Women’s Philanthropy’s signature event is bringing inspiration, connection, and a bold start to the
spring season. Join us to celebrate the impact and passion of Greater MetroWest NJ women.
*The location and street address for Federation events will be emailed to each guest the day before the event, using the email address
provided at registration.
Wednesday, April 30
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Livingston
This event welcomes Greater MetroWest community members who make a minimum gift of $360, individually or as a family, to the 2025
UJA Annual Campaign. Your annual gift supports Federation’s lifesaving work around the globe and at home in New Jersey.
All guests must be registered in advance; walk-ins are not permitted.
If someone you know would like to attend, they must register in advance by contacting Claudia Lukac at clukac@jfedgmw.org.
Ticket Pricing
Individual Ticket: $180
First-time Supporter: $100 — For people making their first
time gift of $360+ to the UJA Annual Campaign
Event Timeline
6:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception - Cocktails and light fare*
(passed hors d’oeuvres and stations), will be served. *Kosher dietary
laws observed.
7:30 p.m. Program begins
8:30 p.m. Program Concludes
Event Chairs
Stacey Davis
Lauren Hausman
Becky Novin-Cannon
UJA Annual Campaign Chair
Michele Landau
Women's Philanthropy President
Abbi Halpern
Women's Philanthropy Vice Presidents
Shari Berman
Dorie Eisenstein
Alex Feinstein
Stefanie Gordon
Jodi Murnick
Event Commitee (in formation)
Audrey Bartner • Mara Berger • Shari Berman • Michele Bernstein • Andrea Bershad • Andrea Bier • Jody Hurwitz Caplan
• Heidi Cohen • Barbara Drench • Mariela Dybner • Dorie Eisenstein • Daryl Epstein • Lindsay Farkas • Alex Feinstein •
Anna R. Fisch • Rebecca Fisher • Thelma Florin • Aliza Freud • Marissa Freundlich • Terri Friedman • Emily Gantman •
Rebecca Gold • Stefanie Gordon • Deborah Jacob • Debbie Janoff • Genesia Kamen • Stephanie Karp • Melanie Kass •
Lisa Katz • Jeri Kimowitz • Julie Kirschbaum • Lori Klinghoffer • Michele Landau • Robyn Laveman • Debbi Lebersfeld •
Nicole Levitt • Melissa Liebermann • Nicole Liss • Lisa Lisser • Merle Lomrantz • Jean Mandell • Carol P. Marcus • Rachel
Klinghoffer Marcus • Ruth Margolin • Amy Murnick McKeag • Sydra Miller • Jodi Murnick • Lee S. Murnick • Stacey Nadell •
Melissa Nagelberg • Francine Nayman • Padi Nazmiyal • RoAnna Pascher • Tricia Perlman • Robin Polson • Elizabeth
Rabban • Liz Robinson • Marian Rocker • Amy Rollins • Leslie Dannin Rosenthal • Paula Saginaw • Shoshana Schiff •
Harriet Schneiderman • Sarah Schonfeld • Maxine Schwartz • Jessica Silverstein • Arielle Welt • Debbie Zuckerman
This award, given every two years, marks the extraordinary contribution of Norma Kipnis-
Wilson and Toby Friedland (both of blessed memory), the founders of the Lion of Judah
program. It honors a woman of distinction from every Federation community and is given to
women who embody the spirit and vision of Lion of Judah through their commitments to
tzedakah and tikkun olam.
Maxine currently serves on the Federation and Jewish Community Foundation Boards, and their
Executive Committees, and is Vice Chair of Targeted Giving for our historic Centennial
Campaign. Maxine is the president of the Jewish Community Foundation, the planned and
endowment arm of our Federation. She is also a long-standing member of Congregation Oheb
Shalom’s Budget and Finance Committee. She has held numerous other key leadership positions,
including Women’s Campaign Chair and Women’s Philanthropy President, UJA Annual
Campaign Chair, and Chair of the Unified Allocations Committee.
Maxine has underwritten many programs locally and in Israel. In 2020, Maxine and her family
created the Theodore R. z’l and Maxine B. Murnick PJ Library Endowment of the JCF to ensure
that thousands of children and families from across the Greater MetroWest community receive
PJ Library books each month and to support a wide range of programs that engage young
Jewish families. The family has also created endowments to support The Murnick Family Library
at Kibbutz Erez, in memory of her late husband, Ted z’l, and an endowment that supports our
Federation’s Rishonim program. The Murnick Family name stands proudly on donor walls, locally
and in Israel, and is recognized by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Friendship Circle, and JCC
MetroWest for her work.
