Winter 2025
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Passing the Torch
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Erika Rimson and her favorite “Next Gen” young adults
Note from Erika Rimson:
Thank you for your partnership, your generosity, and your trust.
As I retire and pass the torch to our new Executive Director, Sarah Winger, I am deeply grateful for having had the opportunity to help launch and lead JCF over the past 11 years. Together with an extraordinary group of smart, caring, insightful people who’ve comprised our board of directors since inception, I am proud of the progress we have made since 2014. As we strive to strengthen and inspire a vibrant, caring Jewish community today and ensure a Jewish tomorrow, we’ve achieved significant milestones .
While I am retiring as Executive Director, my commitment to JCF’s mission and our community remains unwavering. Through my role here, I have experienced the transformative power of giving and recognize the importance of sustaining Jewish life in New Mexico and beyond.
It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as JCF’s first Executive Director, and I will cherish the memories and relationships forged during my time with each of you. You are and continue to be an inspiration – for me and for future generations.
L’Chaim New Mexico!
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Welcome Sarah Winger, our new JCFNM Executive Director
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The Foundation is excited to announce that we have hired Sarah Winger to be our new Executive Director. Sarah comes to us from UNM Hospital where she was the Director of CareLink Services, a behavioral health program. Sarah served on the Jewish Community Foundation of NM Board for five years and is an active member of the New Mexico Jewish community.
Sarah is a talented, experienced leader who cares deeply about Jewish life, building connections and helping others.
We are grateful to Erika for her exemplary leadership and heartfelt commitment as our founding Executive Director. Our community is fortunate that she plans to continue her involvement in New Mexico’s Jewish communal life.
Sarah in Tel Aviv, Feb 2024
“I am so honored and incredibly excited to be stepping into the Executive Director role at the Jewish Community Foundation of New Mexico. I look forward to building on Erika’s strong work to advance JCFNM’s mission. Together, we can make a lasting impact that will ensure a thriving Jewish community in New Mexico for generations to come.”
Summer 2024
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Nurturing Homegrown “Startup”
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The Foundation board created the Jewish Community Relations Fund so it can assist the JCRC-NM as it begins fundraising to expand and sustain its impactful work as a program of the JCC of Greater Albuquerque.
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Celebrating Life & Legacy Donors
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“Embracing Community” was the theme on June 9th, as Klezmer Duo “Di Kavene Kapelye” serenaded 80 legacy donors in the JCC courtyard at the 6th annual Life & Legacy brunch. Our community's 350 legacy donors, who Assure Jewish Tomorrows in New Mexico, have committed to make a legacy gift to the endowment of one or more local Jewish organizations. Our collaboration with synagogues and agencies in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Los Alamos will benefit our community for generations to come. Learn more about the Life & Legacy initiative.
Embracing Community
Di Kavene Kapelye - Randi Thompson & Jeff Brody
Spring 2024
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Check out the brand new New Mexico Jewish Journal
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A group of Jewish editors, writers and professionals came together over the last nine months to create a new independent, statewide online Jewish publication – see link below. The group recognized the vacuum that existed after the New Mexico Jewish Link ceased publication in 2022. Many meetings and hours of research, discussion, and planning resulted in the launch of the New Mexico Jewish Journal. The Jewish Community Foundation is proud to support this important community effort. Take a look and consider subscribing!
New Mexico Jewish Journal
New Mexico Jewish Journal: keeping us connected with news, arts, culture and spirituality.
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Many benefit from our spring grantmaking
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This year’s Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund grants supported the Jewish Care Program’s Emergency Assistance efforts, B’nai Israel’s Emerging Leader program, Temple Beth Shalom’s Religious School Retreat and the JCC’s new Mini Mensch program.
The Immigrant & Refugee Assistance Fund grants helped support needs of immigrants and refugees in New Mexico. See 2024 grant recipient list.
Thirteen Albuquerque and Santa Fe young people are looking forward to fun in the great outdoors with Jewish friends at summer camp. The Foundation’s camp scholarships will help support the kids’ adventures.
This year has been a tough one for Jews all around the country.… Spaces where I had previously felt safe now felt vulnerable. In the face of this, the first place I turned was camp. If it weren’t for the connections that I had made at camp since age 8, I would have felt even more isolated this year. I depend on these friendships to sustain me and look forward to deepened friendships in the year to come.
– 2024 camp scholarship recipientTwo graduating Albuquerque-area high school students who have demonstrated achievements and ongoing volunteer work supporting human rights and dignity will receive $1,000 college scholarships for the 2024-25 school year from the Neil Isbin Scholarship Fund.
