By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist
The Jewish community was well-represented when Washington State Senator Maria Cantwell honored 10 Seattle area women at a luncheon earlier this year, presenting them with the Helen H. Jackson Woman of Valor award.
The award, given annually, honors individuals who have dedicated themselves as volunteers or professionals to improving the lives of others.
Honorees were recognized in five categories: children and youth advocacy; education; environment and conservation; medicine, research and health advocacy; public service and community development; and women’s advocacy.
Singled out in medicine, research and health advocacy were Melissa, Rebecca, Heidi, Jessica and Aimee Rivkin, daughters of oncologist Saul Rivkin and the late Marsha Rivkin.
After the death of their mother from ovarian cancer, the family founded the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer, which has kept them at the forefront of fighting the disease.
Melissa, development director at Northwest Yeshiva High School, explains that the foundation collaborates with research institutions locally and around the world.
“They really try to look for new scientists and doctors, young doctors, who want to get into the field of ovarian cancer research.”
Ovarian cancer, she points out, “doesn’t get the same kind of attention and dollars [as breast cancer], probably because it doesn’t affect as many women, fortunately.”
A major fundraiser for the center is the annual Swedish SummerRun, being held this year on July 27.
“We [sisters] always head up a team,” says Melissa. They also work together on other events, including a survivors’ barbecue.
Ovarian cancer affects Jewish and Ashkenazic women at higher rates than the general population, and is probably linked to the BRACA (breast cancer) gene.
Political activist Suzie LeVine was recognized for dedication to children and youth. She says she was eligible for recognition in public service, too, but was given a choice of categories.
“Ultimately, I chose early learning,” she says.
Why?
“I have a 2-1/2 and a 5-1/2 year old,” she says. “That’s my interest — they’re delicious.”
LeVine has worked on behalf of the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning and Brain Science to improve their planning and fundraising. Touring the lab through another organization, she was “deeply inspired” by their work, she says, including the groundbreaking discoveries about language acquisition being made by Patricia K. Kuhl and Andrew N. Meltzoff.
“What’s your vision here?” she asked researchers at the time. “It wasn’t as clear a message as [it] could be.”
The former Microsoft and Expedia employee responded by developing a strategic plan and an advisory board, and by launching a successful campaign.
LeVine brought the same energy to the Jewish community when it came time to find a congregation for her growing family, helping to found Kavana, a community-based synagogue without walls. Kavana has managed to attract many unaffiliated Jews, LeVine reports, “debunking the myth that unaffiliated means disinterested.”
An active Democrat, LeVine will be a national delegate for Barack Obama at the Democratic convention this summer. She calls the award “premature…I’m only 38 and I haven’t achieved what I hope to achieve yet.”
Three members of the Schocken family were recognized in public service and community development: sisters Celina and Trea, and their mother, Judy. Trea spoke on behalf of the family from her office at Expedia, where she is the search marketing manager.
Trea was recognized for her five-year tour of duty with the U.S. Marine Corps, which included deployment in Iraq.
“One of my big projects there was running the humanitarian operation in southern Iraq,” she says.
Her unit brought in doctors and dentists, handed out food, water and medical supplies, repaired irrigation that had been damaged in the Iran-Iraq War and “built a lot of schools.”
The Naval Academy graduate says she was hesitant about the award.
“I feel [it] was…representative of the Marines still deployed,” she says. “It would have been nice…to see the award go to someone on active duty.”
Her sister, Celina Schocken, has made disease-prevention in Africa her life’s work. Starting in the Peace Corps, the Lakeside Academy graduate now helps non-governmental agencies and aid organizations find grant money for tuberculosis prevention (JTNews profile, April 15, 2005).
Judy Schocken is one of the founders of the Jewish Day School. She worked for the school as a librarian for five years, and currently serves on its board.
Active volunteer Jackie Kotkins also received the award for children and youth advocacy. Kotkins serves or has served on the boards of many local organizations, including the Moyer Foundation, Seattle Children’s Theater, Pacific Science Center, Epiphany School, and the UW School of Education Advisory Board.