FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Meredith Jacobs, VP Communications
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Washington, D.C. – Jewish Women International (JWI), the leading Jewish organization addressing the empowerment of women and girls, is thrilled to announce the launch of its Young Women’s Leadership Network in Los Angeles, part of a multi-city, multi-year expansion effort to create engaged communities of young professional Jewish women around the country. The L.A. expansion is made possible by a generous grant from the Jewish Venture Philanthropy fund (JVPF) of L.A. which has provided seed funding for the project. Through its established Networks in D.C., New York and Denver, JWI is bringing together thousands of young women in their 20s and early 30s to build their professional skills, strengthen their personal and career networks, advance their leadership on critical issues that impact women and girls, and give back to their community.

The L.A. Network will officially launch on May 17th. More than 125 young, professional, Jewish women are expected to join with members of the organization’s national board of trustees and former Women to Watch honorees. Led by a local board of young women, the Network will offer monthly events focusing on professional development, social action and community building. Shabbat dinners, holiday themed events and happy hours will be included in the programming. Details for the launch event will be released shortly.

The on-the-ground-work of the LA Network will be spearheaded by Donna Maher, who has been hired as the project coordinator. Maher is a digital brand specialist, who holds degrees from UC Irvine and Tel Aviv University. As a member of the board of directors of 30 Years After, a non-profit organization that promotes the participation and leadership of Iranian-American Jews in American political, civic and Jewish life, Maher exemplifies the ideals of the Network—young women, who are engaged as leaders in their Jewish community. She will work closely with Sasha Altschuler, JWI’s Young Women’s Leadership Network’s national manager.

“We are very honored to have the support of JVPF-LA. , and to know that they share our vision of creating and supporting a vibrant group of young women as they grow to be leaders in their careers, their lives and in the L.A community. Never has personal and professional leadership meant so much to so many young women - and we want to engage and elevate their skills and talents through networking, mentoring, and action." says JWI CEO Lori Weinstein.

“We are thrilled to welcome Donna to the JWI team and believe that L.A. is the perfect city for our newest Network,” continues Weinstein. “The energy and passion of women here for the issues that JWI stands for - lifting up every woman and girl through personal and professional empowerment, ending violence, promoting economic security, and elevating leadership and mentoring - create a synergy of opportunity.”

Planning is underway to bring future Networks to Chicago, San Francisco and Atlanta. For updates on specific programs or to get more information or become involved, contact Sasha Altschuler at saltschuler@jwi.org. To register for the event, or to learn more about JWI’s Young Women’s Leadership Network, go to www.jwi.org/ywln.

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Jewish Women International is the leading Jewish organization working to end violence against women and girls domestically and internationally. JWI is a principal leader of the Coalition to End Violence Against Women and Girls Globally and a Steering Committee member of the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women. JWI’s advocacy efforts focus on the passage of legislation that supports women and girls, ensures their economic security and their ability to live life free of violence. For more information, please visit www.jwi.org or call us at 800-323-2823.

JWI to Bring Young Women’s Leadership Network to L.A.