Beth Gluck named Southern Zone Director for Jewish National Fund

Fundraising veteran takes the helm of fast-growing region; prepares for 2010 National Conference in Atlanta

Contact: Jill Lerner • JNF PR Chair, Southeast • 404.808.1167 • jill@jilllerner.com

September 3, 2009 -- Atlanta, GA -- Veteran fundraiser and Israel advocate Beth Gluck has been named Southern Zone Director for Jewish National Fund (JNF).

Gluck, whose fundraising experience includes management roles with the Marcus Jewish Community Center, CARE International, and the Points of Light Institute, will focus primarily on generating awareness and support of JNF within Metro Atlanta. Gluck will also oversee JNF’s activities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, as well as the rest of Georgia.

The Atlanta-based southeast region of JNF is one of the fastest growing regions of the national organization and will host JNF’s 2010 National Conference.

“With the naming of Beth as our Southern Zone Director, the south is officially its own zone,” said JNF Chief Executive Officer Russell F. Robinson. “The growth that the region has experienced and the as-yet untapped, abundant opportunities make this an exciting development. Kudos to our lay leaders who have worked tirelessly though happily to make this happen.

“After an arduous search process with numerous qualified candidates we chose Beth for her superior fundraising skills and leadership qualities. We are sure that Beth will bring Atlanta and the Southern Zone to a new level with her dedication, experience, and creative talent.”

Prior to joining JNF, Gluck was vice president of major gifts for the Points of Light Institute, a powerful national organization focused on redefining volunteerism and civic engagement for the 21st century.

“I am excited both professionally and personally to join the JNF staff,” said Gluck, an avid traveler who lived in Israel for two years. “Professionally, I am attracted to JNF's commitment to honoring donors' interests and its strategy to partner with other Israel-focused operations to support the health and well-being of the land and people of Israel.
Personally, I am excited to work with community leaders and donors who share my commitment to Israel. JNF has broad support from the community and I expect this support to spread and deepen over the next five years.”

Originally from Pittsburgh, Gluck holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis.

Gluck and her husband, Richard Gluck, met in Israel and raised their three sons in the Atlanta suburb of Sandy Springs.

Highlights of Gluck’s career include promoting Israel-oriented activities at the Marcus Jewish Community Center, visiting Rwanda and Uganda villages with CARE donors, and planning a White House reception honoring former President George H.W. Bush.

In her spare time, Gluck enjoys the outdoors, travel, studying Hebrew and taking long walks with friends. 

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Jewish National Fund (JNF) began in 1901 collecting coins in blue boxes to purchase land and return the Jewish people to their homeland. In over 109 years, JNF has evolved into a global environmental leader and become the central address for partnering with the land and people of Israel. JNF has planted 250 million trees; built over 1,000 parks and recreational areas; constructed security roads; educated students around the world about Israel; created new communities so that Jews from around the world would have a place to call home; discovered new means of growing plants under arid conditions, bringing green to the desert; and built over 200 reservoirs and water recycling centers, increasing Israel’s water supply by 10%. Today, JNF is supporting Israel’s newest generation of pioneers by bringing life to the Negev Desert, Israel’s last frontier. 

A United Nations NGO, JNF sponsors international conferences on desertification, shares afforestation techniques, and funds research on arid land management. JNF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and continuously earns top ratings from charity overseers. For more information on JNF, call 888-JNF-0099 or visit www.jnf.org.