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WHEREAS, the Jewish National Fund is a non-profit organization founded in 1901 by Theodor Herzl , a Viennese journalist, who witnessed virulent anti-Semitism and knew that before the end of the Fifth Zionist Congress in Switzerland, a national fund would need to be established to purchase land for a Jewish State in Ottoman-controlled Palestine; and,
WHEREAS, since its founding in 1901, the Jewish National Fund has been committed to building Israel's future, evolving into a global environmental leader and the central address for partnering the land and people of Israel, planting 240 million trees, building 1,000 parks and recreational areas, constructing security roads, educating students around the world about Israel, building reservoirs and water recycling centers, and increasing Israel's water supply; and,
WHEREAS, the Jewish National Fund in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania is an active and vital component of the national organization, and this year will bestow its prestigious humanitarian Tree of Life Award, given in recognition of outstanding community involvement, dedication to the cause of American-Israeli friendship and devotion to peace and security of human life to Eva Tansky Blum, Senior Vice President and Director of Community Affairs for PNC Bank; and,
WHEREAS, Eva Blum, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and its School of Law, works with PNC's business and regional presidents in establishing the strategy to position PNC as a leader in the community and directs the company's philanthropic programs, including PNC Grow Up Great, a ten year, $100 million program to support quality early childhood education in the region. She also serves on the University of Pittsburgh's Board of Trustees, co-chairing its $2 million capital campaign. Eva Blum also sits on the Honor Board of WQED Multimedia, the Advisory Board of the Carnegie Science Center and is a trustee for the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and has been honored as a Carlow Coll...
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