by MiriYam Judd

Shalom New Haven Intern

Every year in late August, Ken Cohen comes to the Jewish Federation Offices and selects donor cards. He begins contacting donors to secure pledges for our annual campaign. Within 30 to 45 days, he manages to complete all of his solicitations. 

A physician working for the VA Medical Center in West Haven, Ken has been involved with the Federation for years, working behind the scenes and not seeking any recognition to continue doing the good work. During this year’s Annual Meeting, Ken will be awarded the inaugural Isadore E. “Zeke” Still Award for Campaign Excellence. This new award is named for Still, a longtime supporter of and solicitor for the Federation who made calls on behalf of the Federation throughout most of his adult life. A funny, kind, and generous man, there is no one more fitting to honor by establishing this award and no one more deserving than Ken to receive it. 

Ken and his wife Linda have established a PACE fund (Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment) to ensure their annual campaign gift continues, as well as an endowment for our JCC Marcia and Stanley Reiter Swimming Pool. Ken, like Zeke, exemplifies the core Jewish values the Federation aims to uphold—values like tikkun olam (repairing the world), tzedakah (charity), rachmanus (compassion), and chesed (kindness).