The Joan Margolius Cherner Women's Empowerment Fund was established by Philip and Alan Margolius and Jennifer Margolius Fisher z''l in memory of their beloved sister and aunt.
Her brother Phil describes her as a "reflective light." If you were okay, she'd luxuriate in your success. If you needed her, she'd be there.
When her family established Joanie's Fund, they directed it toward women in domestic violence shelters — beginning with JWI's Mother's Day Project, which brought flowers and Life$avings and ReStart materials, including guidance on talking with children about money, to shelters across the country. The fund has grown since then, from a single day into year-round support.
Joanie's Fund has made possible two Joanie's Place Resiliency Rooms in domestic violence shelters so far — places where women can find quiet, use laptops to search for work and access job readiness tools, and take steps toward financial independence at their own pace. The first opened in a Washington, D.C. shelter in September 2022. The second opened in Alaska in 2025.
Through Life$avings and ReStart, women in these shelters can build emotional resilience, work toward financial independence, and find the confidence to move forward professionally — on their own terms.
About Joan Margolius Cherner
Joan Margolius Cherner grew up in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Lilyan and Bernard Margolius. She was adored by her brothers Philip and Alan and the friends who filled their home off of 16th Street in Shepherd Park. Joan was a member of Calvin Coolidge High School cheerleading squad and an active member in her high school sororities. She attended the University of Maryland, where she met her first husband, Stanley Karlin.
Joanie is remembered by friends and family as a beautiful, stylish, fun-loving, and hard-working woman. She had a warm, loving nature that drew in everyone who met her. Her brother Phil describes her "reflective light" — if you were okay, she'd luxuriate in your success. If you needed her, she'd be there. She loved her family — her children, grandchildren, brothers, nieces, and nephews. And she was surrounded by a great circle of friends throughout her life.
Her family knew what it meant to have someone like Joanie — who wanted good things for you and showed up, no matter what. Joanie's Fund exists so women in domestic violence shelters can know it too.
Joan Margolius Cherner is survived by her husband of more than 30 years, Gerald (Jerry) Cherner, sons Billy (Toni) and Michael (Ann) Karlin; brothers Philip (the late Phyllis) and Alan (Denese) Margolius; stepchildren Norman Cherner, Beth Lamb, and the late Jeffrey Cherner; grandchildren Jacob, Nicole, Benjamin, Rose and Dov; and loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and friends.
JWI is grateful to the Margolius and Cherner families for honoring Joanie's legacy by establishing the Joan Margolius Cherner Women’s Empowerment Fund.
To honor someone you love through a named fund at JWI, contact Sara Hefez at [email protected].