Women of Initiative
The event: Annual Women’s Voices luncheon sponsored by the Women’s Division of the Jewish Federation of Orange County. The Thursday benefit for about 500 people at the Hyatt Regency Irvine honored Helen Aaron of Laguna Woods and featured Ms. magazine founder Letty Cottin Pogrebin as speaker.
Social service: “Shhhhhhh--be just like you’re in temple,” said women’s division president Ruth Lobel of Corona del Mar, hushing the ebullient crowd. “We’re making history today--this is our largest luncheon ever.” Pledges from people attending the event were estimated at about $500,000. The money will be used for the federation’s community service programs in Orange County and Israel.
In a flip-flop of the traditional charity luncheon, the crowd sampled fruit and rolls as they enjoyed the program--then had their formal lunch.
Kudos: Winner of the annual Anne Entin Woman of the Year Award for her ongoing effort to improve the quality of life for the Jewish community of Orange County, Aaron--the first president of the Women’s Division--was praised for her ability to take care of matters at hand.
“Helen has always done what needed to be done . . . with dignity, intelligence and class,” said Bunnie Mauldin of Newport Beach, last year’s award winner. “Helen Aaron--wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great cook! A powerful community leader in her own quiet way, a wonderful role model, a woman of valor.”
Aaron told the crowd that when she came to live in north Orange County 50 years ago, there was no “Jewish neighborhood--no bakery, deli, dairy,” she said. She joined a local temple and began her community outreach there.
Quote: “Singer Helen Reddy’s hit ‘I Am Woman’ struck a chord in me,” said Aaron, who attended the luncheon with her husband, Bob, a past president of the Jewish Federation. “Women are invincible.”
Time and wisdom: With candor and wit, Pogrebin, 59, of New York--author of “Getting Over Getting Older” (Berkley Books)--spoke about the importance of accepting the inevitable process of aging.
“Until we own our age, it is always going to be a problem to us,” said Pogrebin, a columnist for Family Circle magazine. “Yet, when we embrace it, we alter it . . . make ourselves less afraid.
“If I had anything to pass along to you from the experience of observing and dissecting the experience of aging--and this applies from the 20s up--it’s that when you bring consciousness to time, you lengthen it,” Pogrebin said. “And that’s what we all really want.”
Guest list: Luncheon co-chairwomen Cindy Furst and Madaline Gordon; Joseph M. Baim, federation president, with his wife, Roslyn; Bernice Watkin; Donna Weinstein; Heidi Berkley; Molly Blank; Eleanor Burg; Leba Cohen; Sandy Fainbarg; Ruth Feuerstein; Diane Karp; Natalie Mandel; Penny Myers; Blossom Siegel; and Ruth Sovetts.
What’s next: The federation will honor its major donors with a thank-you dinner at the Ritz restaurant in Newport Beach on March 23.
For information about the federation: (714) 755-5555.