UJA-Federation of New York Honors Philanthropic Women from NYC

New York City NY

11 May, 2021

2:37 PM

Description

NEW YORK CITY (May 11, 2021) -- UJA-Federation of New York held its virtual Heart Matters event on May 11, 2021, honoring Manhattan residents Muriel Goldberg, Shirley Silver, and Stephanie J. Stiefel for their enduring dedication to UJA. Ms. Goldberg received the Lotte Bravmann z"l Eishet Chayil Award. She has been involved with UJA for more than 30 years, holding various roles including first chair of UJA's Interboro Women. "My volunteer career at UJA has filled my life with education and enriching experiences," said Ms. Goldberg. "Now, in this past Covid year, I proudly learned how UJA funds were expended to meet the needs of our community here and in Israel, including providing cash assistance and interest-free loans, vaccinations for Holocaust survivors, and free burials." Ms. Silver received the Heart Matters Award. She is a longtime member of UJA Women and has been involved with UJA for nearly 50 years. She helped create Adaptations, a program for young adults with developmental disabilities at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, a UJA nonprofit partner. She and her husband endowed a legacy gift of $20 million to enhance the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds, a UJA nonprofit partner, and the largest Jewish day camp system in North America. "We as the Jewish community in New York are lucky to be part of the UJA-Federation family," said Ms. Silver. "Its mission to help us all and to be inclusive is so special. I am grateful that my husband and my family are all so committed to this mission." Ms. Stiefel received the Defender of Zion Award. She co-founded UJA's Women on Wall Street in 2015 and served as its co-chair through 2019. She is a CPA and head of client development for the Straus Group in Neuberger Berman's Private Asset Management Division. In her acceptance remarks, Ms. Stiefel talked about seeing the work of UJA's network of nonprofits firsthand when her father received care at the Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. "You don't really appreciate the power of UJA's network until you're at your most vulnerable and are seeking help. That is why I continue to give generously and hope that my son will continue this legacy." The event featured a congratulatory message to the honorees from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Hadassah Lieberman, author of Hadassah: An American Story, and Ruth R. Wisse, Martin Peretz Professor of Yiddish Literature and Professor of Comparative Literature Emerita at Harvard University, were the special guests. About UJA-Federation of New York Working with a network of hundreds of nonprofits, UJA extends its reach from New York to Israel to nearly 70 other countries around the world, touching the lives of 4.5 million people each year. To date, UJA has allocated $67 million to help respond to the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Aid has supported New Yorkers facing food insecurity, UJA partner organizations providing essential health and human services to New Yorkers, Jewish Community Centers, low-income students, single parents, and dignified Jewish burials. For more information, please visit www.ujafedny.org.