On hand to receive the Chai Center honor at the JOI dinner were (left to right) Federation executive director Cathy Schwartz; program facilitator Laura Kinyon; Mother's Circle mothers, Liddy Doyle, Sara Milch, Christine Kaufman and Barbara Fischler.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford’s Chai Center was honored for its program “The Mothers Circle” at the Jewish Outreach Institute (JOI) 2010 Tribute Evening, held on Nov. 1 in New York City.

Developed by JOI and sponsored by hundreds of Jewish organizations throughout North America, The Mother’s Circle is a program designed to offer resources and other support for non-Jewish mothers who are raising Jewish children. The Chai Center, a Jewish community center without walls serving the Farmington Valley, offers the program in West Hartford, Avon and Glastonbury.

“When I joined The Mothers Circle I did not expect for it to change my life or to become an active Jewish family,” said Liddy Doyle, a Granby mother of two who spoke at the tribute dinner. “My girls are so proud of being Jewish and I am so proud and grateful for that.” Doyle, who is a member of the Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation-Emek Shalom, was part of the first Hartford area Mothers Circle group that was launched in February 2006. Since completing the 16-session course, she has participated in “Beyond Mothers Circle,” an alumni group that meets monthly in Avon.

Doyle is among 30 local mothers who have completed the program, which is facilitated locally by Laura Kinyon, LCSW and Betsy Marantz, MA.