On Wednesday , June 7, Kappa Guild Inc. celebrated the 70th anniversary of its founding at the philanthropic group’s annual donor event. The four-hour gathering — which was the guild’s 50th anniversary donor event — was held at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation in Pikesville.
For seven decades, the Baltimore-based guild has brought together women to improve the quality of care for critically ill children and children with special needs. From its inception, the guild’s purpose was “helping children in need,” a phrase that became its mission statement.
The guild was founded in 1953 by 10 altruistically minded Jewish women in Northwest Baltimore. Among the 25 organizations that benefit from the guild’s efforts are the University of Maryland Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sinai Hospital’s Herman and Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital, the Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital and Mercy Medical Center.
The guild has also funded equipment for pediatric and/or NICUs at such local hospitals as St. Agnes, St. Joseph Medical Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, as well as the Rose of Sharon Equestrian School.
In addition, Kappa Guild funds are used to either purchase equipment for or send children to special summer camps like the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America’s Camp Oasis, Lions Camp Merrick for children with diabetes and Horizon Day Camp for children with cancer. Equipment is also purchased for Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Baltimore Child Abuse Center.
Among the honorees at this year’s donor event were Kappa Guild’s first president, Sally Rifkin, and current president, Sheila Mentz.
“It was wonderful to be with the Kappa Guild this afternoon for their 70th birthday and 50th donor lunch,” Sen. Shelly L. Hettleman (D-11th) posted on social media. “They are an amazing group whose mission is ‘Helping Children in Need.’ They carry out their mission by donating medical equipment, toys, swaddling blankets, chairs, specialized wheelchairs, etc., to hospitals, camps, and any other nonprofit organization that provides direct services to children in need.”