Table of Contents
- Exciting news from Carly Zimmerman, WOV Chair
- Past Programs
- Nearly 2 Decades of Membership
- Grantee Spotlight: Interfaith Philadelphia
- In memoriam
- Welcome Our New Members
- Empowering a New Generation of Women of Vision
- Upcoming Programs
- Introducing Women of Vision Mussar Practice
- Take Control of Your Legacy with an IRA
- 2 Ways to Expand Your Vision
- Carry the Light
Exciting news from Carly Zimmerman, WOV Chair
Dear Women of Vision,
We could all use a little good news as we head into 2022. I’m thrilled to share some great news:
One of our members is making an investment of $1 million to Women of Vision. Her transformational and forward-thinking gift will provide long-term stability for Women of Vision.
She has pledged this gift over the course of 10 years — meaning that each year, we will receive $100,000 to forward our mission. Her generosity ensures we can grow our endowment, allowing us to grant more dollars each year. As it becomes possible for us to gather together again, we will be able to host relevant and important speakers on the topics that most impact self-identifying Jewish women and girls.
I am honored to share this news with you and am grateful to this member and all of you who have made a re-investment in Women of Vision this fall. Truly making this type of impact is only possible with the support and involvement of each of you.
I hope to see you soon at one of our upcoming programs. Wishing you all a healthy and safe start to the new year.
With gratitude,
Carly
Past Programs
Letter of Intent (LOI) Meeting: This past week, the Grant Review Committee, made up of over 60 women, met to evaluate LOIs from 10 local organizations for the upcoming grants cycle. The committee will meet again in April to review the full proposals before all WOV members vote in May on which programs should receive funding.
Ta’amod Returns: In December, the Jewish Federation welcomed back one of our grantees, Ta’amod: Stand Up, for a community-wide workshop for Jewish communal professionals and lay leadership on living our Jewish values in the workplace and beyond.
Fall Retreat: In October, we took the time to reflect and recharge for another year of social change grantmaking with an immersive experience from Rise Gathering and an update from past grantees about the continued impact of our support.
Nearly 2 Decades of Membership
“Women of Vision is truly hands-on, and distributing grants makes all of us so happy. Every year is an education, and I am proud to be a member.”
Nona Abrams,
WOV Member Since 2004
Grantee Spotlight: Interfaith Philadelphia
“My participation in Visionary Women has strengthened my belief in the importance of women gathering to tell our stories and to support one another. But more than that, this program has contributed to my resolve that when women from all faith traditions gather and have meaningful dialogue (even when it is difficult), we make our communities better.”
2021 Visionary Woman Participant
Apply for this year’s Visionary Women cohort by clicking here.
In memoriam
For those we lost, may their
memory be for a blessing.
Susan Greco
Helene Rosenfeld
Welcome Our New Members
(SINCE SPRING)
Eden Astorino
Tara Cherwony
Eileen Chudnow
Rise Newman
Sharon Ritt
Beverly Socher-Lerner
Susan Stupine
We have welcomed 12 new WOV members over the last year!
Help us meet our goal of 15 new members by the end of 2021 by inspiring a special woman in your life to join by clicking here or contacting Shara Swift at sswift@jewishphilly.org.
Empowering a New Generation of Women of Vision
“While we, as a society, have made significant advancement in the areas of social justice and change, there is still so much work to do. I look forward to being a part of the continuing work done by Women in Vision, so that equality is no longer something that needs to be fought for but is at the forefront of everyone’s vision.”
Brandi Lerner,
New WOV Member
Upcoming Programs
Offering Victims Validation, Compensation & Sense of Empowerment with Jordy Feldman, Esq.: We look forward to rescheduling this important event as soon as possible.
Designing Motherhood: Join WOV and the Maternity Care Coalition at the Mütter Museum on either January 24 or February 6 and virtually on February 3 to explore “Designing Motherhood,” a revolutionary exhibit that illuminates the gender-based political, economic and social views of reproductive health by considering the medical designs and devices of various eras. To register for the in-person tour, click here. To join our virtual gathering, click here.
WOV’s Book Review: On Thursday, March 10, join us for our next book review event with Beverly Rosen. We will be reading She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Megan Twohey, our Spring Event keynote speaker, and Jodi Kantor.
Women’s Civil Rights Mission: From May 14-17, 2022, delve into American history with Women’s Philanthropy and Women of Vision on a mission to Atlanta, Georgia and Montgomery, Selma, and Birmingham, Alabama. Join our journey with Mission Co-Chair and past WOV Chair Marcy Bacine by clicking here.
Spring Event: Save the date for May 19, 2022 for a special event with Megan Twohey, the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter with The New York Times whose investigation of Harvey Weinstein triggered the global reckoning on sexual misconduct.
Introducing Women of Vision Mussar Practice
WOV is grounding our advocacy work in Torah by taking control and uplifting the collective voices and thoughts of self-identifying women. You will find exercises in upcoming WOV communications that are inspired by Mussar, a Jewish spiritual practice that gives concrete instructions on how to live a meaningful and ethical life through middot (character traits), such as generosity, patience and humility.
While this is only a light introduction to the studied Mussar movement, we hope that this will stir your curiosity to delve deeper into this highly rewarding, intellectual and spiritual practice.
WOV Words of Wisdom
Listening attentively in Mussar is how we receive what is sent to us through many sources, whether wisdom or rebuke, or just usable information. It takes work and practice to develop the skill of being an “attentive listener.” A significant action is to hear all of the message completely and to contemplate it deeply. Sit with what you receive.
Take Control of Your Legacy with an IRA
This fall, we received over $50,000 from additional end of year gifts and IRA distributions directed to our WOV Endowment Fund through the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Thank you to the nearly 30 WOV members who helped us increase our ability to impact the lives of even more self-identifying Jewish women and girls.
If you’re aged 70½ or older, you can still make a tax-free gift through your IRA before December 31.
“In withdrawing funds from my IRA this year, I chose to do a mitzvah and provide additional support to Women of Vision. As members, we choose the local and Israeli groups we want to support, and additional gifts like this help grow our endowment giving us the opportunity to make an even greater impact for those who identify as women and girls.”
Joy Gordon
“I made an IRA distribution to the Women of Vision Endowment Fund because I knew that it would have a true impact on our local grantees and our Israeli grantees. This was my part in supporting the lift-changing social change that these organizations create for self-identifying Jewish women and girls.”
Marcy Bacine
You can make a difference too through an IRA distribution.
Learn more by clicking here.
2 Ways to Expand Your Vision
You can help Women of Vision provide even more funds to worthy programs that you voted on and create an even greater social change and impact:
- Jump to the next WOV giving level or increase your gift to our endowment fund at jewishphilly.org/wovendowment
- Purchase a Women of Vision tribute card(s) or pack of cards for any occasion at jewishphilly.org/wovcards – you’ll love the new design.
Carry the Light
Your generous commitment to Jewish life is what allows the Jewish Federation to continue its great work everyday for our communities, locally and abroad. With the end of 2021 fast approaching, we hope that you will consider giving a gift to the Jewish Community Fund at jewishphilly.org/donate.