Marcia Bornfriend is a past president of The Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations of Maryland, an organization that oversees a number of Jewish women’s groups across the state.

It has a deep history of philanthropy, activism, communal building and more in Maryland, but earlier this spring, it held an event that was extra special.

Last month, the group held its 110th annual conference, which included awards, dinner and a celebration of the last year of the organization’s work.

The story began in 1916, with the founding of the federation.

“These women of all backgrounds, leaders of the Jewish community came together and said we should not repeat the same things over and over, we should work together to make a federation, and that’s how it started,” Bornfriend said. “We’ve been together ever since, with anyone from Reform, Conservative or Orthodox [communities], we’re all together, working.”

The federation works with a number of sisterhood organizations at synagogues: Hadassah Greater Baltimore, Israel Bonds Maryland Women’s Division, Kappa Guild and the Lillie Straus/Hope Chapter of Jewish Women’s International, among others.

That leads to a busy to-do list for the organization, as has been the case since 1916, but at the convention, those involved get to sit back and celebrate.

“What we do at the convention, we get everyone to come together, and what we started to do some years ago is we would honor one person from every one of our constituent organizations who wants to be a part of it, and give them an award,” Bornfriend said.

This year’s event, themed Women’s Healthcare Expectations, Challenges and Changes, included nearly 20 award winners.

One of the highlights of each conference is the annual E.B. Hirsh Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given each year to someone who exemplifies Jewish values and is committed to their leadership roles.

This year’s winner was Lee M. Hendler.

“E.B. Hirsh was a groundbreaker. She was a wonderful woman that really was very involved and was definitely a leader,” Bornfriend said. “Lee M. Hendler was a really well-deserving, wonderful recipient.”

The organizations that the federation partners with are all recognizable to congregants and community members, but some might not know about the federation itself. That’s especially interesting considering it dates back to the administration of President Woodrow Wilson.

“We tend to be the best kept secret around, and we sometimes wonder why, because we’ve been out there for years,” Bornfriend said.

Even so, the group is content to keep doing its work with the wonderful people around them.

“I love the women here. They’re very involved, very committed in so many ways in dealing not just with the federation, because we’re an umbrella for other organizations,” Bornfriend said. “It’s a way of learning, of being with other Jewish women that are like-minded. I love the people here, I like being involved with an organization that’s very positive.”

The future plans of the Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations of Maryland include more advocacy for Jewish philanthropy and activism, work to combat antisemitism, and contributions to causes around teachers unions, academia and other things that aren’t explicitly Jewish in addition to traditional Jewish issues.

And of course, next spring, another convention — its 111th.

“We just want to do good,” Bornfriend said. “I find that I learn all the time from people [in the federation].”

aguckes@midatlanticmedia.com