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24 April 2019
Coretta Scott King once said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”
Over the course of several decades, many thousands of people have given their time, energy, and resources to make our community great.
Across Greater Washington are people who are deeply committed to Federation’s work and who have built their lives around this community. There are also people for whom Federation was a meaningful touch point in a past life. And still, for others, Federation is something they are just starting to discover or rediscover.
No matter where you might fall on this spectrum, I want you to know how grateful we are to you. Collectively, you built this community, have sustained it for years, and are ushering it into a new era.
It is with this in mind that I invite you to come celebrate this moment.
On June 6, we will gather at Washington Hebrew Congregation for a joyous evening of reunion and storytelling. We will look back on our many shared accomplishments and, importantly, look ahead to the next chapter of our communal story. This will be our chance to toast our past, revel in our present, and connect with our future.
We are calling this event Homecoming because this moment belongs to everyone (Beyoncé even released an album in honor of the event). This celebration is for Federation friends old and new, and for anyone who has been a part of our community’s evolution. I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside our event co-chairs, Dede Feinberg and Phil Margolius, to ensure that this will be a fantastic evening. Please visit Federation’s Homecoming page to register!
We will also be honoring our community’s own Paul S. Berger with a Dor L’Dor tribute award for his leadership and service to Federation over the past several decades. Paul currently serves on Federation’s Executive Committee as Pro Bono Counsel and has held a number of senior positions at Federation, our United Jewish Endowment Fund, and at local Jewish organizations over the years. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to recognize and thank him.
Of course, Paul will be but one of many leaders in attendance at Homecoming. Within our community are dedicated people of all stripes who are using their skills and expertise to move us forward. If you have joined Federation on missions through the years, been a part of Women’s Philanthropy or Young Leadership, learned with us, or been inspired by our work, we are eager to celebrate you and reunite you with your fellow community builders. I look forward to mixing and mingling, and to swapping ideas about how we continue to grow from strength to strength.
Friends, I cannot wait to thank you for everything that you have done. Now is the time to mark your calendars and prepare to come home to your Federation family.
Shabbat Shalom and see you on June 6.
Gil