Your Federation

Here for You. Here for Good.

Our Mission

Our mission is to strengthen, support, and enhance the quality of Jewish life in our community by building vibrant and inclusive Jewish communities, fostering connections among individuals and organizations, and empowering individuals to actively engage in Jewish community at all stages of life.

Guided by the principles of Tikkun Olam, we offer meaningful programs that enrich Jewish identity and we fund dozens of agencies that work to respond to ongoing challenges and emerging issues. We inspire our youth, feed the hungry, strengthen Israel, and lead a united front against antisemitism. We strive to ensure the continuity and vitality of our Jewish heritage, values, and traditions for generations to come.

We are here for you.
We are here for good.

Our Team

Our Board of Directors

Sharon DeFala

Chair

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Sharon DeFala, Chair
Keith Lender, Vice Chair
Natalie Fried, Secretary
Cecilia Mesh, Treasurer
Mindy Siegel, Immediate Past Co-Chair
Carin Savel, CEO

Paula Argosh
Alex Bahary
Bryan Bierman
Julia Brennan
Erika Brunwasser
Anita Charger
Sharon DeFala
Arthur Finkle
Natalie Fried
Alyssa Gold
Ivy Gosseen
Steve Kunkes

Keith Lender
Joanne Lippman
Jodi Mantell
Cecelia Mesh
David Muller
Britt Rainovic
Jessica Siegel
Mindy Siegel
Bonnie Slyn
Orna Stern
James Sugarman

Our Professionals

Carin Savel

Chief Executive Officer

BIO

A native of New York City, Carin Savel is the Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County. A strong advocate for expressive philanthropy and community impact, Carin combines creative intelligence, and a broad sense of changing social and economic environments with her brand of communication skills. She meets fundamental challenges and opportunities with long-term vision, enthusiasm, and a great sense of humor.

Her capacity to emphasize the value of connecting the Jewish community has already led to big changes in the organization. Under her leadership, the Federation changed its name to the Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County, connecting our large and diverse community. She has expanded programs to include Federation Young Families, Merkaz, PJ Library, and Federation Travel Missions. In 2023, the Federation will launch the Holocaust Resource Center and the Future Fund, which offers funding to youth who want to connect to Israel.

Carin is the former Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Eastern CT, where she led the Organization’s fundraising and programs throughout the pandemic. She also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary, where she had oversight of the JCC, Jewish Family Services, and David R. Kahn Jewish Community Campus capital campaign. Before joining the Raleigh Federation, Carin served as SVP of Resource Development & Strategic Communications for the United Way of Pioneer Valley, in Springfield, Massachusetts, Chair of the Jewish Federation’s Community Relations Council, and Chair of Development of the US Jewish Council on Public Affairs.

For twelve years, Carin was president and managing partner of CSpotRun, LLC, a boutique national consulting firm, where she oversaw fundraising, branding, and advance strategies for state, congressional and national political campaigns. She also spent 11 years as Senior Staff and Policy Advisor in the North Carolina General Assembly.

Carin is a graduate of Syracuse University (go orange!), a Jewish Federation Lion of Judah and a lifetime member of Hadassah.