Mother and daughter Myra Fisher and Lori Schankerman are both Pomegranates:  they are a part of a Women’s Philanthropy Giving Society that requests a financial commitment of $1500-$4999 to the JFGI Annual Campaign. 
“I feel the Federation does so much good, especially with senior citizens,” Fisher said. “There are so many wonderful places here for people to become engaged in, including Hooverwood Living, JFS, and the JCC. I just feel that Indianapolis is a very caring community, and people really want to help one another. And I feel the Federation is the organization to do that.”
Fisher has volunteered for many organizations over the years. In fact, she used to help fundraise for the Federation. Fisher said philanthropy has been an important value in her life since she was growing up. She and her husband, Don, also established a donor advised fund so that her children would continue to be involved in their parents’ giving and philanthropy.
“I just wanted philanthropy to be something that they think of and continue,” he said.
According to Schankerman, Fisher’s daughter, her parents led by example to live a life of philanthropy and volunteering. She saw that helping people made her parents happy. It makes her happy, too.
“My mom was always active in Jewish organizations, giving her time to help people,” Schankerman said. “And that’s kind of how I grew up.”
As a middle school student, Schankerman participated in the National Council Of Jewish Women’s division for young girls, as a Councilette. Today, she serves on the JFGI Women’s Philanthropy Steering Committee. She also volunteers on a weekly basis for Jewish Family Services’ Popsie’s Pantry. Before the pandemic, she would go grocery shopping for the pantry. Today, she stocks and organizes the shelves.
In 2019, Schankerman was recognized for her volunteer efforts by the JFGI with the LEV Award, which acknowledges an independent initiative to create and/or share a Jewish experience.
Fisher said she and Don are so proud of both of their children for all that they do to give back to their communities.
Her daughter’s commitment to giving back is very important to her, Fisher said.
“I happen to be very fortunate to have a wonderful daughter,” she said. “She spends a lot of time at Popsie’s Pantry. Lori would always be one of the first to speak up anywhere.”
Fisher said that by donating money to the annual campaign, she can help the Federation carry out the kind of community-oriented work that is so important to her.
“We just feel that [giving is] an important part of life,” Fisher said. “We feel so blessed and so grateful for our success and we just wanted to share it, with the Federation and with the community.”
For more information on Women’s Philanthropy or to become involved, contact Paula Goldberg at pgoldberg@jfgi.org or (317) 715-6980.