by Tamara Stokes

Staff Writer

With a celebration and and a speech by Coretta Scott King, the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) will mark 90 years in Dallas on March 4. NCJW, with more than 1,400 members locally, will hold the event at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas.

King, widow of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., has spent her life promoting education, social justice and peace.

"It's a perfect match for NCJW," said Jody Platt in the NCJW January/February Bulletin. Platt and Kathy Freeman are co-chairs for the celebration.

"Her issues are our issues, Platt said. "We are so fortunate to be able to bring her to Dallas to help us celebrate our 90th birthday."

The theme for the day will be education, punctuated by a book drive. Patrons are asked to bring new or gently used children's books to the luncheon. All proceeds will benefit the NCJW's literacy and education programs.

"I can promise the books will be distributed in Dallas," said Rosie Stromberg who, along with Pepper Aronoff, is handling public relations for the event.

NCJW President Kyra Effren said last week that even though NCJW is made up primarily of Jewish women, they help wherever the community needs help, and the face of the NCJW encompasses both men and women and non-Jewish members.

"We jump in and solve problems that need solving," she said, adding that NCJW is sort of a mother for organizations. "We like to see our offspring" with regard to the successes, she noted.

Aronoff said plans are in the works for bus transportation from a local synagogue to the event in Las Colinas.

NCJW's mission statement describes a volunteer organization inspired by Jewish values that works through a program of research, education and advocacy and community service to improve the quality of life for women, children and families and strives to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all.

Since 1913 the organization has responded to public needs. Each year, volunteers donate thousands of hours to help address and solve these issues.

Volunteers not only serve project organizations by providing hours, but also serve on the boards of the organizations. This year, volunteers are provided to Attitudes & Attire, Dallas Holocaust Memorial Center, Guardianship/Personal Resource Organizers at Jewish Family Service, Hello Israel, Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youth (HIPPY), Kids in Court, Meals on Wheels, Jewish Family Services and Visiting Nurse Association, Meyerson Docent Program, Operation Frontline, Our Friend's Place, Parkland Newborn Hearing Screening Program, Safeguards for Seniors and The Science Place.

Priority seating for the March 4 event is $90. Call the section office at (214) 368-4405 or e-mail requests to info@ncjwdallas.org.