Hebrew Union College, Cal honor JCEF stalwart Cook

Phyllis Cook, the outgoing director of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Endowment Fund, is receiving awards this month from U.C. Berkeley and Hebrew Union College.

Cook recently received a 2007 Trustees’ Citation for her fundraising on behalf of U.C. Berkeley. The award is given to alumni and others associated with the university who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in a major fundraising program or who are exemplary examples of service in support of the school’s outreach goals. Cook one of 14 who were chosen to receive the citation.

On Monday, May 19, Cook will receive the Founders’ Medallion from the HUC-Jewish Institute of Religion in a Los Angeles ceremony. She is receiving the award in recognition of her contributions to the Bay Area Jewish community during her 25 years at the endowment fund.

Leadership award for interfaith coffee

The growers and distributors of African fair trade coffee produced by Jews, Christians and Muslims working together have been honored for their efforts.

The Tufts Instit-ute for Global Leadership awarded this year’s Dr. Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award to Fort Bragg’s Thanks-giving Coffee Company, the Peace Kawomera Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative in Mbale, Uganda, and Kulanu, an American Jewish volunteer organization that works with disparate Jewish communities.

The Ugandan co-op was founded by J.J. Keki, an African Jew who organized his diverse community and formed a profitable venture. The African coffee is distributed locally by Thanksgiving Coffee. For more information, visit www.thanksgivingcoffee.com.