The “pride” of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County is about to turn up their power, recommit to their purpose and fuel their passion at their annual ingathering, the Lion of Judah Luncheon. The roar from Boca West Country Club on Thursday, February 16 at 10:30 a.m. will resound louder than ever throughout the community and across the globe, as local Lions celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Lion of Judah program. They’ll also hear from Campbell Brown, one of the most respected and recognizable faces in American news.

“It’s always remarkably powerful when hundreds of women who care and do so much come together each year,” said Carol Rifkin, who is co-chairing the luncheon with Eydie Holz. “Our 800 Lions stand strong among 17,000 worldwide.”

“We’re thrilled to be featuring Campbell Brown, a speaker of great substance and renown,” added Holz. “We know we’ll leave inspired and energized to meet the challenge of raising funds that make such a difference in our local Jewish community as well as around the world.”

The Lion of Judah Luncheon speaker has been generously underwritten by the Marleen Forkas Chair of Contemporary Jewish Issues. Marleen’s great generosity has ensured that the Federation will always provide its loyal and committed women donors with the highest caliber keynote presenters.

Award-winning journalist and veteran broadcaster Campbell Brown has won an Emmy for reporting during Hurricane Katrina, followed presidential campaign trails and reported from Iraq. Prior to hosting her popular evening news show on CNN, she was co-anchor and primary correspondent for the Today show on NBC.

“Committed to Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), our Lions make a connection to care for those in need, build Jewish community, and develop continuity for the next generation,” said Barbara Feingold, Vice Chair, Lion of Judah. “Join us for this season’s new programs to recognize the Lions’ 40th anniversary and bring women together. Be part of the Lion’s den.”

The luncheon couvert is $100, with a Lion level gift of $5,000 or above to the 2012 UJA/Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Annual Campaign required to attend. Dietary laws will be observed. For more information, contact Dina Burg at 561-852-5015 or dinab@bocafed.org. http://www.jewishboca.org/lionluncheon

The Dorothy Seaman Department of Women’s Philanthropy 2012 campaign is generously sponsored by Wells Fargo. Boca Raton Regional Hospital and Ivan & Co. are the Luncheon’s generous sponsors; Boca Raton Observer is Exclusive Media Sponsor.

Photo caption L-R:  Marleen Forkas, Eydie Holz, Barbara Feingold, Carol Rifkin

Campbell Brown

Veteran broadcaster Campbell Brown is one of the most respected and recognizable faces in American news. She won an Emmy for her reporting during Hurricane Katrina; was on the trail during the last two presidential elections; and has made numerous trips to Iraq to report on the Iraqi elections, abuses at Abu Graib prison and the trial of Saddam Hussein.

Prior to joining CNN, where Brown became the only non-partisan cable news anchor at 8 pm, she was with NBC News for eleven years. There, Brown served as co-anchor of NBC’s TODAY Weekend Edition, the nation’s top rated weekend news program. She also served as the main substitute anchor for Brian Williams and a primary correspondent for NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams and the weekday TODAY show. For the network, she reported from Rome on the death of Pope John Paul II; and has traveled to Gaza and the West Bank to report on violence in the Middle East.

Brown served as NBC News White House correspondent during George W. Bush’s first term. She also covered then-Governor Bush’s presidential campaign, and spent over a month reporting from Austin, Texas, on the post-Election day Florida recount story.

Prior to covering the Bush campaign, Brown had been a Washington, D.C. based NBC News correspondent. Joining the network in 1998, Brown was first assigned to cover President Clinton’s impeachment trial. After that, she was assigned to the Pentagon, reporting on the war in Kosovo. During her time in the Washington bureau, Brown also traveled extensively with President Clinton.

Brown was raised Roman Catholic and converted to Judaism. While on assignment in Iraq, she met her husband Dan Senor. Senor is co-author of the book Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle, who was chief spokesperson for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.