Emily Gindi with daughter, Lynn

"The beauty of UJA-Federation is that you can be as involved as you want to be as a volunteer. I enjoy it immensely."

Emily Gindi is a former professional staff member of UJA-Federation, who, when leaving her job to join her family's manufacturing and distribution business, decided to continue her involvement with the organization as a volunteer.

Emily joined the Observership Program, which provides emerging young leaders with a chance to view firsthand the operations of a beneficiary agency. She spent a year as an observer at the Samuel Field Y in Little Neck and another year at UJA-Federation's Caring Commission Children, Youth, and Families Task Force.

Emily intends to remain active as a UJA-Federation volunteer. "I want to show people what it's like being out in the field and seeing the projects the organization's money goes to. UJA-Federation will always have some place for you if you want to be there."
Emily further committed herself to volunteer work when she became a full-fledged member of the board of directors of the Samuel Field Y in 2004. Last year, she was named vice chair of the Observership Program, and this year was appointed as program chair. She is also active in UJA-Federation's Professional Women's Division and in Play for Pink, a nonsectarian group that raises funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Emily's personal life is also tied to UJA-Federation. Through a Families Division mission in 1993, Emily went on her first trip to Israel with her parents. And in 2002, she met her husband, Nathan Gindi, on a UJA-Federation mission to Budapest and Prague - she was a staff member of the Young Leadership Division, and he was chair of the Young Lawyers Division.

"When we were married in 2004, we started a program called Give a Simcha - Do a Simcha (modeled after UJA-Federation's Give a Mitzvah - Do a Mitzvah program)," Emily states. "We gave a portion of our wedding gifts for a dinner for the homeless at the 14th Street Y, and we served that dinner with our families and friends."

She and Nathan now live on the Upper East Side with their 1-year-old daughter, Lynn.

Emily is not the first in her family to become involved with UJA-Federation. Robert Caslow, Emily's father, is on the organization's Board of Directors; and her mother, Miriam, is a member of the Caring Commission Cabinet.

"I learned from them about the importance of UJA-Federation," Emily notes. "I learned that although contributing to the cause is important, giving your time is equally important."

Emily intends to remain active as a UJA-Federation volunteer. "I want to show people what it's like being out in the field and seeing the projects the organization's money goes to. UJA-Federation will always have some place for you, if you want to be there."