Being the main fundraising body for Cape Town’s Jewish community, the United Jewish Campaign is responsible for providing financial support to 35 beneficiary organisations within the community. These organisations offer services and support to the Jewish community in numerous different ways: from welfare to cultural activities to education, among others.
Considering the significance of its role and the size of its operations, heading the organisation requires a person with significant skill and experience. And that’s exactly what has led to the appointment of Helen Schneider as the UJC’s new Executive Director. The first woman to hold this position, Helen takes over from Barry Levitt, who recently retired after many successful years. With Barry’s wealth of experience, he will remain as part of the UJC team in the capacity of Senior Fundraiser.
In addition to holding an MBA from the University of Stellenbosch Business School, Helen climbed the corporate ladder to high levels prior to moving to the UJC in 2021. She worked in the retail sector for 20 years, gaining experience in operations and project management positions, and then spent a number of years with a leading multinational cosmetic company, as Commercial Director. The project management experience, together with her background in marketing and sales, has already served her well at the UJC.
While moving from a corporate environment in the commercial sector to the non-profit sector may be a big change, Helen is enthusiastic about her role. She explains that,”I took a bold step to embark on a fresh career journey and discovered a sense of purpose at the heart of an incredible community.”
When Helen first joined the UJC, she did not anticipate the extent of the complexity of the community. As she enthuses, “I’m thrilled to be within such a dynamic community, and to learn from the wisdom and expertise of our lay leaders.”
She is similarly appreciative of the impact of the Chair of the UJC, Lance Katz, whom she sees as a significant enabler of change and
is clear in his vision of empowering the people within the organisation.
Having worked closely with Barry and all the UJC stakeholders for the past 2 years, Helen is well-versed in what her role entails, and
she is confident about the future of the UJC.
We wish her every success in the role!
Website: www.ujc.org.za. Follow the United Jewish Campaign on Facebook and Instagram.
• Published in the October 2023 issue – Click here to start reading.
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