After WWII, the members of the handbag industry collected money for relief and reconstruction overseas. This June 1949 article includes mention of many famous names.

Ludy Bickhardt Heads UJA Handbag Division

"With the naming of industry leader Ludy Bickhardt, of Sol Mutterperl Co. StylemarkByMutterperl, to the chairmanship of the Ladies' Handbag Division of the United Jewish Appeal, the industry launched its 1949 drive for funds for overseas relief and rehabilitation.
William Kadin, of Kadin Brothers Kadin, under whose successful leadership the division raised over $500,000 last year, will be guest of honor at the annual industry-wide dinner at the Hotel Pierre on Tuesday, June 28, Mr. Bickhardt announced. Jack Hausman, of M. Hausman & Sons (they made handbag linings), will be dinner committee chairman.
In accepting the chairmanship, Mr. Bickhardt paid tribute "to those in our industry who have given selflessly of their time and energy trying to write an end to Jewish homelessness and poverty overseas." He said he expected "great things" of the new slate of officers. Elected chairman of the buyers committee is Mitchell Bienen, of Ronay RonayHandbags, Inc. His co-chairman is Murray Resnick, of Julius Resnick, Inc. JRJuliusResnick

Ludy Bickhardt Chairman

William Kadin Guest of Honor

Ossip Walinsky, executive director, and Philip Lubliner, secretary-treasurer, of the Pocketbook Workers International Union PocketbookWorkersUnionOfNewYorkPWU, will serve respectively in the posts of chairman and co-chairman of the labor committee.

Heading the suppliers committee are chairman Abe Wirklich, Pyramid Leather Goods Co.PyramidLeatherGoodsCo, and Myron Kadin, Kadin Brothers' Kadin Samuel R. Goldsmith of Goldsmith Brothers GoldsmithBros was elected treasurer.
Addressing the new officers, Mr. Bickhardt called for "a campaign of vigor, enthusiasm and warmhearted giving in keeping with the American spirit of generosity and humanity."

Jack Hausman Dinner Committee Chairman

"The United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York is the sole fund-raising agency in the metropolitan area for the United Palestine Appeal, the Joint Distribution Committee (including ORT), the United Service for New Americans, the Joint Defense Appeal of the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, the American Jewish Congress, the National Jewish Welfare Board, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, and the American Friends of the Hebrew University."

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