- Center for Children and Youth
- JFCS News
- YouthFirst
With visionary support from the Shmunis family, JFCS is expanding its summer internship program to help more teens prepare for life beyond high school.
This summer, high school students across the Bay Area are gaining more than just work experience—they’re discovering purpose, building confidence, and stepping into adulthood with the support of the newly expanded JFCS Shmunis Internship Program (SIP).
The program’s growth has been made possible by the leadership and generosity of Vlad and Sana Shmunis, who have established the Shmunis Youth Endowment Fund to strengthen and expand opportunities for local teens.
Vlad and Sana Shmunis with a few of this year’s Summer Interns.
A Transformational Opportunity for Teens
The JFCS Shmunis Internship Program is a six-week, paid summer experience that matches high school students with real-world internships in healthcare, business, education, tech, environmental advocacy, and more. In addition to their placements, interns participate in dynamic workshops that emphasize career readiness and workplace skills development.
Each workshop equips teens with tools they need to thrive, from resume writing and interview skills to understanding their personal values and ethics. Interns also explore emerging topics like artificial intelligence and digital collaboration, helping them prepare for the world they’re stepping into.
Perhaps most importantly, interns become part of a supportive network of peers, mentors, and professionals—growing not only in skills but also in self-understanding and community connection.
Inspired by Personal Experience
For Vlad and Sana Shmunis, the mission is deeply personal.
“We both came here as teenagers from the former Soviet Union,” shares Vlad. “I was actually a participant in a JFCS program back then—it was a typing class for Russian-speaking teens. It gave me a sense of purpose.
Vlad also says, with a smile, “I still consider typing to be one of my most useful business skills!”
Their own experiences as immigrant teens, coupled with a belief in the importance of positive youth development, sparked their desire to give back.
“High school doesn’t offer enough opportunities for teens to build real-world skills,” Sana explains. “The more we can introduce them to the business world, work ethics, and collaboration, the more connected and prepared they’ll be for adulthood.”
Building Skills and a Brighter Future
SIP is more than an internship. It’s a launchpad. Teens explore their values, develop career direction, and learn how to navigate the workplace with confidence and clarity. With support from their mentors, JFCS staff, and program alumni, participants build lasting connections and gain insight into their own futures.
“We’re hoping this program becomes a meaningful, directional experience for teens,” says Sana. “Understanding how to prepare for a job interview, how to show up professionally—these are life-changing skills. We want them to feel like they’re part of something bigger.”
A Ripple Effect of Good
SIP is a meaningful opportunity for families who want to see their teens grow into confident, capable, and community-minded adults.
The Shmunis family’s gift has already made a powerful impact, and their generosity is an inspiring example of how philanthropy can empower the next generation.
Learn more about the JFCS Shmunis Internship Program >
Explore how you can change lives by making a lasting gift >
To learn more about JFCS YouthFirst internships and other learning opportunities for teens, visit our website.
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| Over the last fifteen summers, the JFCS summer internship program has placed hundreds of high school teens with Bay Area businesses, giving the interns an opportunity to explore careers of interest to them. | ||