Claire and Bob Mazer of Chicago to receive Women's American ORT's Tikkun Olam award

Contact: Dana Asher, Women's American ORT Marketing & Communications Department
914.637.0405
dasher@www.waort.org

Women's American ORT has announced that Claire and Bob Mazer of Chicago will be the recipients of its Tikkun Olam Award to be conferred at its annual meeting held at the Westin O'Hare in Chicago on July 28. The Tikkun Olam Award is presented annually to an individual or individuals who has shown commitment to strengthening the Jewish community.

The Mazers are being honored for their continued and outstanding philanthropic commitment to Women's American ORT and to 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 300,000 students each year. Currently an honorary vice president, Claire Mazer has recently held positions including a member of Women's American ORT's national board of directors and as co-chair of Pacesetters, a designation for donors who give $25,000 or more annually. She also serves as secretary on the board of trustees of Zarem/Golde Technical Institute, an ORT school located in Chicago.

In addition to their involvement with Women's American ORT, the Mazers are longtime supporters of the Jewish community through the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago and the American Israel Political Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Claire Mazer has also served on the board of the Women's Division of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago and is a trustee of the Jewish Women's Foundation, which provides grants to improve the lives of Jewish women and girls. Bob Mazer serves on the board of directors of AIPAC as well as co-chairman of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, an organization with which heís been involved for two decades.

"Having visited the schools annually since our first trip in 1969, we're always amazed by how relevant and viable the program is," the Mazers say. "In today's changing world, where technology evolves at the speed of light, the program is more relevant than ever."

"Claire Mazer has epitomized dedication to the ORT program throughout her 45 years with Women's American ORT," says Carol Linch, national president of Women's American ORT. "The generosity of her commitment--both of her time as well as her donations--has been inspiring to leaders and members alike."

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.

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