Adelaide Marcus Zagoren

Adelaide Marcus Zagoren forged two distinguished careers. She was administrator of three large nonprofit organizations in New Jersey: the Raritan Valley Girl Scout Council; the United Way of Greater Middlesex County; and, for 26 years, the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College. She served as trustee and president of the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, a philanthropic organization with a focus on Jewish causes. She breathed new life and programs into each position and received many honors for her work. Her achievements at Douglass were tuned to the times: in the 1970s, she guided the development of the Women's Center to help women return to the workplace. Later she helped organize the Black Alumnae Network, which assisted students with career advice, scholarships, and fellowships. She was also at the helm of the acclaimed extern program, leadership training weekends, and innovative fundraising, including a successful $10.5 million 75th anniversary capital campaign. In 1994, she received the Rutgers Medal, one of the university's highest awards. Her leadership of the Laurie Foundation was similarly noteworthy, culminating in the foundation being named the 2004 Outstanding Foundation in New Jersey for its innovative support of the arts, education, human needs, and Jewish causes.