On the national front, Maxine is a Trustee of The Jewish Federations of North America, serving
on its Board of Directors, and is a past member of the National Women’s Philanthropy Board. In
January 2025, the National Women’s Philanthropy awarded Maxine the Norma Kipnis-Wilson
and Toby Friedland award— it acknowledges her spirit and vision of Lion of Judah through her
commitments to tzedakah and tikkun olam. She is also an appointed American Jewish Joint
Distribution Committee Fellow and a National Trustee on the National Jewish Health Board in
Denver, Colorado.
Maxine B. Murnick
Kipnis-Wilson/ Friedland (KWF)
Award Recipient
Mandana Dayani is the creator and co-founder of I am a voter. and founder of The Democracy Heroes, national,
nonpartisan civic engagement organizations. She was previously appointed by President Biden to the United States
Holocaust Memorial Council. Most recently, she was President of Archewell, the production, audio, and philanthropic
company founded by Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. She is a globally celebrated brand and
marketing expert and regularly appears on Morning Joe on MSNBC.
In 2018, immediately upon witnessing the child separation policy at the border, Mandana brought together 25 women
leaders to launch I am a voter. in partnership with Natalie Tran and CAA. Since launching, the organization has supported
over half a million Americans through their registration process and generated billions of media impressions. The
organization has partnered with hundreds of influencers and brands shaping culture across entertainment, fashion,
beauty, tech, and sports, including NBA, Disney, Bumble, Starbucks, NFL, H&M, ABC, Fox, McDonald's, CFDA, Urban
Outfitters, Tory Burch, and iHeartMedia. Mandana also created Register a Friend Day, a national voter registration day.
Mandana began her career as a corporate attorney at Paul Hastings. She then worked as a commercial talent agent
before joining Rachel Zoe, Inc., where she led and launched the company’s consumer products, media, and strategic
investment businesses. After six years, Mandana joined EBTH as Chief Brand Officer, raising $84 million in venture capital.
In 2020, she co-created and hosted The Dissenters podcast with Debra Messing, highlighting the journeys of 20 of their
heroes to inspire activism in others. She is the Founder of The Learning Series, an event series for women, and an active
angel investor through Garde Ventures. Mandana is an outspoken advocate against antisemitism.
In addition, Mandana created The Calanet Foundation to combat antisemitism, One Mitzvah a Day, and Our Campus
United.
Mandana is an immigrant from Iran and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their two daughters; she credits her
experience immigrating to the United States as a religious refugee as one of the most formative inspirations behind her
activism.
Mandana Dayani
Entrepreneur | Attorney | Speaker | Investor
Event Sponsors
COMING SOON
Time. EnergY. Love.
GMW Women GIVE
We are Jewish women who share common bonds, values
and passions. We make a difference through acts of
kindness, community building and philanthropic giving.
With increased knowledge and resolve, the women of
GMW will continue our work as leaders, change-makers
and community shapers. There’s a place here for you, no
matter where your life and career have taken you. Add
your voice to ours and see what a different you can make!
Take the leap to meet the growing need
The Leadership Leap
Since October 7, more people are turning to Federation for critical
resources and relief. Your increased support is vital to help us meet
this rising demand and ensure our community remains safe, secure,
and resilient. Here’s how you can make an impact:
Make a new 2025 UJA Annual Campaign gift of $500 or more
Increase your 2025 UJA Annual Campaign gift by $500 or more
A portion of all qualifying gifts will support two special projects:
one in Israel and another here at home in Greater MetroWest NJ*.
Leadership Leap Co-chairs
Rebecca A. Gold
Ben Lehrhoff
Take action now—together, we’ll build a brighter,
more resilient future.
The women of Greater MetroWest NJ have been making an
impact in our community for more than 100 years
Security at Federation Events
The Gloria and Jesse Weissberg Community Security
Initiative (CSI) is coordinating all security with local, county,
and state law enforcement. At every Federation event, all
available resources are utilized to ensure your safety.
Important items of note:
Bag policy: Backpacks, luggage, and large purses are
not permitted at events. We encourage you not to
bring a bag, if possible, or to bring a very small bag. All
bags may be subject to search.Additional security measures: Additional security
procedures may be implemented (e.g. metal detectors)
as needed.Social media protocol: We ask you not to share the
location of a Federation event prior to or during the
event and to refrain from posting about a Federation
activity until after it has ended, and the site is clear of
attendees.
Building an inclusive community is a priority. Please email
federation@jfedgmw.org to let us know if you require an
accommodation to meaningfully participate in an event. One
of our Federation professionals will reach out to you to learn
more.
Questions? Contact Claudia Lukac at clukac@jfedgmw.org.