North Center Resident Wins Prestigious Jewish Federation Award

Emily Muskovitz Sweet, 36, a resident of North Center, received the 26th annual Samuel A. Goldsmith Award at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago’s 113th Annual Meeting, which took place Sept. 12.

The Goldsmith award is given to exceptional young professionals who have shown outstanding performance in their work at a Jewish agency in the Chicago area. Sweet, who is originally from Ann Arbor, Mich., is the Executive Director of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Chicago, which seeks to improve opportunities and choices in all aspects of Jewish women and girls' lives through strategic grant-making.

Accepting her award, Sweet spoke about the power of stories to inspire people to action. Sharing a bit about her own journey, she discussed growing up in one of the first generations where girls were told they could grow up to be whatever they wanted to be.

“In addition to being blessed with many wonderful opportunities, my story was also shaped by watching girls and women struggle with eating disorders, date abusive partners, shy away from leadership roles, and survive sexual assaults. These were the stories that led me to pursue a career in social justice.”

Today, Sweet’s work with the Jewish Women’s Foundation has a powerful impact in Chicago and around the world, awarding critically needed funds to innovative and deserving projects.

“Together our work is changing stories for thousands of Jewish women and girls,” said Sweet. “How incredible to know that our grants are creating new stories, stories about personal empowerment, economic security, and freedom from violence and abuse. What an incredible privilege it has been to be part of something like this.”

During her tenure as director, Sweet has engaged 73 new women as trustees of the Foundation, and raised close to $1 million in new pledges to the Foundation’s endowment. She spearheaded the JUF/Federation’s participation in the national Women Moving Millions campaign, a project of the international Women’s Funding Network, and recently participated in Leadership Greater Chicago’s 2013 fellows program.

“Anyone who knows Emily knows that she is a passionate advocate for women,” said Federation President Dr. Steven B. Nasatir. “Her incredible leadership, drive, and contagious enthusiasm have further strengthened and invigorated a foundation that grew from a small group of committed donors into the largest Jewish Women’s Foundation in the country.”

The JUF/Federation is one of the largest nonprofit social welfare institutions in Illinois. The organization funds a vital network of agencies that act upon core Jewish values, including caring for people in need and sustaining the Jewish community.