The National Council of Jewish Women, Louisville Section, will honor Louisville First Lady Madeline Abramson with its prestigious Hannah G. Solomon Award at the organization’s closing meeting on Monday, May 24, 11:30 a.m. at The Olmsted.
The Solomon Award is a national recognition presented to an outstanding person in the community who has made a significant contribution in the fields of education, family life and tikkun olam (repairing the world).
“I am honored to be the recipient of the Hannah Solomon Award,” Abramson said. “Her legacy of service to our community is a continuing inspiration for me.”
Abramson is a Louisville native who has spent countless hours contributing her talents and expertise to organizations throughout the community. A graduate of the University of Louisville, where she was active in student government, Abramson has been very active with NCJW’s Louisville Section. She is currently section secretary, but has also served several terms as vice president and has often been an active volunteer.
Abramson currently serves as board chair of the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts and Maryhurst, and on the boards of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence and the Clifton Cultural Center. She recently completed a two-year term chairing the Board of the Louisville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. She also a member of the Board of the Jewish Community of Louisville, has served in several leadership roles for the Jewish Community of Louisville’s Annual Campaign and is an advisory director of the American Heart Association.
In the past, she has also served as a member of the Boards of the Louisville Ballet, Stage One: The Louisville Children’s Theatre, and the Discover Louisville Orchestra Board.
Abramson has garnered many awards for her work with local charities including the Ira J. Porter Award from the American Red Cross, the Volunteer Fund Raiser of the Year Award from the National Society for Fund Raising and the Metro United Way Agency’s Leadership Award. She also was named the Caritas Foundation Community Leader of the Year and was selected as Citizen Laureate by the Younger Women’s Cub of Louisville.
For her leadership in education, the University of Louisville and the community, she also has been inducted into the University of Louisville Golden Key National Honor Society.
In her spare time, Abramson enjoys reading and gardening. She lives in Crescent Hill with her husband, Jerry, and their son, Sidney.
Past recipients of the Solomon Award include Jeanne Frank; Betty Jane Fleischaker; Til Meyer; Helen Helman; Minx Auerbach; Maud Fliegelman; Louise Flarsheim; Fanny Rose Rosenbaum; Minna Cole; Selma and Arthur Kling; Carolyn Neustadt; Jane Greenebaum; Alexander Erlen; Carolyn Balleisen; Marie Abrams; Lewis Cole; Irving Lipetz; Rita Steinberg; David Richart; Jerry Abramson; Marcia Roth; Marsha Weinstein; Ellen Prizant and Jane Godchaux Emke.
The cost of the meeting is $20. Reservations may be made by sending your $20 check to the NCJW Office, 1250 Bardstown Road (40204) or by credit card by calling the NCJW office at 458-5566.