Sylvia Weisz Women's Philanthropy invites you to the 2025 Hillcrest Country Club Women’s Luncheon on Tuesday, September 16th. Our guest speaker will be Georgia Hunter, author of the bestselling novel We Were the Lucky Ones.
We are also excited to honor Annette Shapiro with The Sylvia Award.
Registration for this event is now closed. If you would like to attend, please contact Lauren Shorten at (323) 761-8306 or LShorten@JewishLA.org.
We look forward to seeing you on September 16th!
Warmly,
Heidi Haddad and Pam Kluft
Hillcrest Country Club Luncheon Co-Chairs
Susan Edelman, Nancy Eisenstadt, Jean Friedman, Hillary Hartman, Corrine Sands
Hillcrest Country Club Luncheon Committee
Nancy Lushing Greenstein
Sylvia Weisz Women's Philanthropy Vice Chair
Kathi Mangel and Lauren Schiff
Sylvia Weisz Women's Philanthropy Co-Chairs
A minimum gift of $365 to JFEDLA’s Annual Campaign
is required to attend the Women’s Luncheon.
Georgia Hunter is the author of We Were the Lucky Ones, inspired by a family reunion in 2000 that opened her eyes to the astounding, untold wartime stories of her grandfather — a Polish Jew — and his family. In 2008, she set off to research and record this piece of her Jewish ancestry, and a decade later, We Were the Lucky Ones was born. The book has been published in 16 languages, has landed in the hands of over 1 million readers, and was recently adapted into a Hulu series.
One Good Thing (March 2025) is Georgia’s second novel. Told from the perspective of a young woman forced to trust her inner strength as she navigates a world turned upside-down, One Good Thing is a coming-of-age story of friendship and motherhood, romance and survival.
Georgia’s personal essays and photos have been featured in places like the New York Times Book Review, “Why We Travel,” travelgirl magazine, and on Equitrekking.com. She is also a freelance copywriter in the world of adventure travel, crafting materials for outfitters such as Austin Adventures and The Explorer’s Passage.
Annette Shapiro calls herself a professional volunteer, and after six decades of service, it’s clear she’s earned the title. While it would take a book to capture the full scope of Annette’s philanthropic impact (and indeed, she co-wrote one which did that), her passion has always centered on Jewish life, community, and continuity.
Just a small sampling of her decorated philanthropic career includes chairing the United Jewish Fund Women’s Campaign during the Yom Kippur War, helping launch the Lion of Judah Endowment (Forever Lion) in Los Angeles, leading the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles as its first female board chair, and co-founding Beit T’Shuvah, a Jewish recovery center where she served as board chair and president.
A guiding force behind countless major campaigns, Annette is the recipient of numerous awards from organizations such as JFEDLA, Israel Bonds, and American Jewish University. She and her husband Leonard live in Los Angeles. They are proud to share their legacy of giving with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild.
JFEDLA acts on shared values to create safe, joyful, and connected Jewish life in Los Angeles, Israel, and around the world. We care for our vulnerable by fighting poverty and combating antisemitism. We inspire by fostering Jewish journeys, building bridges, and developing leaders. Our dedicated partners, passionate staff, and your generosity make our work possible.
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