Community
A Foundation
Federation assists
local women in creating
philanthropic repository.
SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to the Jewish News
S
To: Susie Pappas. of Bloomfield Hills takes part in the discussion. At right is Beverly Liss
o West Bloomfield
f/N
2/11
2000
42
Above: At a Jewish Women's Foundation training session on Jan. 23 are Margot Halperin
of Birmingham, standing; daughter Gayle Kahn of Bloomfield Hills, to her left, and
Sandra Jaffa of Federation to Halperin's right.
andra Schwartz has a long-time commitment to volunteerism, par-
ticularly in the Jewish community. Her service has ranged from par-
ticipation on many boards of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit to the presidency of the Sinai Guild.
When there was talk of forming an organization that would award grants
to advance women's causes, Schwartz decided this would be an important
opportunity for her. While she was concerned with all sorts of projects,
whether related to physical or social well being, Schwartz has a personal
stake in addressing women's health issues. The Franklin resident is a breast
cancer survivor who coped with the disease at a very young age.
"I'm a firm believer in organizations that can make a difference in indi-
viduals' lives," says Schwartz, a founding member of the Jewish Women's
Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit, an independent program of Federation.
"I've become more interested in the grant-making process because I realized
this is the-way people who care can make a difference. It really is a natural
for me."
Schwartz, one of more than 20 founding members, has pledged a $10,000
contribution to JWF that will be paid over five years. This makes her a
trustee and in a decision-making position with other donors.
"I've had the opportunity to give input into how money is spent at vari-
ous agencies, but I've never been involved with any grant-making program,"
Schwartz says. "To participate in that kind of endeavor appeals to me. As a
woman, I believe that I have an obligation to advocate for women."
The JWF was organized last year, after the success of similar groups was
observed in New York and Chicago. Federation governors approved seed
money amounting to $255,000 over three years to cover marketing, publici-
ty, training and the salary of a staff member to take care of day-to-day opera-
tions.
"Women's philanthropy is becoming more and more significant," says
Sandra Jaffa of West Bloomfield, director of the Federation Women's
Department. "Women need to control where philanthropy goes so this is a
separate enterprise."