2013 JAC Women of Power Luncheon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JAC POWER OF WOMEN LUNCHEON 2013
Special guest Kerry Kennedy, President of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights gave keynote address; JAC honored Wendy Mills Abrams, longtime JAC member and environmental advocate.
June 10, 2013 - Chicago, IL - The energy in the room was palpable at the third-annual JAC Power of Women Luncheon Thursday, where 400 women, and a few good men, gathered to celebrate women’s leadership and advocacy on JAC’s core issues: U.S.-Israel relations, women’s reproductive rights and the separation of religion and state.
JAC honored Wendy Mills Abrams, a longtime member of the organization. Abrams is a strong advocate for Israel, Choice, and a passionate defender of the environment. With JAC, Abrams has lobbied on the Hill, participated in Talking Points (current-events forums held throughout the United States), hosted candidate receptions, marched for Choice on the National Mall, and has campaigned for JAC-endorsed issues across the United States.
In 2002, she joined the National Council of Environmental Defense and in 2006 founded Cool Globes, Inc., whose inaugural Cool Globes exhibit opened in Chicago with more than 3 million viewers. The exhibit is touring in Boston and Jerusalem.
In a moving tribute video from U.S. Senator, Ron Wyden (D-OR), the Senator gave a personal account of Abrams’ many contributions to environmental causes, as well as her advocacy work on many JAC issues, including U.S.-Israel relations and reproductive choice.
U.S. Representative, Brad Schneider (D-IL), also sent a message congratulating JAC and Wendy Abrams. State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) and State Rep Robin Gabel were in attendance at the event.
On what happened to be the 50th anniversary of her father’s assassination, special guest speaker Kerry Kennedy, President of the Robert F. Kennedy Center (RFKC) for Justice and Human Rights and New York Times best-selling author, gave a compelling keynote speech detailing women’s rights violations throughout the world.
Lisa Rubinstein and JACPAC President Janna Berk were co-chairs and worked with a dedicated committee. Decorations were provided by Chicago firm Kehoe Designs. The event also featured a raffle with prizes generously donated from a variety of local jewelers including: April Star, Cy Frederics, Jill Alberts Jewelry, Meredith Marks Designs, ROXoxox, So Many Roads, and Willow Boutique. The Power of Women Luncheon was held Thursday, June 6, 2013, at Bryn Mawr Country Club in Chicago.
Joint Action Committee (501c4) is a nonpartisan advocacy group that promotes the United States-Israel relationship, reproductive freedom, separation of religion and state, and social policies in keeping with the core values of the American Jewish community. To promote this agenda, JAC enlists Jewish community participation in advocacy with elected officials; this includes trips to Washington, DC, that feature legislative briefings by high-level experts and advocacy visits with members of Congress and their legislative staff.
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For more information, contact:
Dana Gordon, Membership and Outreach
Joint Action Committee (JAC), 847-433-5999
