Batavia woman repairing the world in several ways
Joanne Spitz believes in carrying out tikkun olam, which means "to repair the world" in Hebrew.
It has led her to many volunteer posts over the quarter-century or so she has lived in Batavia.
"That's how I was raised," she said.
She was treasurer of a synagogue at first; then, when her first child started kindergarten, she became involved in school PTO.
"I did what all the parents do," she said, " ... and then I didn't stop."
Her current activities include serving on the Batavia Bicycle Commission; as a director of the Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence; coordinator of fundraising events for TriCity Family Services; and co-founder of CHIP-In Batavia. The latter started earlier this year. It's original aim was to provide help to homeless students in Batavia, but it has grown beyond that, helping all sorts of families in need.
Volunteering blesses Spitz. "I get back more," she said. "You meet the best people." She is quick to credit those who work with her, including CHIP-In Batavia co-founder Melinda Kintz, for any success.
"I get a lot of enjoyment out of it, I don't do any of this alone."
For more information, visit chipinbatavia.org/.