During a trip to Israel in 2001, Sara Crown Star found herself a witness to the aftermath of a suicide bombing where 15 civilians were killed, including seven children and a pregnant woman, and 130 were wounded.

She sat on the doorsteps of her Jerusalem hotel, watching 90 ambulances drive to the bombsite, counting whether the 120 members of her group returned safely. In the face of such a tragedy, she told herself how important it was to do something to strengthen the Jewish community at home, in Israel and around the world.

Since then, Star has devoted herself to serving the local Jewish community and Israel. This year, she is taking on one of the largest annual fundraising efforts in the country as chair of the 2015 Annual Campaign of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago. The recently concluded 2014 Campaign raised more than $82 million.

Star chaired the extremely successful 2014 Advance and Major Gifts Campaign and currently serves on the JUF Board. She also serves on the JUF Executive Committee and is a Trustee of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago

JUF is devoted to mobilizing the resources to uplift the global and local Jewish communities, supporting basic needs, creating Jewish experiences and strengthening Jewish community connections. The Annual Campaign is the core support for JUF services, providing the largest source of funds for a vital network of more than 70 programs and agencies whose services benefit over 300,000 Chicagoans of all faiths, and more than 2 million Jews in Israel and worldwide.

“We are thrilled to have Sara at the helm of our 2015 Annual Campaign,” said JUF President Steven B. Nasatir. “She is a dynamic community leader who is bringing great passion, creativity and commitment to this role.”

“I feel honored to be working with JUF because of its ability to do so much for so many,” Star said. “JUF works to strengthen the next generation of Jews and build a strong Jewish future. If there is a need at home or halfway across the world, JUF is there. This is possible is because our Chicagoland community is willing to work together.”

Star is a community leader who is active in numerous non-profit and charitable organizations with particular interests in early childhood education, medical research, health care, and philanthropy.

Following her graduation from the Wexner Heritage Program for transformative Jewish leadership, Star has become a major contributor to the American Jewish community. In addition to her positions at JUF, Star has served as a governor for Hebrew Union College, the leading institution responsible for training the next generation of Reform clergy, and currently sits on their President’s Council. Star serves as a director of Crown Family Philanthropies. She also travels to Israel annually in her role as a director of the Crown Family Foundation to review anti-poverty, medical science, and educational initiatives.

In education, Star serves on the boards of the Erikson Institute for Early Childhood Education and the Latin School of Chicago, where she is a senior trustee. She serves on the Board of Visitors of Georgetown University Law Center where she created the Bazelon Fellowship for Georgetown graduates to work at the Bazelon Mental Health Center. In 2014, Star received the Georgetown Women’s Forum Law Alumnae Award.

Star has a keen interest in medical research and is working with leading scientists to bring cutting edge medical technologies to market. She was a founding member of the University of Illinois’ Craniofacial Center Board and currently serves on the Health and Human Services Committee of Crown Family Philanthropies.

Star enjoys theater and dance. In 2013/14, she co-produced “Handle With Care,” an off-Broadway show in New York City and The New York Times’ Critics’ Pick, which is now playing in regional theatres across the country. She was also runner-up in a 2013 “Dancing with the Stars” competition organized to raise funds for Giordano Dance Chicago.

Star graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. She formerly practiced law in New York City and Chicago, specializing in real estate and estate planning. She and her husband, James, live in Chicago and have three children in college. They are members of Temple Sholom and Am Yisrael.