January 8, 2006

(San Francisco, CA) From tutoring children to assisting developmentally disabled adults to fundraising for needy causes, five extraordinary South Peninsula women exemplify an inspiring spirit of service and dedication. Commendable examples of commitment to their communities, Sonya “Sunny” Kaplan, Selma Tandowsky, Joan Tandowsky Fox, Michelle Tandowsky and Ilana Tandowsky illustrate how every person is able to make a difference.

These five women are models of the significance of the Power of One Annual Gala Dinner and Reception, being held this year on Thursday, February 16, 2006 at Moscone West, 800 Howard Street (at Fourth Street), San Francisco, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Presented by the Women’s Alliance of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, Power of One is a gathering of Jewish women designed to celebrate and inspire the power of each individual to make a difference in this world. Attendees are asked to make a minimum individual gift of $365 to the Federation's Campaign 2006. This year’s featured speaker is actress/advocate Marlee Matlin. Menlo Park’s Sonya “Sunny” Kaplan will receive the Judith Chapman Women’s Leadership Award. Burlingame’s Tandowsky family has the honor of chairing the event.

Sonya “Sunny” Kaplan
Every year, the Judith Chapman Women’s Leadership Fund of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund recognizes a woman who exemplifies significant and sustained volunteer leadership in the Jewish community, serves as a role model for others and values her Jewish identity and the importance of giving in her life. The 2006 Judith Chapman Women’s Leadership Award will honor Sonya “Sunny” Kaplan for her tireless effort and dedication to helping those who can least help themselves.
 
Sonya "Sunny" Kaplan has been active in the local Jewish community for over 35 years. Her involvement has included participating in the Women's Alliance division of the Federation, including serving as president, chairing the Federation’s annual Campaign in the South Peninsula region, and serving as president and co-founder of the South Peninsula Regional Council. Kaplan is also responsible for developing the early funding for what is now the Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto, the Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School and Hatikvah House, the only home in Northern California for developmentally disabled Jewish young adults.

Receiving the Judith Chapman Women’s Leadership Award was particularly special for Kaplan since she was a close friend of Chapman’s. She explains, “My dear friend, Judith Chapman of blessed memory, started me on a new path almost 10 years ago with a few simple words: ‘I can't do this but you can.’ That uncharted and difficult path led to the creation of an organization called Hatikvah House, which today provides housing for Jewish developmentally disabled adults. It is the only Jewish organization in the Bay Area that provides this service. It became a passion in my life to help those who could least help themselves to live fuller Jewish lives and become integrated into the Jewish community. Along the way it enriched my life as well.”

The Tandowsky Family
Co-chairing the Power of One event is the Tandowsky family – Selma, her daughter Joan Fox and her two daughters-in-law Michelle and Ilana. Selma and her husband have spent most of their more than 50 years together living in Burlingame, where they raised their three children who have themselves gotten married and had children of their own. Remarkably, all three generations of the Tandowsky family continue to live in close proximity to each other.

The entire Tandowsky family is very involved in the local Jewish community. Joan, Michelle and Ilana had this to say regarding Selma’s exemplary example of generosity: “We really respect the effort and heart with which our mother and mother-in-law has devoted herself to our community. By watching her, we have seen first-hand that not only can one woman make a real difference, but that she can also multiply her own efforts by showing the rest of us how to give of ourselves, too.”

Among her many volunteer activities, Selma has served on several Women’s Alliance boards, volunteered at the Federation’s annual fundraiser Super Sunday, has been very active at Peninsula Temple Sholom and has donated her time as a tutor for the Jewish Coalition of Literacy. Joan has been Peninsula Temple Sholom Women’s president and is currently on the Temple’s board. She has also volunteered at numerous Super Sundays, was involved with the Federation’s Young Adult Division and has completed the Federation’s L’ATID Leadership Program. Though three teenage sons keep Michelle very busy, she still finds time to stay involved in the community. She has been on many boards and committees for her children’s schools, was formerly active in the Federation’s Young Adults Division, has volunteered at Super Sunday and has participated on several committees at Peninsula Temple Sholom. Ilana is also involved with her children’s schools and at Peninsula Temple Sholom and is a former co-chair of the Federation’s Super Sunday.

The Women's Alliance of the Jewish Community Federation offers women a unique opportunity to enhance and support Jewish life. By perpetuating the ideals and values of Jewish heritage and tradition, the Women's Alliance encourages women to become more deeply committed to the Jewish community. 

The Jewish Community Federation is the central organization for fundraising, planning, outreach and leadership development for Jewish communities in San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties. In FY 2004-05, the Federation’s annual campaign allocated $16.9 billion to some 60 agencies providing social services, educational and cultural programs in the Bay Area, in the U.S., Israel and elsewhere in the world. In fiscal year 2005, the Federation’s Endowment Fund, with assets exceeding $1.05 billion, provided more than $215 million for a variety of grants, seed projects and emergency needs in fiscal year 2004/2005. For information, call 415.777.0411 or visit www.sfjcf.org.

*Services will be provided for the hearing impaired.