Who We Are:
The Jewish Women's Foundation (JWF) Trustees are a group of philanthropic women who are committed to transforming the lives of Jewish women and girls and fostering life-long social change, one woman at a time. Through our generous allocation of innovative grants, programs here in Broward County and Israel are making a real difference by providing educational opportunities, crisis relief, and advocacy. JWF Trustees are decision-makers—analyzing needs, comparing grants, voting on grant applications, and evaluating outcomes.
Our Guiding Values:
JWF has proudly allocated over $248,400 in grants to help transform the lives of women and girls in Broward County and Israel.
JWF Trustees & Membership Information
MEMBERSHIP
Individual membership shall be through a financial contribution in one of five categories:
TRUSTEE
Trustees make a $10,000 commitment, payable over five (5) years. Trustees in good standing are those who have paid a minimum of $2,000 per calendar year. At the completion of five (5) years, Trustees may renew their membership by making a $5,000 commitment, also payable over five (5) years.
YOUNG WOMAN TRUSTEE (UNDER 40)
Young Woman Trustees make a $5,000 commitment, which may be payable over five (5) years. Young Woman Trustees in good standing are those who have paid a minimum of $1,000 per calendar year. At the completion of five (5) years, Young Woman Trustees may renew their membership by making a $5,000 commitment, also payable over five (5) years.
LION OF JUDAH TRUSTEE
Current Lions of Judah make a $5,000 commitment, which may be payable over five (5) years. LOJ Trustees in good standing are those who have paid a minimum of $1,000 per calendar year. At the completion of five (5) years, LOJ Trustees may renew their membership by making a $5,000 commitment, also payable over five (5) years. LOJ Trustees must maintain their LOJ status in order to be considered a LOJ Trustee.
LIFETIME TRUSTEE
Lifetime Trustees make a one-time commitment of $50,000, which may be payable over five (5) years. Lifetime Trustees in good standing are those who have paid $10,000 per calendar year. Promotion of $36,000 until 12/2022.
MULTI-GENERATIONAL TRUSTEE
Multi-Generational Trustees make a one-time commitment of $100,000, which may be payable over five (5) years. The original member may appoint additional family members to join them as Multi-Generational Trustees. Original Multi-Generational Trustees in good standing are those who have paid $20,000 per calendar year.
JWF TRUSTEES*
Margie Albert
Arlene Backman
Jane Basch
Terry Breitbord
Diana Charles-Atlas
Karen Dombey
Goldie Dropkin
Wandy Druss
Adrienne Frank
Laura Gordon*
Randi Grant
Agnes Gray
Sheryl Greenwald
Miriam Hershenson
Gladys Hirschman
Bette Hochberger
Marcy Hoffman
Joan Kuriansky
Carol Lasek
Denise Lettau**
Jami Levy
Audrey Meline
Elissa Mogilefsky
Robbin Newman
Karen Roberts**
Susan Samrick
Karen Saster
Stephanie Saunders
Susan Schneider
Ibby Schulman
Esther Shacket***
Nicole Shacket**
Gina Shull
Corina Waldman(zl)
as of November 2021
JWF Grants Awards & Application Information
2023 Grant Co-Chairs:
Sheryl Greenwald & Margie Albert
Jewish Women’s Foundations Grants as of May 2022: $284,400
2022
Sisters of Hillel $5,500
Awarded to Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach, Sisters of Hillel would be a leadership empowerment cohort-based program designed for 12-15 Jewish women currently studying at NSU. The program would focus on professional skill building and pluralistic Jewish education, in a social environment designed to build confidence and meaningful connections to each other and Jewish life. This will be a program run by women for women, to help young women feel empowered and supported by each other on campus.
Increasing Employability for at-Risk Women & Girls in Israel’s Periphery $25,000
Awarded to Gumat Chen, a program for young women at risk who have survived domestic violence, sexual abuse and extreme neglect throughout their lives. Upon arriving at our boarding school, these girls are not ready (mentally or emotionally) nor can they even imagine to someday lead independent lives. However, thanks to a thorough process of rehabilitation, our project participants are able to catch up with their peers from more privileged backgrounds. Their ability to graduate from high school, pursue a career (whether vocational or Academic) and live independently - despite the difficulties they have gone through – will effectively transform them into role models for many other young women at risk who find it hard to believe that their life could ever improve.
