Over four hundred people attended the 2019  Jewish Foundation of Manitoba [JFM] Luncheon in support of the Women's Endowment Fund, which was held at the RBC Convention Centre on May 10, with keynote speaker Jeanne Beker.

At the luncheon, Dr Eric Winograd, chair of the JFM noted that "We distributed roughly $4.5 million to remarkable programs and services benefiting the Jewish community and Manitobans of all backgrounds."

He said "We continued to grow our asset base, which is now approaching $125 million. We remain the second largest public charitable Foundation in Manitoba. "

Winograd also pointed out that "  We raised our distribution rate to 4.2%, meaning even more funds will be distributed going forward. This is the second highest distribution rate among community foundations in Canada."

He indicated that  " 23 new signers joined the Endowment Book of Life program – people who have committed to leave a bequest to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba."

Winograd also  said that "We launched a new Judaic Studies and Cultural Programming Fund to generate more support for Jewish post-secondary education as well as Yiddish and other cultural programs in the community."

Winograd also stated that  " We made our first two grants from the Irma Penn Jewish Educational Grant Pilot Project – an initiative designed to encourage innovation in Jewish education."

The sponsor of the keynote speaker, Larry Vickar (Vickar Automotive Group) and Mayor Brian Bowman said the Hamotzi blessing before the meal.

Women’s Endowment Fund Grants Committee Chair Chloë McComb spoke at the luncheon, saying "We come together as donors and volunteers to make life in our part of the world better."

She added, "In the case of the Women’s Endowment Fund, we have been doing this for 25 years. Our founders felt strongly that in Manitoba we needed an endowment fund that would specifically meet the needs of girls and women in the Jewish community and beyond. The fund has grown steadily, thanks in large part to luncheons like this, and each and every year we have an impact on the community."

McComb gave esamples of the 2018 Women's Endowment Fund Grant, which include: a Jewish community program for teen girls with special needs; an initiative to support women’s brain health; services for women recovering from sexual assault, and much more. 

"It is an honour to be a member of the Women’s Endowment Fund Grants Committee. We have the privilege and challenge of awarding funds to organizations who apply for support," McComb stated.