HONOREE
  Ethel Silvergold Zale

Ethel Silvergold Zale first became involved with Jewish Family Service when she offered her interior-decorating talents as we built and moved into our current location on Arapaho Road.   But the more she learned about the many ways in which the agency helps families in emotional or financial crisis, the more she became involved in activities to raise Jewish Family Service’s profile—and to ensure the agency had the resources to fulfill its mission.  What started as a short-term volunteer project became a decade-long commitment. 

As chair of the Board’s Resource Development Committee, Mrs. Zale was instrumental in founding the Woman-to-Woman Luncheon in 2004 and the Society of Life giving circle in 2005.  In only a few years, these initiatives have returned well over $1,000,000 in net proceeds to support the work of Jewish Family Service.

For her public advocacy, personal financial support and volunteer leadership, Mrs. Zale has received Jewish Family Service’s Outstanding Volunteer Award (2004) and Visionary Spirit Award (2007).  When asked why she supports the agency, Mrs. Zale replied, “Unlike other investments that we have recently seen go up or down, as a supporter of Jewish Family Service, I am assured that investments of time and money will always reap high yields in the market of our community.”

In addition to her work on behalf of our organization, Mrs. Zale has left an indelible mark on other community institutions including Golden Acres, Congregation Shearith Israel, Temple Emanu-El, Dallas Furniture Bank, Israel Bonds, National Jewish Hospital and UT Southwestern Center for Breast Care.