Bat Mitzvah Opportunities for Russian Speakers in Israel $5,500
Awarded to Project Kesher, this program will train and educate 30 women of a variety of ages, to become B’not Mitzvah, by reading Torah, blessing the Torah, wearing a tallit, and choosing a Hebrew name. This will increase the number of Jewish women and girls who participate in the community programs in their online and/or in person communities, increase representation of women in Jewish life, and increase the number of Jewish women and girls in leadership positions at Jewish institutions.
2021
MICRO-ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE FACE OF COVID - $20,000
Awarded to YOZMOT ATID, this program focuses on unemployed or underemployed women from Israel’s geographic periphery and will give them the skills to run their own businesses. Following the participant's preparatory coursework, they will begin an 8-week training session which includes marketing, financial management, taxation, and more. Following the training sessions, there will be personalized business mentoring and coaching, loans at friendly rates, business networking opportunities, enrichment workshops, and much more.
APP2U EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT FOR JEWISH TEENAGE GIRLS AT RISK - $10,000
Awarded to MACHSHAVA TOVA, this program focuses on Jewish girls in grades 7 – 9 from 4 underserved communities in Israel’s geographic periphery and seeks to bolster Jewish girls’ confidence in their abilities and future accomplishments. APP2U combines learning new tech tools and girl power. The girls are introduced to inspirational women around the world and meet local women mentors. The 40-hour course includes 20, 2-hour sessions and at least one special event. The program is based on a project-based learning approach – learning a new tool, researching using that tool, building a product using that tool, and sharing with the group.
WOMEN’S WELLNESS RETREATS - $8,500
Awarded to JAFCO, this program focuses on Jewish Moms raising a child or children with developmental disabilities and will include four wellness retreats that will support and empower moms to decrease their stress levels while increasing their social interactions and self-care. For many of the moms, the retreats are the only time they will be away from the care of their child. The retreats will include yoga, drumming circles, spa services, and more and will allow them to renew, relax and refresh. Childcare will be provided by JAFCO, as these moms report feeling safe leaving their children with the JAFCO well-trained staff.
2020
Your Voice Your Choice $7,500
Awarded to GOODMAN JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES, this program is a series of workshops geared to promote safety, security, strength and self-esteem for teens and young adults. The workshops include topics such as safe dating, healthy relationship, and consent, bullying, identifying abuse, speaking up, how to get help, and debunking myths about abuse in the Jewish community.
Women’s Jewish Leadership Fellowship $5,800
Awarded to HILLEL OF BROWARD AND PALM BEACH, this program is a 10-week theme-based seminar led by the Hillel Rabbi and NSU Engagement Associate with study of rabbinic texts alongside contemporary analogues, learning skills to express and defend themselves, leadership skills, weekly dinners together, and including Hillel JLF interns to enhance the social interactions in and outside of class, and Shabbat experiences together as a cohort.
The Recipe for Success Project $5,000
Awarded to BE’ER SOVA, this program provides culinary training, skill building and emotional support to help southern Israeli women who suffer from nutritional insecurity and unemployment to break free of the cycle of poverty, eventually becoming financially independent and ensuring long-term job retention in the food industry.
Tech Training with Guaranteed Jobs for Negev Women $10,000
Awarded to ERETZ-IR, this program is a holistic 4-month comprehensive training program, followed by a 4-month paid internship program that will teach young women to build websites using the WIX platform. Graduates will be able to work from home, with guaranteed 2-year job placements with TribeStudio and Eretz Ir will continue providing support for program graduates for the first 6 months.
JWF COVID Emergency Grants – This includes a generous match from the Sam Berman Charitable Foundation
$10,000 JWF Emergency Grant
Awarded to the Goodman Jewish Family Services (GJFS). Funds will be distributed to single moms who are clients of GJFS. These funds will go to rent emergency assistance and other immediate needs such as electricity and other bills. Additionally, GJFS will distribute gift cards to these same moms, $100 per adult and $50 per child as needed. The distribution of gift cards may be made over a 2-month period.
