Philanthropist and community leader Joyce Mandell of West Hartford has been selected to receive the 2022 Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award from the Jewish Federations of North America’s National Women’s Philanthropy division. The Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award honors extraordinary women philanthropists and volunteers each year since 2004.

Among her many accomplishments, Mandell served as the Mandell JCC’s first female president and board chair; co-founder of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford’s Wallenberg Society; and board member of Trinity Health of New England. 

She will receive her award at the International Lion of Judah Conference to be held Dec. 11-13, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona, and will also be honored at the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford’s Lion of Judah Annual Celebration on June 1, 2022. 

“We are thrilled that Joyce Mandell is receiving this incredible honor,” said Jill Dulitsky, Federation’s 2022 Women’s Philanthropy chair. “She is a shining example of a Woman of Impact, helping to lead our community from strength to strength.” 

The Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award was created as a tribute to Norma Kipnis-Wilson and Toby Friedland z”l, who co-founded Federation’s Lion of Judah program in 1972. Lions of Judah women contribute $5,000 or more annually to Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign. Today, more than 18,000 women worldwide are Lions of Judah. Mandell is a Platinum Lion of Judah in both Connecticut and Florida.

“When the power of women joins forces with the power of philanthropy, the possibilities are limitless,” said Mandell. “My connection to my Jewish community allowed me to become a part of something greater than myself – a journey that led my family to make an increasingly significant impact in our local Jewish community, and to realize increasingly rewarding returns.”

For more information about the Lion of Judah program, contact Laurie Mandell at lmandell@jewishhartford.org or (860) 335-7350.