New Women's Philanthropy Committee on a roll

By Anne Koppel Conway

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As the newest group at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, the Women's Philanthropy Committee with its 17 members is out to give women a voice in the community, said Chair Barbara Cohen.
Last year only 36 women agreed to solicit funds for the federation, down from 100 women in 2001.
"We had a hole" that needed filling, Cohen said.
Women need "more events to give them the opportunity to come together to make great connections and to become involved in the Jewish community. Many people want to get involved but are not sure how to do it."
To be a member of this committee, in addition to being female, each participant has agreed to become actively involved in one of three subcommittees: Campaign, Outreach and Leadership Development and each will donate a minimum of $1,000 to this year's campaign, she said. Also, each member will be soliciting funds on behalf of the committee.

The Outreach subcommittee will plan four to five programs a year to bring women together in-between federation events such as Connections and Opening Night.
"We want to build on the synergy created by the big events," said Cohen. "So next year, women who go to Connections, for instance, already will have connections with a room full of people instead of one or two."
To give women more of an opportunity to "connect Jewishly," the subcommittee is looking at doing some programs involving families with children, some for just couples and others for women only.
The co-chairs for Leadership Development are Kathy Davis-Weiner and Michelle Rosenbloom. The subcommittee's first goal, said Rosenbloom, is to improve the skills and leadership abilities of the Philanthropy Committee members. Once this is accomplished, the committee plans to branch out to help improve leadership skills throughout the community.
"A lot of women have leadership skills they are not aware of, or are self-conscious and not using the skills they have to their full capacity," Rosenbloom said. The Committee intends "to enhance and bring out those qualities."
Cohen said she, personally, would like to hone her public speaking skills.
"The Committee will be a good place for the community to come when looking for leaders for synagogues, schools and other organizations," she said.
For the Campaign subcommittee, Faye Gordon Samuels said she and Michelle Eastern Gradow are "proud to be co-chairing. It is an honor to have the opportunity to help raise funds that support our Jewish institutions locally and aid Jews in need throughout the world."
"With the dynamic, intelligent and passionate women on the Philanthropy Committee," Cohen said, "the group is destined to do incredible things."
For more information about the committee, contact Jen Feldman, JFGP associate campaign director, at jen@jewishportland.org or 503-245-6449.