$10,000 JWF Scholarship Fund
This is a scholarship fund for women, regardless of age, who have been affected by the COVID pandemic and who need to re-train, re-direct their careers, and/or return to the workforce.
The Jewish Women’s Foundation Scholarship Fund awards dollars (a minimum of $500) to prospective Broward Technical College ("BTC") female students who have been affected by COVID-19. Those awarded scholarships would enter the “Career in a Year” Program(s) and participate in its online platform beginning on August 1st.
2019
WOMEN FOR FUTURE LEADERSHIP $5,000
Awarded to WEPOWER in Tel Aviv, Israel, this grant helps to identify and train women to become leaders in their local area, promote change, and take on public roles. WePower is the only NGO in Israel which proactively focuses on advancing women to top influential positions at the highest decision-making levels in government and in the public arena, thus propelling social change leading to a more equal, civic society.
PROMOTING HEALTHY SEXUALITY WITH GIRLS AT RISK $8,000
Awarded to ORR SHALOM FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT RISK in Beit Shemesh, Israel, this grant focuses on the damage caused by sexual abuse and educates the girls towards healthy sexuality. Orr Shalom is a non-profit organization that rescues Israel’s children who have been removed from their homes by the social welfare services following severe abuse, neglect, and tragedy. By providing safe loving homes, educational, psychological, and material support, Orr Shalom enables the children in its care to break the cycle of abuse, overcome their past and prepare for life as independent adults.
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FOR THE ACTIVE ADULT $11,000
($5,000 plus a $5,000 match from the Sam Berman Foundation and a $1,000 from an anonymous donor)
Awarded to the DAVID POSNACK JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER in Broward County, this grant focuses on personal safety, including cyber theft and scams, financial stability and planning, and mental and physical wellbeing for women. The mission of the DPJCC is to enrich lives by connecting people through cultural, educational, social, recreational, and wellness programs in an environment of fun, friendship, and unity.
Esther Shacket Jewish Women's Foundation Founder
Esther Shacket was born in Poland and raised in Israel, where she served in the IDF before immigrating to the US in 1974. As a child of Holocaust survivors, it guided and shaped the direction she would take in life. After arriving in the US, she met her husband Roger. Together with their two children, Kevin and Nicole, they have built a life of philanthropy. Since 1978 Esther has been involved in the Broward Jewish Community and held a multitude of positions at many Jewish organizations, including her role as B’nai Brith Women’s Regional Chair of 11 States (D.C. - Florida), and Past National Board member of Jewish Women International. She is a founding member of the KOLOT coalition at Jewish Family Services of Broward County,
Continuing her endeavors, she began her involvement with the Jewish Federation of Broward County in the early 2000s with Women’s Division and served as N. Area Campaign Chair. She chaired the Israel and Overseas committee where she flourished as the 1st Steering Committee Chair of the Broward / Nesher, Israel Partnership. In 2007, Esther & Roger Shacket founded the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Broward County, where she formed a group of philanthropic women who are committed to transforming the lives of Jewish women and girls and fostering life-long social change, one woman at a time.
Expanding her involvement, she has held positions such as Broward Jewish Women’s Division Nominating Committee Chair, Jewish Community Foundation of Broward Governance Chair, Broward Jewish Federation Missions Chair, Broward Jewish Federation Major Gifts Chair, and from 2017 - 2019, she held the position of Board Chair of the Jewish Community Foundation of Broward.
Today, she sits on the Israel & Overseas Impact Team, is the Life & Legacy Chair, Vice Board Chair for the Jewish Federation of Broward County, and is a Board Member for Women’s Philanthropy.
Outside of her tumultuous philanthropic endeavors, she owns R.N.S. Associates, Property Development & Management Company and is a Certified Florida Supreme Court, Appointed, Family, Mediator. She is the proud recipient of the Jewish Federation WD Lisa Shulman Leadership Award, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Mother of the Year Award, Jewish Family Services Women of Valor Award, Soref JCC Alvin Gross Community Service Award, Jewish Federation Dedicated Leadership Award, and Jewish Community Foundation Outstanding Leadership Award.