Community Chest's Women's Leadership Luncheon

This is a worthy event that I attend and wanted to share with you:

Trailblazing and Emerging Leaders Honored at The Community Chest's Women's Leadership Luncheon

(Eastern Bergen County, NJ; June 3, 2019) 

Women leaders from a range of disciplines were honored and recognized at The Community Chest's second annual Women's Leadership Luncheon and Scholarship Presentation, “Toasting the Elizabeths: Celebrating Women Leaders in Bergen County".  The leadership ceremony was held at The Elisabeth Morrow School in Englewood, New Jersey on May 16 and honored women leaders of the past and present and emerging ones.

The luncheon remembered three trailblazing women leaders in history from eastern Bergen County:  Elizabeth Cutter Morrow, the founding board chair of The Community Chest during the Great Depression, who lived in Englewood; Elisabeth Morrow Morgan, the founder of The Elisabeth Morrow School, who grew up in Englewood; and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a leader in the suffragette movement and a Tenafly, New Jersey resident. 

Dr. Shelly Wimpfheimer, executive director of The Community Chest, and Hanita Walia, president of The Elisabeth Morrow School board of trustees, welcomed everyone to the luncheon.  Margaret Silver, the great granddaughter of Elisabeth Cutter Morrow, provided a special greeting and discussed her family's involvement in the field of education as teachers.  Musicians from The Elisabeth Morrow School performed a special violin concert.

Prominent Women Leaders

The program honored these women in the region for their contributions in the community:  Molly Craig-Berry, Dr. Arthorine Walker and Tami Luchow.  They represented a range of professional backgrounds and demonstrated leadership in their fields and daily lives. 

• Craig-Berry, a native of Guyana, identified the importance of providing resources for all students to meet their educational goals.  As president of the City of Englewood Public School District Board of Education, she worked to provide children with the required resources to succeed in school.
•  Originally from Jamaica, Dr. Walker held many jobs, beginning as a housekeeper, and continued her education to obtain two master degrees and a doctorate to hold her current position as a special education teacher at Dwight Morrow High School.  She advocated for those in need and helped them find food, clothing and other necessities.
• Tami Luchow is a life-long champion for diversity and inclusion.  She uses her own life experiences as she travels the country and the world as an inspirational speaker and writer.  She was a journalist with NBC News and once competed on an international circuit, as a ski racer.  Luchow is a changemaker and an activist for People with Disabilities, visible and invisible, and their families, and is the founder of the non-profit Care For Life and Limb.    

Leadership Scholarship Awards Presented

A highlight of the event was the presentation of the second leadership scholarship awards.  Earlier this year, The Community Chest announced the availability of two women’s leadership scholarship awards for graduating high school female seniors from eastern Bergen County public and private high schools.  Applicants needed to show strong leadership qualities in activities undertaken during their high school years.

Through a highly competitive process, a selection committee comprised of women leaders reviewed the applications and selected the 2019 scholarship recipients, Billie Singer and Alexa Miller.  Each recipient received a $2,000 scholarship.  These aspiring leaders are seniors at Tenafly High School in Tenafly, New Jersey and plan to attend George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in the fall.

 “We were very impressed with the caliber of the applicants for this scholarship.  Each demonstrated exceptional talents and a commitment to social justice causes.  The selection committee had a major challenge choosing two recipients.  We were delighted to select and honor these emerging leaders, and look forward to continuing to recognize and award women’s leadership scholarships in the name of Elizabeth Cutter Morrow and other esteemed women," said Dr. Shelly Wimpfheimer, Executive Director, The Community Chest.

 After successfully lobbying a local representative on Capitol Hill to co-sponsor a specific bill on gun control, Singer recognized the power of political activism.  Her long-term goal is to become the United States ambassador to the United Nations.  Among her pursuits, she has been active with the Tenafly Greenway Committee and was accepted to Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle's Young Women's Leadership Program.  She plans to study political science and government in college.

Throughout high school, Miller developed her leadership skills.  She assumed several leadership positions, including president of the Women's Empowerment Club and captain of the track team and was also an active member of the Democratic Club.  In college, she will pursue a major in human services and social policy.

The event was sponsored in partnership with The Elisabeth Morrow School, Temple Sinai, Westy Storage, and the Women's Rights Information Center.            

About The Community Chest

Founded in 1933, The Community Chest, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, has supported local not-for-profit agencies for 86 years.  The Chest leads initiatives and supports nonprofits that make our communities stronger and benefit people in need in eastern Bergen County.  Each year, The Chest raises funds and allocates them to agencies demonstrating the capacity to provide services to local citizens.  The organization also provides coordinating and planning services in its communities, serving as a bridge between agencies and organizations and investing in the stability and quality of the service network.

The Community Chest's Board of Managers is comprised of community leaders dedicated to improving the lives of neighbors in need.  People interested in being considered for board membership may contact executive director Shelly Wimpfheimer at (201) 568-7474.

For further information about The Chest, visit www.thecommunitychestebc.org/ or contact (201) 568-7474.  Stay updated about the organization’s activities on Facebook and Twitter.