Serving the Jewish community.
After retiring as a broadcast news executive, Buckhead resident Ilene Engel wanted to immerse herself in the Jewish community and contribute to nonprofits geared towards helping women and girls. She wasted no time diving into her newfound passions, establishing connections with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, The Temple, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Atlanta Jewish Committee. In April, Engel was honored with the Atlanta Jewish Committee’s Distinguished Advocate Award, a testament to her contributions to the community.
Beyond her commitment to Jewish causes, Engel included women’s organizations to her long list of volunteer activities. “My friend, Polly Simpson, who was board chair at the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, introduced me to the organization and took me under her wing,” Engel says. “She was part of the fabric of the Atlanta social justice community, and I was fortunate to have her as a mentor and to follow in her footsteps.” Engel also founded the Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta to bring women from diverse backgrounds together. “It was a true privilege and joy in my life,” she says.
Engel’s Jasper, Alabama, family was deeply rooted in the Jewish community and fueled her dedication to Jewish and women’s causes.
ATLANTA JEWISH COMMITTEE
ajc.org
@ajc.global
JEWISH WOMEN’S FUND OF ATLANTA
jwfatlanta.org
@jwfatlanta
