More than 70 Lions of Judah from the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County – the LARGEST delegation there - headed to New Orleans for the International Lion of Judah Conference (ILOJC), “We are. We Can. We DO.” Like the other approximately 1,200 women who attended from across the continent and the globe, the local contingent included all age groups of women involved in high echelons of leadership and philanthropy in Jewish communities.

The conference was designed to educate Lions on the issues affecting the Jewish community, as well as to motivate and inspire them to continue their life-saving work and encourage others to join them. Conference sessions ran the gamut from leadership, advocacy, health and philanthropy to the impact of our work and the scope of the needs in the global Jewish community - repairing and changing the world. A morning of service also brought Lions from around the world into schools impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

Chaired by Barbara Feingold, the South Palm Beach delegation also enjoyed a special activities itinerary of sight-seeing and New Orleans cuisine.

Ellen R. Sarnoff received the prestigious Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award for Leadership at the conference, which recognizes extraordinary women who have set a high standard for philanthropy and volunteerism in their communities. Sarnoff’s photo attached, bio below.

Each Lion of Judah contributes a minimum of $5,000 to her Jewish federation’s annual campaign, and proudly wears the internationally recognized pin. Locally, women raise half the dollars of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s annual campaign. The 14,000 Lions of Judah worldwide together contribute $180 million dollars in annual commitments and $300 million designated for legacy giving to support human services, rescue people in distress and build a meaningful Jewish community.

At the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, women raise half the dollars contributed in the annual campaign.

Since 1979, the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County has been the central address for the Jewish community and one of the most trusted names in local philanthropy. The Federation engages residents of the Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Highland Beach areas in a wide range of philanthropic, educational, social, and advocacy activities, including the Dorothy Seaman Department of Women’s Philanthropy, raising millions of dollars each year. Through more than 30 local to international beneficiary service agencies, these funds further the welfare of Jews from area neighborhoods to Israel, and in more than 70 countries worldwide.

 

Ellen R. Sarnoff

Originally from New York, Ellen Sarnoff enjoyed a successful career coordinating promotions and special events for Time, Inc., and devoting herself to many charities in the Greater New York area. Since moving to South Florida in 1993, Ellen has relentlessly worked to improve the quality of life for those in need in South Palm Beach County.
 
Ellen is a Past Chair of Federation’s Women’s Division, and sits on the UJC’s National Women’s Philanthropy Board. In 2008, Ellen was the first recipient of Federation’s prestigious Dorothy P. Seaman Leadership Award.

Ellen also currently serves the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County as Vice Chair of Financial Resource Development. She previously chaired of the Federation’s 2008, 2009 and 2010 fundraising campaigns. In addition, Ellen has served on the Federation’s Finance and the Planning and Allocations Committees.  For six years, Ellen co-sponsored the Federation’s Thanksgiving Day Luncheon for those in need.

She also serves on the Board of the Jewish Community Foundation, is a charter member of the Jewish Women’s Foundation, and has served on the boards of the Jewish Association for Residential Care (JARC), and the 2007 Major Gifts National Women’s Philanthropy Committee. She has also chaired the King David Society and Lion of Judah Endowment (LOJE) Committee for South Palm Beach County.

Ellen is also First Vice Chair of Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service of South Palm Beach County. She had previously joined the JFS board in 1998, and became Vice President of Programming in 2000. That year, she also established the Sarnoff Substance Abuse Education Program at JFS to educate children about the dangers of drugs. In 2002, she was honored by the agency for her work and commitment at their Friends of the Family Dinner. For three years Ellen served as a Friendly Visitor for a woman in Kings Point.