President’s Message
by Joan Schiffer Levinson
Caring for others is the core value of our Federation and the unifying force that drives the energy and passion of our Women’s Philanthropy. The scope of support and services we provide for those who are most vulnerable in our local, Israeli, and global Jewish community truly defines who we are. As a special educator with a lifelong career working with young children with disabilities and their families, I feel so fortunate to have found the perfect intersection of my professional life and my volunteer life, through my involvement with our Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest.
Shortly after joining the leadership of our Women’s Philanthropy, I had an incredible experience visiting the WAE (Wellness, Arts, Enrichment) Center and learning about the wide array of wonderful opportunities and creative programs available to adults in our community provided by Jewish Services for the Developmentally Disabled. I could not have been more proud to have Women’s Philanthropy sponsor one of the eleven magnificent life-sized chairs created as art/sculpture objects to honor the 10th anniversary of the WAE Center. The Chairs of Inclusion project conveys our belief that every person is entitled to a “seat at the table” in our families and in our community.
My heart was touched again when I visited The Friendship Circle and participated in the Backpack and Brunch program. Created by Lisa Gutkin, a Women’s Philanthropy Board Member and a Cohn Young Leadership Award winner, the program provided new, fully-loaded backpacks for the children and teens with special needs who were attending Allie’s Camp that summer.
Whether your life has been affected by someone with special needs, you are seeking a gratifying volunteer experience, or you are a professional working with the disabled, the articles in this issue illustrate how our Jewish Federation supports and provides wonderful services that reflect the respect, value, and appreciation we feel for every child, teen, and adult in our community. Caring for others is what we do, and as a passionate special educator and president of Women’s Philanthropy, this spring issue is especially meaningful to me.
Wishing you a happy Pesach,
Joan Schiffer Levinson
Women's Philanthropy President