In honour of Mother’s Day, the Women’s Collective Philanthropy Program (WCPP) of the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation has launched a special matching campaign to support women and children in need. The campaign will match donations up to $54 per donor, with proceeds benefiting Harmony House and Jewish Family Services%u2019 (JFS) Shalom Bayit program.

Harmony House is Ottawa’s only second-stage women’s shelter, providing safe, affordable transitional housing for women and children who are survivors of violence. The shelter offers a range of programs and services to help residents rebuild their lives, including individual and group support, advocacy, and referrals.

JFS’s Shalom Bayit program offers confidential support to Jewish women experiencing various forms of abuse, including verbal, emotional, physical, financial, sexual, and spiritual/religious abuse. Services include crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, and long-term therapeutic support.

The WCPP aims to engage, educate, and empower women to become catalysts for social change. Through the growth of the Women’s Collective Endowment Fund (WCEF), the program supports initiatives that expand and improve opportunities for Jewish women and children in Ottawa. Past recipients of WCPP grants include Jewish Education through Torah (JET), Tamir, and the Ottawa Kosher Food Bank.

Lynne Oreck-Wener, a founding member and executive of the WCPP, emphasized the importance of this campaign: “We wish to bring attention to the fact that there are women in our community that experience violence and abuse from an intimate partner. Harmony House provides necessary transitional housing and programs to women. We will also be providing support through this campaign to JFS’s Shalom Bayit Program.”

Donors can make their contributions through the Foundation’s donation page, where they can also send a tribute card to someone they wish to honour. The cards, designed by Dr. Janet Dollin, a founding member of the WCPP, add a personal touch to each donation.

To learn more about the WCPP and participate in the Mother’s Day matching campaign, visit the Foundation website here or make a donation directly here.

This Mother’s Day, consider making a meaningful contribution that supports the safety and well-being of women and children in our community.