Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

The 24th annual presentation of Choices on March 26 is subtitled "Women Transforming Lives," and that theme rings true, right down to the venue chosen for the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando's largest fundraiser of the year.

Choices 2018 will be held in the gymnasium-yes, the gymnasium-of The Roth Family JCC in Maitland. The idea of selecting such a unique venue evolved from several brainstorming sessions by Federation staff and the volunteer Choices co-chairs, Judy Kahan Davis and Shira Spector.

"In the fall, when we began considering ideas for a Choices theme, we kept returning to the idea of transformation and the crucial role that women have played in transforming our Jewish community," said Federation's Rhonda Forest. That theme was truly apropos, Forest said, as the Federation itself has been undergoing a significant transformation over the past few years.

When it came time for the women to discuss potential venues for Choices, the Maitland campus was not initially at the top of the list-in fact it wasn't on the list at all. But that changed during a pivotal meeting in December.

"The more we explored the concepts of transformation and growth as they relate to our community, the Maitland campus suddenly became the obvious choice," Forest said. "This campus has been a hub for Jewish life locally for the better part of the past half-century. It has grown, evolved and transformed right along with us. Those who have spent time on our campus have been transformed by their experiences here. It's the perfect venue."

Of course, there's plenty of work to do between now and March 26 to transform the JCC gym into the elegant but festive setting women have come to expect from Choices, but Forest said the Federation is up to the challenge

"This will be a breathtaking transformation," she said. "I can't wait until women arrive at Choices on the 26th and see what we've accomplished. I believe it will set the tone for the entire evening."

The Federation is able to bring its vision to life thanks to the generosity of this year's Choices sponsors. The Presenting Sponsor for Choices 2018 is Harriett's Charitable Trust. The Diamond Sponsor is AVMedia, which will be handling the lighting and production, and Orlando Health is a Ruby Sponsor.

Choices tickets are now on sale for $54. You can purchase online at http://www.jfgo.org/choices or call the Federation at 407-645-5933, ext. 236. Everyone who purchases a ticket by March 16 will receive a free Choices raffle ticket, a $25 value. Women who buy a ticket can also bring a "first-timer" (someone who has never attended Choices) for free.

The Federation is providing complimentary valet parking on the Maitland campus for all attendees.

Choices begins at 6 p.m. Monday, March 26, on the Maitland Jewish Community Campus, 851 N. Maitland Ave. Visit http://www.jfgo.org/choices for details.