Deadline for Main Event nominees extended

Jewish Federation of Monmouth County has announced Jan. 22 as an extended deadline for nominating potential honorees at the 2014 Main Event.

The premier event of the year for Women’s Philanthropy, the banquet and awards ceremony will be held Wednesday, May 7, at Congregation Magen David in Ocean.

Sarah Portilla, federation’s development manager focusing on Women’s Philanthropy, announced two major changes. “This year, any individual or Jewish organization may nominate any Monmouth County woman over the age of 21 to receive an award for making a positive difference in the Jewish community,” she told NJJN in a phone interview.

In the past, Portilla said, all nominations came from congregations. Now nominations are open to every individual, community agency, Jewish organization, school, camp, or synagogue to nominate a woman who has demonstrated gemilut hasadim (acts of loving-kindness), leadership, and a willingness to put others before themselves.

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Portilla said nominations can be submitted at  jewishmonmouth.org/nominate. Each nomination form must include a brief description of the positive impact the volunteer has had on the Monmouth County Jewish community, a list or description of the nominee’s relevant accomplishments, an explanation of how the nominee has been an inspiration to others, and a description of the nominee’s approach to performing volunteer service.

The other Main Event change for 2014 is that this year’s honorees will each receive an award of $180, to be donated to the Monmouth County Jewish agency or synagogue of her choice. Money awards were not part of Main Event celebrations in past years, said Portilla.

More than 435 people turned out for last year’s Main Event, held May 8, also at Magen David. The evening was highlighted by a keynote presentation in which Alina Spaulding of Nashville shared a personal account of her family’s immigration from the former Soviet Union to the United States, and 19 local women were recognized for their service to the community.

For more information, contact Portilla at 732-866-4300 or sarahp@jewishmonmouth.org.