IMPACT—The Mendelson family greets guest speaker Dee Dee Myers. From left are: Bob Mendelson, Mark Mendelson, Michelle and Jay Rosenbloom, Dee Dee Myers and David Mendelson.
Women's voices heard at Impact
By Deborah Moon
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Some 250 women turned out Jan. 29 to hear former White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers discuss the power of a woman’s voice and then made sure their own voices were heard by closing more than $51,000 for the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland annual campaign.
“Empowering women would make the world a better place—not because women are the same as men, but because of the many ways in which we are different,” said Myers. “We can have better art, better schools ... better everything.”
Due to a labor dispute at the Hilton Portland, the JFGP moved its annual women’s event—Impact—to the Benson Hotel.
“Changing the venue seems the appropriate thing to do,” read an email sent to those registered. “While the federation has enjoyed a long standing relationship with the Hilton, we respect the right of employees to unionize and take necessary measures in the best interest of their families.”
Family and community are precisely the reasons women need to take an active role in philanthropy, according to Women’s Philanthropy Committee Chair Barbara Cohen.
“By being here tonight, you are making a statement that your philanthropic decisions matter,” said Cohen. “Being here tonight means that you understand how important it is to have a vital, caring and supportive Jewish community.”
Cohen said that is a lesson her 5-year-old daughter has also learned as evidenced by the fact when she asked for an allowance increase from $1 to $3, she told Cohen, “Mommy I need $3—one to save, one to spend and one for tzedakah.”
For the first time in many years, the event had a minimum gift requirement of $180. Recognizing the event focused on women who make an impact, it was renamed Impact instead of Connections.
Cohen said many women rose to the challenge and made a gift in order to attend. Together with women who added to their gift or who had not yet pledged this year, those in the room pledged an additional $51,000 for federation.
Though Myers is not Jewish, she said she believes Jewish federations “do more good work in a community” than any other organization. And she said women are “the heart and soul of any organization.”
In addition to speaking about the power of women, Myers also shared numerous stories and jokes from her years in politics and offered her predictions for the current campaign.
Regarding the next president, she said, “I have no idea,” but she did prophesize a Hillary Clinton/John McCain general election.
Regarding the differences between Clinton and Barak Obama, she said they were more in terms of approach than actual policy. She said Clinton believes in leadership by management, while Obama believes in leadership by vision.