IN THIS ISSUE: Jumpstarting METRO MADNESS • Explore our MetroWest World with Women's Philanthropy
Legacy of Leadership• Spotlight on Young Women
Calendar of Events
Wednesday, January 21 METRO MADNESS
Benefitting the 2009 UJA Campaign
Speaker: Jim Cramer
6:00 p.m.
Hilton Parsippany
Wednesday, January 28 Politics, Power and Jewish Women
How-To Training Program sponsored by CRC
8:30 a.m.
Aidekman Campus, Whippany
Thursday, February 5
Jewish Women’s Journey & Tu B’Shevat Seder
9:00 a.m.
Private Home in Livingston
Saturday, February 7 Untucked: Vanguard Country Club Event and Dinner Dance
7:30 p.m.
Crestmont Country Club, West Orange
Thursday, March 12
Cohn Award Dinner
Honoring Mike Davis and Anna Fisch
7:00 p.m.
B'nai Jeshurun, Short Hills
Thursday, March 26
Young Women’s Spring Event
7:00 p.m.
Aidekman Campus, Whippany
Barbara Greenfield
Marla Wexler
Editors
Gayle Wieseneck
Community Awareness Vice President
Leslie Dannin Rosenthal
Women's Campaign Chair
Paula Saginaw
Women's Philanthropy President
by Alia Ramer, Campaign Vice Chair for Young Women B’Yachad
This fall, the leadership of Young Women B’Yachad (Young Women Together) met at the South Orange location of JESPY House, a beneficiary agency of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ. We went there to
discuss our goals for the year and to see how the donations we solicit and give affect real people in our community.
At JESPY, we met adults both young and old, dealing with varying levels of learning disabilities while living full, productive lives. Since most of these people lost all formal assistance after graduating from high school, JESPY provides residential support so they can attain further education or a job, learn life skills to move out on their own, and stay connected even years after they become independent.
The room we met in has multiple functions. It is the gym, a dining hall, a social hall, a meeting room, and probably much more. JESPY's physical plant has long been outstripped by the needs of the agency, and a new building is in the works.
We ended our visit with a trip to The Orange Tree, a gift shop that benefitted JESPY and also trained some of its clients in sales and customer service skills. It closed recently and its closing is both a sign of the times and a loss to the community, both Jewish and secular.
Every time a donor or volunteer gets to see where our dollars go, the reality of the community’s needs sinks in and a connection is established. No longer are they giving to an anonymous alphabet soup of agencies, but to real programs supporting real people, some different from themselves and some remarkably similar.
I myself am not just a supporter; I am a beneficiary, through Solomon Schechter Day School, JCC MetroWest, and Jewish Family Service. Look at your life and you may find you have been helped by UJC, as well. I look forward to speaking with many of you during this year. The needs are great; the challenges greater. If there’s anything I can help you understand about UJC, please don’t hesitate to contact me at . >>back to top
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