Amy Ganz Sadeghi

Ever since she was a child growing up in Miami, Amy Ganz Sadeghi has been involved with UJA and with helping others through volunteer work. She is continuing the tradition by involving her three children in Super Sunday and other events.

“I attended many, many Super Sundays,” she recalled, and she went door to door collecting for the Israel Emergency Fund. The pattern continued in college, and afterwards in San Francisco. When she and her husband, Mani, came to Short Hills, she joined the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ Women’s Department and Young Leadership Division. She has held various positions and currently serves on the UJC Board of Trustees, Campaign Cabinet, YLD Council, and National Young Leadership Cabinet.

While she was in high school, Amy tutored kids with learning disabilities and discovered that her own self-esteem and sense of purpose were enhanced in the process. In San Francisco, she worked one-to-one with recent arrivals from the Soviet Union. Some long-lasting friendships were formed, and last year she attended a bat mitzvah where she was the only non-Russian and was welcomed as a guest of honor.

“I believe you need to give back to the community,” she said. “If you want the community to reflect your values, you have to be an activist and live your values.”

Her parents set an example of community involvement for her and her brother and sister, who also continue the tradition of involvement in their federations.  Amy has been especially inspired by her mother, who is still very active with the Miami federation.

After graduating from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, Amy held financial services marketing positions with Wells Fargo and American Express. Currently, she is dedicated to volunteerism and to her family. A project especially close to her heart is trying to create opportunities at UJC for families to participate as families in acts that benefit the community. As she knows from personal experience, the most effective way to encourage children to help others is to teach by example.