The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba's Women's endowment fund luncheon on May 11th this year at the Fort Gary Hotel, featuring guest speaker Dr. Catherine Chatterley, was a time to reflect on the tremendous success of the Women's Endowment fund, and the visionary women who were the initial donors to the fund which was created in 1994.
"The fund has accumulated a total of over one million dollars since it was first created in 1994," Marsha Cowan, the Foundation's executive director said. "We have gone from donating $750 to three charities in the fund's first year to $40,000 this year."
Cowan has reason to be proud of the fund which has promoted women's philanthropy, and which goes to women's causes.
"The Women's Endowment Fund is the only philanthropic initiative in the province that exclusively supports women’s programs and initiatives. Since 1994, the fund has distributed over $300,000 to 68 organizations;" Cowan notes.
At the event, the original donors to the fund, many of whom were in attendance in the packed room, were asked to stand and be duly recognized.
The luncheon is the biggest event of the year for the Women’s Endowment Fund. "'We see it as an opportunity to catch up on the Fund’s progress hear from a recipient about the impact of our work and be enlightened by a speaker who is making a difference in society," notes David Greaves, who is Director, Development & Marketing for the Jewish Foundation.
At the event, the attendees were told that any women who fulfills her pledge by December 31 will be identified as a "Builder" of the Women’s Endowment Fund.
As of a week after the luncheon Cowan reported to the Winnipeg Jewish Review that "We have already had ten pledges filled out."
Greaves adds "We are always raising funds to grow the Women’s Endowment Fund and indeed the Foundation as a whole. This is not a time-bound campaign in the traditional sense, rather a special opportunity for our community of donors."
WEF co-chairwomen Jane Rabb and Susan Rykiss have been at the helm the organization for two years and saw to it that the luncheon proceeded flawlessly. It was clear from the applause and standing ovation that Dr. Catherine Chatterley received that her address had gone over well. Chatterley is the founding director of the Canadian Institute of Antisemitism and her remarks at the luncheon can be read by clicking here.
Prior to Chatterley's address, Shawna Dempsey , the Co-Executive Director of Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art (MAWA), a recipient of the Women's Endowment Fund spoke. MAWA was founded in 1984 to encourage the intellectual and creative development of women in the visual arts by providing a forum for education and critical dialogue. In MAWA, senior women visual artists are paired with emerging women visual artists for one-on-one peer-based training and support. Many women artists in the province have credited MAWA with their successes. MAWA provides mentorship programs, lectures, workshops, critical reading and discussion opportunities, critical writing opportunities, an international craft workshop program, taught by New Canadian artists, and an artist residency.
For more information about the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba or the Women's Endowment Fund go to www.jewishfoundation.com.
The founding donors of the Women's Endowment Fund are listed below:
Sharon Allentuck
Ethel Amihude
Evelyn Arkin
Bev Aronovitch
Judith Aronovitch
Reva* Aronovitch
Phyllis Arron
Judith Bager
Sarah Barr
Lillian Bercuson
Marjorie Blankstein
Diane Boroditsky
Dee Buchwald
Nancy Campbell
Anne* Cantor
ArnoldCarmel
Marion Cham
Judy Charach
Patricia Charad
Saul Cherniack
Maxa Chisick
Maurene Cohen
Pat Cohen
Naomi Coodin
Marsha Cowan
Phyllis Dana
Ethel Dil
Lillian* M. Dozar
Sarah L. Duboff
Sharron Dudeck
Clara* Erlichman
Susan Feldman
Freeda* Fineman
Sophie* Fitelovitch
Freda* Fox
Tamar Freudmann-Cohen
Lisa Gale
Ruthy Gale
Susie Gale-Worrell
Karyn Glass
Yhetta M. Gold
Serky Goldberg
Elaine Goldstine
Janis Goodman
Sylvia Guertin-Riley
Sharon Guralnick
Bunny Gurvey
Marcia Haber
Esther* Hall
Elyse Halprin
Evelyn Hecht
Faye Hellner
Dorothy* Hershfield
Sara Hochman
Sandy Hyman
Susan Kay
Laila Kesselman
Barbara Kives
Claire Kives
Eleanor Kives
Sari Kives
Stephanie Kives
Sara Kohn
Hester Kroft
Hillaine Kroft
Rena Krongold
Sharon Labinsky
Karyn Lazareck
Michelle Lefler
Myrna H. Levin
Sylvia* Levinsohn
Celia* Lipkin
Gerry Lomow
Edith* Love
Reagan Macklin
Blaire Malkin
Lexi Malkin
Dale Marcus
Elyse Minden Schipper
Zena Minuk
Phoebe* Mozersky
Rose Muchnik
Alix Neaman
Francie Neaman
Lillian Neaman
Barbara Neaman Swan
Ruth Neiman
Claire Newman
Monica Newman
Rochelle Nozick
Mindel Olenick
Elaine Olin
Paula Parks
Vita* Parks
Jeanne Pauls
Marym* Peltz
Daphne Petrakos
Sylvia* Pollock
Heather Pullan
Sheila Rabb
Marcia Raber
Linda Radcliffe
Doris* Raskin
Lynn Raskin
Kelly Rayter
Maggie Rayter
Shani Reich
Marlene Reiss
Eleanor Rosenblat
Lillian* Rosenblat
Sheila Rubenstein
Naida Rubin
Ruth Rubin
Judy* Saifer
Evelyn Schaefer
Leora Schaefer
Sylvia Scott
Ann Secter
Sandra Secter
Beth Secter Paul Stein
Joanne Sheps
Sharon* Shinewald
Bertha* Shore
SydneyShore
Anna Silverman
Fannie* Simkin
Evita Smordin
Fanny* Sommer
Ruth* Stern
Reese Stewart
Elaine* Stoller
Gabrielle Swan
Jillian Swan
Carla Vickar
Florence Vickar
Anna Wassermann
Jackie Wassermann
Zora* Weidman
Susan Weidman Schneider
Cathie Weinstein
Shaaron Weinstein
Tannis Weinstein
Leslie Wilder
Phyllis Wilder
Wendy Wilder
Serena Wolchock
Sharon Wolchock
Shauna Wolchock
Rochelle Zimberg
*Deceased
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