New York – Nancy Kaufman, CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women (NJCW), has been chosen as the 2019 recipient of the JCPA Albert D. Chernin Award. The Award will be presented at the JCPA2019 Annual National Conference (February 9 – 12) at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. This years conference marks JCPA’s 75th Anniversary. You can view full programming and register for JCPA2019 here.

The Award, named after JCPA’s Executive Vice Chair Emeritus Albert D. Chernin is given to Jewish leaders whose life work best exemplifies a commitment to freedom and the protection of the U.S. Bill of Rights. Past recipients include Senator Ronald Wyden, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Rabbi David Saperstein, Professor Lawrence Tribe, and Alan Dershowitz.

Nancy Kaufman has had a distinguished career as a public servant, advocate, and non-profit leader. Prior to joining NCJW, Kaufman served as the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Boston for twenty years, where she led the social justice, Israel advocacy, and governmental affairs agendas for Boston’s Jewish Federation and its agencies. She has also held a variety of positions related to health and human services delivery in state and local government and in the nonprofit sector, including being founding executive director of a community action agency and working for the Dukakis administration as deputy director of the Governor’s Office of Social Policy, assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, and deputy commissioner of the Welfare Department for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Among other honors, she received an award for Greatest Contribution to Social Policy from the National Association of Social Workers in 1980, the Alumni Achievement Award from Brandeis University in 2002, and the Woman of Valor Award in 2007 from the Jewish Funds for Justice.

“Nancy has been an unwavering advocate for a free and fair society throughout her distinguished career,” states David Bernstein, JCPA President and CEO. “She’s in a class of her own.”

Hundreds of community relations leaders and activists are expected to attend the JCPA2019 National Conference, convening to tackle pressing issues at high level plenaries and workshops. Additionally, the JCPA 75th Anniversary Gala on February 10, will also recognize and honor the founding organizations, and past chairs and awardees.

Information regarding the conference and the gala can be found at jewishpublicaffairs.org/JCPA2019.