Women’s Philanthropy fund-raising project aids Arad

LIONS’ LEAP — a fund-raising project of Women’s Philanthropy of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ — has raised over $500,000 for the 2019 UJA Annual Campaign.

The effort was open to all Lions of Judah (LOJ) — women giving $5,000 or more to the campaign — and any woman who wanted to become an LOJ; 278 LOJs increased their annual gifts by $500 or more. This included 94 new LOJs, raising the number to a total of 438 in total, the most in over a decade.

The initiative brought in $571,146 in new dollars, $50,000 of which will fund renovations to the Arad Music Conservatory in the federation partnership city in Israel. The names of the contributing women will be listed on a donor wall.

Lions’ Leap committee cochairs Abbi Halpern and Maxine Schwartz and Major Gifts vice president Michele Landau were among the first to sign on to the effort.

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Women’s Philanthropy president Jody Hurwitz Caplan said, “Music transforms lives. Once the renovations are complete at the Arad Music Conservatory, we will build even more connections with the students there. We look forward to seeing these students thrive in their new musical home.”

Overall, Women’s Philanthropy raised $7.7 million for the 2019 UJA Annual Campaign, including 76 new Pomegranate donors (women giving $1,800 or more) and 136 new donors.