By Vivian Leber
The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Long Island Sections held its 21st annual Women Who Make a Difference luncheon at Temple Avodah in Oceanside on Wednesday, May 4. Four women who have made exceptional contributions as leaders received awards. The keynote address was delivered by Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas, who was also recognized by NCJW for her groundbreaking efforts as a career prosecutor, especially noted for her decades-long commitment to seeking justice for women and children who are targeted by violent offenders. DA Singas was elevated to acting district attorney in January 2015 and later was elected to the office.
Great Neck resident Sandra Kendall was the honoree recognized as A Woman Who Makes a Difference by NCJW’s Lakeville Section. Kendall is cochair of its Read to Learn project, which
collects books for disadvantaged children, and has participated in many other NCJW committees and special projects. Before retiring, she was a paralegal for trademarks
at the Hearst Corporation, and earlier had been president of a clothing wholesaler.
Planned Parenthood of Nassau County (PPNC) also received recognition, with Sarah Miller, vice president for Public Affairs, accepting the award. PPNC’s three sites in Nassau serve 45,000 women annually, with a wide range of health services and counseling. Advocacy for women’s health access and reproductive rights has been central to NCJW’s mission.
The event’s other local honorees were Rabbi Judy Cohen-Rosenberg of NCJW Westbury Section, Caryn Bernstein of NCJW South Shore Section and Carole Tolkin of NCJW Peninsula Section.
“Today we are thrilled to honor the most deserving women and community organizations that share the vision of the National Council of Jewish Women,” said Jackie Fetner, chair of NCJW Long Island Sections.
DA Singas spoke about the DA office’s recent initiatives, saying, “We’ve changed our focus to prevent more crimes,” and described programs to put teens who have committed a nonviolent offense back on track, efforts to combat opioid addiction and a new approach to prosecuting the purveyors of trafficked teens while treating the teens themselves as victims in need of services.
NCJW’s own Trafficked Teens Project was then described by Dr. Ilene Gold-Glick, its Long Island coordinator. The public awareness campaign uses vivid depictions of typical teen victims in a display shown at schools, libraries and other public places, and promotes the assistance hotline, 888-373-7888. NCJW has been actively engaged on Long Island for nine decades through advocacy, education, services and philanthropy in support of women, children, seniors and families.
For information about the national organization, visit www.ncjw.org. Reach the NCJW-Long Island Sections office at 516-569-3660.
