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Honoring the Past, Eyes on the Future:
Carly Zimmerman New Chair of Women of Vision
What was one of your most meaningful experiences
AS CARLY ZIMMERMAN STEPS INTO her new role as the
in WOV?
chair of Women of Vision (WOV), two things are certain: She
knows her Jewish community, and she is a fierce advocate for
During my first Grant Review Committee meeting, I remember
women’s rights and empowerment.

several members debating and disagreeing fiercely about a specific
“I’m excited, nervous and feel a healthy amount of pressure
grant proposal. The room was tense and divided. I was nervous
to do ‘big things’ in the next two years,” said Zimmerman, who
about what would happen when the meeting ended, but as the
begins her position in September. “I’m inspired to lead because
room emptied out, I watched in surprise as several of the women
of what my mom has taught me and to create a better world for
that were just minutes ago debating each other made plans for
my daughter, Norah, and her generation. I really want to make
lunch and checked in with each other about their families.

them proud.”
This interaction, which I’ve seen repeat time and time again,
Throughout her impressive career as a Jewish communal
has taught me so much about the importance of respectful
professional, Zimmerman served as the Jewish life director of
debate and disagreement in these particularly polarized times.

Hillel at the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University,
Women of Vision is proof that we can and need to be able to work
CEO of Challah for Hunger and, most recently, senior relation- Incoming Women of Vision
together with people we disagree with and have relationships
chair Carly Zimmerman looks to
ship director at BBYO.

outside our own belief bubbles.

empower Jewish women and
While Zimmerman left the Jewish professional world this past girls through grant-making and
work. year to join her family business, Larson Lightning Protection, advocacy Courtesy
What advice has the outgoing WOV Chair Mindy
of Carly Zimmerman
she remains committed to supporting Jewish life as a lay leader
Fortin given you?
of WOV, an affinity group of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Mindy has taught me an immeasurable amount through her actions and mentor-
that transforms the lives of Jewish women and girls through grant-making and
ship, but the quality I will try to carry on is her commitment to social change. In
advocacy. every conversation, she communicates the importance of our social change grant-
In her current role as WOV Grant Review Committee co-chair, Zimmerman,
making and advocacy and keeps us on mission so that we can accomplish our
along with fellow co-chair Amy Cohen, oversaw grant cycles that allocated
goals. I admire her conviction and tenacity, and the way she brings others into our
dollars from the WOV Endowment Fund to innovative programs in Greater
work. I will continue to look up to her and call her often (thanks, Mindy!).

Philadelphia and in Israel.

This year, WOV members reviewed programs in Israel and voted to grant
How do you think this most recent grant cycle went?
$18,000 a year for two years to ELI for a program that creates systematic change
This was a particularly challenging year. Because of the pandemic and the insta-
through educational programming to reduce sexual abuse against women in
bility of the Israeli government and its inability to pass a budget, there was so
the Israel Defense Forces. The group also granted $25,000 a year for two years
much need from NGOs in Israel. Between the Jewish Federation professional
to Mavoi Satum’s program that reduces gender inequality, discrimination and
team, our committee, Amy, Mindy and me, we read nearly 60 proposals, and
abuse in Israel’s marriage and divorce legal system and advocates for more
every one of them was certainly worthy of support. The challenge was balancing
women representation in the courts.

our mission for social change, which takes time, and the request for direct
“My goal is to honor our past and grow Women of Vision’s impact. I look
service that would help people immediately.

Our committee certainly rose to this challenge. I’m very happy with the level
forward to welcoming more members and increasing our ability to make larger
of engagement from our committee members and our overall Women of Vision
grants to organizations in Philadelphia and Israel,” explained Zimmerman,
community, despite our entire process taking place virtually. I’m very grateful
who is also on the WOV Executive Committee and a member of the Women’s
to Amy as well as Rachel Berger and Tali Lidar for their partnership as Jewish
Philanthropy Board. “Social change and grant-making is at the heart of Women
Federation staff.

of Vision, and I’d like to get as many women involved in this process as possible.”
We spoke with Zimmerman to learn more about her and her journey within
WOV. Is there a hobby or skill that you picked up during the pandemic?
I’m one of the many who joined the Peloton world this year, and I’m unasham-
edly obsessed.

Why and when did you first get involved with WOV?
My first involvement was as an applicant to the WOV grant process. In 2013,
I became the CEO of Challah for Hunger, a nonprofit that seeks to end food
What is something people probably don’t know about you?
insecurity, and Women of Vision was the first Philadelphia group to make a
I recently left the Jewish community as a professional and joined my dad in our
significant grant to support our work. The grant from WOV came with so much
family business — Larson Lightning Protection, Inc. I’m learning so much about
more than financial support.

lightning protection systems and spending a lot of time on construction sites.

Many members of WOV became Challah for Hunger’s (and my) biggest
champions and advocates, and a WOV member even joined our board of direc-
For more information about Women of Vision, contact Shara Swift,
tors. I was surprised and flattered to be asked to join a few years later, and it was
Jew ish Federation’s Af f inities & Donor Engagement Manager, at
a very easy “yes” because of the relationships I’d formed with WOV members.

sswift@jewishphilly.org. 16
JULY 15, 2021
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