(Courtesy of UJA Federation of New York) UJA-Federation of New York held its virtual Heart Matters event on May 11, honoring Manhattan residents Muriel Goldberg, Shirley Silver and Stephanie J. Stiefel for their enduring dedication to UJA.

Goldberg received the Lotte Bravmann z”l Eishet Chayil Award. She has been involved with UJA for more than 30 years, holding various roles including first chair of UJA’s Interboro Women.

“My volunteer career at UJA has filled my life with education and enriching experiences,” said Goldberg. “Now, in this past COVID year, I proudly learned how UJA funds were expended to meet the needs of our community here and in Israel, including providing cash assistance and interest-free loans, vaccinations for Holocaust survivors, and free burials.”

Silver received the Heart Matters Award. She is a longtime member of UJA Women and has been involved with UJA for nearly 50 years. She helped create Adaptations, a program for young adults with developmental disabilities at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, a UJA nonprofit partner. She and her husband endowed a legacy gift of $20 million to enhance the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds, a UJA nonprofit partner, and the largest Jewish day camp system in North America.

“We as the Jewish community in New York are lucky to be part of the UJA-Federation family,” said Silver. “Its mission to help us all, and to be inclusive is so special. I am grateful that my husband and my family are all so committed to this mission.”

Stiefel received the Defender of Zion Award. She co-founded UJA’s Women on Wall Street in 2015 and served as its co-chair through 2019. She is a CPA and head of client development for the Straus Group in Neuberger Berman’s Private Asset Management Division.

In her acceptance remarks, Stiefel talked about seeing the work of UJA’s network of nonprofits firsthand when her father received care at the Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. “You don’t really appreciate the power of UJA’s network until you’re at your most vulnerable and are seeking help. That is why I continue to give generously and hope that my son will continue this legacy.”