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For someone who spent 26 years in front of a middle school classroom at Krieger Schechter Day School, who sits on steering committees and co-chairs programs, it may be hard to believe that Sima Abarbanel prefers to take a low profile. But for this committed volunteer, it’s never been about being in the spotlight.
It’s always been about getting things done. Today, this former English teacher is co-chairing membership for Jewish Women’s Giving Foundation (JWGF), a program of The Associated, that incorporates collective philanthropy to improve the lives of women and girls. Having been a member of this giving circle for the past seven years, she hopes to engage other community members who are passionate about making a transformative difference.
I have to tell you that JWGF is an amazing experience. You become part of a hands-on collective and make important funding decisions that have a real impact on the lives of so many women and girls. You also meet a diverse group of dynamic women, from major grant givers in the community to donors who typically give less. Because we all contribute the same amount to JWGF each year, we all have an equal voice in deciding how we distribute the grant money. In addition, we are constantly learning about programs and delving into issues that are affecting our community.
We brought in Maggie Gunther Osborn from the United Philanthropy Forum, who talked about the importance of participating in the 2020 Census and the impact of the results on the nonprofit world and our overall community. We’ve heard about Period Poverty, and how it causes women to miss work and school. I was education co-chair for two years and I brought in a panel to talk about women and incarceration.
This year you are membership co-chair with Michele Wendell. Tell me why I should join.
What kind of issues
The Associated Contributors are writers from The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore. More by The Associated Contributors
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