Vol. 43, No. 3
Adar-Nissan, 5781
March 2021
2021 Main Event: Unprecedented Event; Unprecedented Success
Mayim Bialik special guest at Main Event
together in person — including the tradition of sharing delicious desserts, but Main Event coordinators thought of everything and distributed dessert boxes filled with delicious cookies, brownies, rugelach, and more to participants who disregarded the cold and rain to drive to Shalom Park and schmooze with Federation staff and volunteers. The Main Event was preceded by a special virtual reception for Federation major donors and
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“I’m a product of Federation.” Those were the words of actress, podcaster, author, and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik at the first ever virtual Main Event on January 31. With almost a year to figure out how to offer quality, engaging programming online, the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte’s Main Event turned out to be a major success in more ways than one. The online format allowed for greater attendance than in past years, with more than 800 participants and a record amount of pledges — almost $400,000 — to the 2021 Annual Campaign. Donors were motivated by a generous $900,000 gift from the Leon Levine Foundation, of which $50,000 was a match for all increased, recovered, and new gifts. A telethon-style, scrolling banner appeared periodically on viewers’ screens, prompting them to make their gifts by three easy methods, including directly texting their pledge! Main Events have truly come into the digital age. However, online programming will never fully make up for what is missed by gathering
included remarks from Annual Campaign co-chair, Jake House, and a brief visit from Bialik. At the Main Event, co-chairs
Andrew and Jen Rosen spoke passionately about how Federation affects the lives of so many in our community and beyond. Brian Kahn, local attorney and co-producer and writer for Charlotte Squawks, emceed the event with his own brand of humor that added to an entertaining and meaningful evening. The highlight, of course, was hearing from Bialik. While past events have included notable speakers such as Bari Weiss and Josh Malina, the novel online format lent itself more to an informal interview with Bialik in the comfort of her own home, which she is quick to note she cleans herself! Excerpts from the interview can be found below. The Road to $5 Million continues with you. A successful Annual Campaign enables
Scarlett Rosen helps distribute desserts (Continued on page 3)
Women’s Philanthropy: A Powerful Voice in the Jewish Community It is fitting during Women’s History Month to acknowledge the vital role that women’s philanthropy plays in creating social justice, aiding the vulnerable, preserving human dignity, and building Jewish identity. While the focus on philanthropy is the mobilization of financial resources to promote the welfare of others, it extends beyond that. It’s about knowing and understanding deeply the breadth of issues facing our community and rolling up our sleeves to help. It’s about educating, inspiring, and empowering women of all ages in our community. It’s about nurturing leadership and fostering a commitment to philanthropy. It’s about having an impact. Still, when it comes to women’s role in generating and distributing philanthropic dollars, their collective influence is significant and only growing. With 64% of charitable contributions nationally coming from women,
they represent a demographic with a powerful voice. Locally, the power of that voice is evidenced by the role women’s charitable giving has in the work of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte (JFGC), with more than one third of donations to the JFGC Annual Campaign coming from women — more than $1,400,000 in 2020! Part of that total comes from the Lions of Judah, Pomegranate, and Pearl Societies, representing women who give to the Federation at various levels. As part of the Women’s Philanthropy division of the Annual Campaign, they serve as a
leading voice in local, Jewish, philanthropy. As noted by Karen Ransenberg, co-chair for the Pomegranate Society, “Lions and Poms are the most dynamic philanthropic women in the world. We are strong women of all ages, an international sisterhood of thousands of global activists who care deeply about the Jewish future. We play a vital role in creating social justice, aiding the vulnerable, preserving human dignity and building Jewish identity.” Each year, the Lion of Judah and Pomegranate Societies hold (Continued on page 5)
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