2004-12-30-Rebecca Newman-UJF |
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Rebecca
Newman, who served as president of the United
Jewish Federation of San Diego County from 1993 to 1995, has been conferred
an even higher honor by that organization. During a recent meeting of UJF's
executive committee, she was presented with a life membership on the executive
committee of its women's division.. Only
three other women in Federation's history have been so honored, according to
Miriam Robins, women's division director. They
were Anne Ratner, who has been a Federation supporter for a half century; Sivia
Mann and the late Sophie Brody. Newman
went from the local Federation to national prominence as head of the National
Women's Philanthropy Campaign, which is an arm of United Jewish Communities--an
umbrella organizations for Jewish Federations across America. It
is perhaps not suprising that with such a talent for fundraising, Newman made a
professional career change, leaving the real estate field to become UCSD's
associate vice chancellor for health sciences development. Married to Dr. Larry
Newman, a physician, heath has been a field close to her heart. In
another of her capacities, as a member of the American Jewish Joint Distribution
Committee's board and executive committee, Newman has focused on providing
timely aid--including medical supplies--to distressed Jewish communities around
the world. In particular, Newman
specialized in monitoring for the "Joint" the affairs of Jewish
communities throughout Latin America. The
honorary lifetime membership came with two red roses, and a congratulatory
note from Tammy Moch, president of UJF's Women's Division. "You
could not have provided me wtih a more meaningfrul tribute and I am humbled by
your action," Newman was reported by Lori Mathios, the Federation's
director of marketing, to have replied. "To
be in the company of those three women is both flattering and challenging, and I
will always seek to follow in their model.
— Donald
H. Harrison |