Annual Meeting. The Miriam’s Cup is a feminist symbol and new ritual object named for Miriam the Prophet in the Exodus and used during the Passover Seder to highlight the contributions of women throughout Jewish history.

Anspach is among 42 multigenerational trustees who have secured lifetime involvement on the JWF Board of Trustees for themselves and their immediate female family members, in perpetuity. “I’m very fortunate to have five daughters,” she said. “I became a multigenerational giver because of them. It’s really for the next generation that we do this work.”