Leadership

At a young age, Ilysa Goldblatt learned the importance of community. She has dedicated her life to helping others navigate life’s challenges and creating a thriving community inspired by Jewish values and traditions. That commitment motivates Ilysa’s service on JFCS’ Board of Directors. “Not...

“My parents taught my sisters and me the importance of building a strong Jewish community and helping those in need,” says Ron Zeff, who was elected to Jewish Family and Children’s Services’ Board of Directors last June. “They were devoted to the local Denver community and to Israel.” Ro...

In 2019, Drs. Kathy Fields and Garry Rayant led the launch of the Center for Children and Youth (CCY), the brainchild of Dr. Anita Friedman, Executive Director of Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS). Together they developed a new and more comprehensive approach to addressing services ...

Soon after arriving in San Francisco from Ukraine, Kira, then 13, and her parents attended a large, joyous Passover Seder for families who had emigrated from the former Soviet Union. The families were receiving help from Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) to build new lives in the Bay Ar...

Giving back to the community is a core family value for Vera Stein, a longtime JFCS volunteer and friend. Beginning with her father’s work as a volunteer with JFCS’ Utility Workshop, a pioneering job-creation program for refugees and immigrants, and continuing with Vera and her daughter, Deborah...

Inspired by her grandparents’ experience as Holocaust survivors, Tania Albukerk, a longtime JFCS volunteer, and her husband, Larry, became donors to JFCS’ comprehensive, loving services for local Holocaust survivors. “We want to help survivors have the best possible years,” says Tania, who ...

My grandparents and parents were always involved in San Francisco’s Jewish community,” says Jeff Hyman, who was elected to the Board of Directors of Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) in July. “Through their example, I was raised to give back and be of service.̶...

Building Community through Leadership From a young age, Andrew (Andy) Hess learned the importance of giving back to his community. He had the best teachers: grandparents and parents who embraced the opportunity to be of service. Andy, who was elected to the Board of Directors in July 2021, was intro...