The Kansas City section of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) recently honored volunteers and community members at its annual Installation and Awards Program.
Programming included an historical look into the Jewish community and NCJW’s past presented by Sam Kricsfeld and Lacey Storer of The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle. Layette items for the Baskets for Babies project were collected at the event.
Awards were given to Judy Sherry (Hannah G. Solomon Award), Annie Glickman (Community Service Award), Terri Miro (Emerging Leader Award) and Mirra Klausner (The Beti Weber Moskowitz Tzedakah Award).
In addition, board members and officers were recognized for their continuing commitment to the organization and their positions confirmed for the 2025-26 term. The standing board of directors consists of Lainie Decker, Judith Evnen, Milisa Flekier, Reva Friedman, Jane Girson, Amy Goldstein, Lynn Schweig and Kelly Somberg. Departing board members Amy Both, Stephanie Herman, Nancy Kalikow Maxwell and Stacie Turtledove were recognized for their work during the past year and relieved of their positions.
The NCJW officers for 2025-26 are Carla Oppenheimer, president; Amanda Palan, vice president of fund development; Terri Miro and Sheryl Stein, co-vice presidents of community service; Jannie Cubbage and Mirra Klausner, co-vice presidents of membership; Linda Stark, vice president of social; Barbie Rogoff, treasurer; and Staci Kahn, secretary.
Over the course of 2024-2025, NCJW has aided the community with multiple programs and projects, including:
- Assembling and delivering 400 Birthday Books to underprivileged children
- Suitcase to Start, providing 37 suitcases to young people aging out of foster care or starting college
- Stacey’s Closet, providing more than 1,982 clothing items to 240 underprivileged students throughout the school year in four elementary schools
- Thelma’s Kitchen, preparing meals for hungry families
- Assembling 120 “Baskets 4 Babies” with necessities for new mothers, delivered via Operation Breakthrough
- Handing out more than 1,000 pieces of donated jewelry to underprivileged children at four local schools so they would have a gift for their mothers on Mother’s Day
- Period Project, distributing more than 431 makeup bags and 809 full packages of menstrual products to 15 elementary, middle and high schools in the Kansas City metropolitan area
- The Back to School Store, providing clothing and school supplies to 437 children last July
NCJW members also gather regularly for social events, including a cohort of retirees. More information about NCJW and how to join is available at kansascity.section.ncjw.org or by calling (913) 648-0747.
NCJW award recipients Amanda Palan and Annie Glickman.
NCJW award recipients Judy Sherry and Terri Miro.