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31 March 2025
The Phyllis Margolius Family Foundation is thrilled to announce that Jennifer Scher has been named as the recipient of the 2025 Phyllis G. Margolius Impossible Dream Award. Scher was selected by the committee for her work to foster support for Israel as Vice President of the MidAtlantic Region for Friends of the IDF (FIDF).
Scher is the third recipient of the Phyllis G. Margolius Impossible Dream Award, given annually to a Jewish communal professional who echoes the character, inspiration, and determination of its namesake, Phyllis Ann Goldman Margolius. Phyllis cared deeply about strengthening the Jewish community in Washington, D.C., Israel, and around the world. Where others saw problems, she saw opportunities and solutions, pushing the needle forward and motivating those around her to do the same.
As part of the award, Scher will receive an $18,000 cash prize for her dedication to empowering Jewish identity and building meaningful connections to Israel.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Phyllis G. Margolius Impossible Dream Award,” said Jennifer Scher. “Phyllis was a dynamic and transformative leader, and I am privileged to be associated with someone who was such a champion of Jewish life, Israel, and community. Since 2006, the Greater Washington, DC community has mentored and nurtured my professional growth. I am incredibly grateful for the unwavering support and guidance of my lay and professional partners, who have been by my side for nearly 20 years. On October 8, 2023, in the heartbreak of tragedy and fog of war, I told my husband, ‘I am in this job at FIDF, in this moment, for a reason, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.’”
Scher has served as the Vice President of the MidAtlantic Region for FIDF for three years, where she champions Israel’s soldiers and educates communities on Israel’s security challenges. Under her guidance, FIDF has established a strong young leadership cohort, growing young Jews’ connection to Israel. She also spearheaded establishment of a WhatsApp group that provides ongoing updates and briefings, gathered Lone Soldier parents to support them while their children are at war, and helped organize Legacy Camp, a program bringing children from IDF bereaved families to Capital Camps.
Prior to FIDF, Scher was the Director of Community Advancement at Gesher Jewish Day School and the Director of Northern Virginia Engagement at The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. She is an active member of Congregation Olam Tikvah and a longtime parent at Gesher Jewish Day School and Capital Camps.
“In a time where community is needed, Jennifer is making a way, especially for young people to come together to help support and talk about Israel and Jewish community in a post-October 7 world,” said Selection Committee Member Josh Maxey. “When Jennifer speaks, I see a person committed to continue serving her community and ensuring we have the next generation of exemplary leaders.”
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington has been an invaluable partner in the fulfillment of this award. Phyllis devoted many hours in the work of Federation, and it is one of the many organizations in which she observed the depth of devotion and talent that Jewish professionals bring to our community.
“We are immensely proud to have Jennifer Scher as our award winner for the prestigious Phyllis G. Margolius Impossible Dream Award,” said Philip Margolius, President of the Phyllis Margolius Family Foundation. “Her achievements and dedication embody the essential qualities that this award represents: resilience, creativity, and the ability to rise to any challenge. We hope that receiving the Impossible Dream Award will further inspire Jennifer to continue her exemplary work in the field.”
Jennifer Scher will receive her award at an event to honor Jewish communal professionals on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at the Bender JCC in Rockville, Maryland. The event is co-sponsored by the Phyllis Margolius Family Foundation, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the BenderJCC.