14 | SEPTEMBER 22 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

continued from page 13

that discomfort behind me.
”
Added participant Ilana Block 
of Huntington Woods, “When 
we call and ask someone to con-
tribute it can feel uncomfortable, 
but it’s also a privilege because 
you’re enabling someone to do 
a mitzvah. I thought that was a 
beautiful takeaway.
”

WOMEN 
CHANGE-MAKERS
Inspire culminated in a three-
day trip to New York this past 
May, where participants learned 
about women’s philanthropy at 
the national level while meeting 
with other women change-mak-
ers in the Jewish world. They 
also toured the city’s Lower East 
Side to connect with the Jewish-
immigrant experience, which 
still resonates today, as Women’s 
Philanthropy does a lot of work 
responding to immigrant crises, 
including the one triggered by 

the Russia-Ukraine war. 
“We got a sense of the women 
who were changemakers a cen-
tury ago, immigrants who were 
taking care of families, running 
small businesses, and didn’t 
speak the language, yet were able 
to accomplish incredible things,
” 
Block said. “They were setting 
the table for what we do today. 
It was motivating, inspiring and 
left you feeling like we can all do 
great things for our community.
” 
As to why a program like 
Inspire is so important, the 
group’s leaders say it’s a remind-
er of the huge impact women 
make in our own community 
and beyond. Last year, Women’s 
Philanthropy’s 4,000 donors 
raised $6 million for Federation’s 
Annual Campaign. “We have a 
different set of tools, a different 
perspective,
” Trosch said. “It’s 
incumbent upon us to prepare 
other women to take on leader-

ship roles because we are needed 
... sitting at the table and part of 
the conversation.
” 
From a fundraising stand-
point, “Women have the ability 
to create a special connection 
with other women,
” Susie 
added, explaining that those 
soliciting on behalf of Women’s 
Philanthropy are typically 
assigned to call on other women. 
“Their asks are very heart-
felt. That outreach, woman to 
woman, is special.
” 
While the Inspire women 
officially “graduated” from the 
program in May, their work 
is not done. Federation’s 2023 
Annual Campaign kicks off this 
month, and each woman has 
been assigned a leadership role, 
whether it’s spearheading phone-
a-thons or organizing other 
fundraising events. 
“They’re all being plugged in 
now to put their skills to work,
” 

Singer said. (This year’s goal is 
still being set, but she said that 
based on growing needs in the 
community and the rising costs 
of goods and services due to 
inflation, it’ll top last year’s total.) 
“The women in this group 
are so passionate and excited to 
help with Federation’s mission 
and to raise the necessary funds 
to help our community,
” Singer 
said. “If we can develop future 
women leaders for Women’s 
Philanthropy and other causes, 
we have succeeded … and I 
think we’re already reaping the 
benefits.
” 

Federation Women’s Philanthropy has 

a place for women at every stage of 

life to get involved with and support the 

community, from events and programs 

to hands-on volunteering and leadership 

positions. To learn more or connect with 

Women’s Philanthropy, contact Amy 

Wayne at (248) 203-1483 or awayne@

jfmd.org.

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