A friendly fixture in Berks public benefit circles, TAMMY MITGANG – president of the Jewish Federation of Reading since 2008–has made a successful career as a true community builder. Prior to her current post, she worked to help both the Reading Symphony Orchestra and Reading Public Museum flourish, and spent nine years managing the Reading Musical Foundation. In addition to helping those community-enriching organizations, she is devoted to her family–daughter Liza, a student at the University of Pittsburgh; son Andrew, who lives and works in Philadelphia; and her husband, Jeff, with whom she lives in Cumru Township.
For those who may not know, what does the Federation do?
We’re a non-profit umbrella organization serving the entire Berks County community. Through Jewish Family Service, we provide outreach, operate a food pantry and provide emergency food to home-bound residents in Reading. We care for the sick and elderly in our community, operate a Jewish sponsored preschool and run a cultural center. The Federation also raises funds to support those programs, projects in Israel and people in crisis around the world. We offer programs for the Jewish community and the broader community alike. We want to welcome everyone, answer questions and serve as a cultural resource. Our doors are always open.
That sounds like a lot of hats for you, as president, to wear. How do you handle so much?
My work involves a lot of fundraising, outreach and managing programs, and I’m fortunate to work with lots of wonderful, accomplished people. I like to think of the Federation as a bridge that links with other amazing non-profits to support and strengthen the community, so I’m really just one of many.
With the economy as it is, the local needs must be great.
Yes, but even with all the challenges we face [in Berks], I have to say our area has some of the most generous and resourceful people. They work together to move forward and address the problems we’re all confronted with.
Have you always lived in Berks?
No, I’m a farm girl from the country [laughs]. I moved here to the big city, from central PA, as a young adult. I had a truly idyllic childhood in a community of farms, milking cows and riding horses. Everyone took care of each other and it gave me a tremendous respect for farmers–it’s an incredibly challenging life. I think that’s one of the reasons I’m working in the non-profit community. These last few years, as the economy has dipped, we here in Berks are struggling, but we’re all in this together.
Your work involves a lot of long hours and overcoming obstacles, so how do you unwind when you’re off duty?
I putter around in my flower beds and garden. I go to the movies. I love films; they’re one of my escapes. I have a tendency to work long hours and am very involved in the community, so, if I can, I catch a movie every weekend. Fishing is another of my favorite things to do. There’s nothing more relaxing for my husband and me than getting up really early, watching the morning mist and sunrise over the water, the birds, being in nature. I also like to read.
Is travel to Israel a part of your work?
Oh yes, and it is always a high point. I’ve been there several times over the past few years. It’s like no other place in the world. We are partnering with the Lehigh Valley Federation and will be leading a community mission to share the work that begins here locally through the generous support of donors and grows into life-changing humanitarian efforts in Israel and around the world. Although it has a first-world economy like the US, Israel has tremendous poverty and security challenges–it’s located in a really tough neighborhood. While there, we see humanitarian projects we helped fund, examine Israel’s security issues and, of course, visit archaeological and religious sites like the Western [Wailing] Wall. I enjoy connecting people with their homeland, to see them see Israel for the first time. I remember my first trip; it’s an extraordinary adventure–a homecoming.
JEWISH FEDERATION OF READING ReadingJewishCommunity.org | 610.921.2766
BY MICHELLE E. BIGGERSTAFF | PHOTO BY JOHN SECOGES
