From the time she was a teenager, Shelley Hendler worked. First making money babysitting and tutoring in high school, then later as an educator in the Baltimore County school system, then for 12 years, she served as a middle school administrator for Krieger Schechter Day School.

So, it’s no surprise that Shelley has embraced her retirement years with the same energy and commitment to making a difference in the community she loves.

Tell us about your current involvement with The Associated.

Jewish Women’s Giving Foundation (JWGF) has been one of my favorites since retiring, and although I have rotated off the Executive Board, I remain active through their educational programming committees, and grantmaking process. I am inspired by the wonderful work being done locally and in Israel to empower and improve the lives of women and girls.

Is there a recent program that received a grant through JWGF that you were most excited/inspired by?

We are just diving in for this year, but I am excited to explore and fund work with girls in the area of mental health. The pandemic has certainly been a challenge for all of us and I would love to see us provide opportunities to help support girls who have been struggling.

Speaking of the pandemic, as someone who is very active in the community, how have you managed to stay busy?

There were so many virtual opportunities for learning, connecting, and giving. In addition to my usual commitments, which all pivoted throughout the pandemic, I did a lot of cooking for various collections as well as assisted with some food drives at Chizuk Amuno. I also listened to a lot of podcasts, read, cooked, and even did puzzles, crafts and zentangle, which typically are out of my comfort zone.

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The Associated Contributors are writers from The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.