Contact: Dana Asher
Women’s American ORT Marketing &
Communications Department
212.505.7700
dasher@www.waort.org

Suburban Chicago Region Sets the Pace in
Fund Raising for Women's American ORT

The Suburban Chicago Region of Women's American ORT (WAO) leads the country in fund raising for WAO, a nonprofit Jewish national organization. Women’s American ORT raises money for ORT, a network of schools and programs that teach technological and vocational skills—in countries such as Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Argentina, France and the United States—to nearly 290,000 students each year.

"Since 9/11 and the subsequent downturn of the economy, philanthropies nationwide are feeling the heat when it comes to fund raising," says Carol Linch, WAO National President and a resident of Highland Park. "Yet the Suburban Chicago Region of Women's American ORT is showing us that this is not the rule. Their dedication to Women's American ORT and the ORT program has allowed them to raise critically needed funds—even beyond their goals."

The region, one of 27 in the country, has raised more than $1 million this year. At WAO's National Annual Meeting, which will take place in Chicago, on July 28, Linch, a member of the Suburban Chicago Region, will formally congratulate the region—which includes north and northwest suburbs from the Chicago border to Lake Forest and Vernon Hills and encompassing Western suburbs, including Naperville and Oak Park.

"Our region has been particularly motivated to help our students in Israel. Twenty-five percent of all Israelis have attended ORT schools, and we have mourned the deaths of many of our students and alumni," says Sheryl Solomon, president of the Suburban Chicago Region. "The Ministry of Education has cut its budget in order to use the money for defense and security which has meant cuts to many of our ORT schools. Our region was committed to make up part of that deficit because we did not want to let our students down."

Women's American ORT is a national Jewish organization that strengthens the worldwide Jewish community by empowering people to achieve economic self-sufficiency through technological and vocational education. This is accomplished by providing financial support and leadership within the global ORT network of schools
and programs.