by MiriYam Judd

Photo credit: The Connecticut Jewish Ledger

Every year in late August, Ken Cohen comes to the Jewish Federation Offices and selects donor cards to begin contacting to secure pledges for our annual campaign.  Within 30 to 45 days, he manages to complete all of his solicitations. 

A physician working for the VA Medical Center in West Haven, Ken has been involved with the Federation for years, working behind the scenes and not seeking any recognition to continue doing the good work. During this year’s Annual Meeting, Ken will be awarded the inaugural Isadore E. “Zeke” Still Award for Campaign Excellence. This new award memorializes Still, a longtime supporter and solicitor for the Federation who made calls on behalf of the Federation throughout most of his adult life. A funny, kind, and generous man, there is no one more fitting to honor by establishing this award and no one more deserving than Ken to receive it. 

“Scott Cohen called me up and told me I was getting the award,” Ken explained. “I wasn’t expecting it.” But what is it that propels him to spend so much time helping the Federation? “The community has done so well to help those who need it. We have to share what we have,” he went on.

Ken and his wife Linda have established a PACE fund (perpetual annual campaign endowment) to ensure their annual campaign gift continues, as well as an endowment for the JCC's Marcia and Stanley F. Reister Swimming Pool. Ken, like Zeke, exemplifies the core Jewish values that Federation aims to uphold—values like tikkun olam (repairing the world), tzedakah (charity), and chesed (kindness).

At this year’s Annual Meeting, Ken Cohen will be awarded the Isadore “Zeke” Still Award for Campaign Excellence. 

The Annual Meeting is on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at 7 p.m. at the Beckerman Lender Jewish Community Building, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge.