When asked about the secret to her long life, Hilda Richards once said, “I am definitely an optimist, and I think that has helped me very much.” Hilda, a true gem of our community, passed away this April at the age of 104. A resident of San Francisco for more than 84 years, Hilda was a survivor of the Holocaust. She arrived in San Francisco from Germany in 1938 with just $10, joining her sister, who had emigrated two years prior. The sisters remained close throughout their lives. Known for her joie de vivre, Hilda was part of the fabric… Read More

Mr. Schneider z’l sat for this interview in 2022. May his memory be for a blessing. Yvonne z’l and Ernest Schneider wed in Homewood Terrace’s synagogue in 1951, surrounded by friends they made in the children’s home. Ernest Schneider was six years old when his widowed mother, unable to make ends meet during the Great Depression, brought him to live at Homewood Terrace on San Francisco’s Ocean Avenue. The campus for children in need would become his cherished home, where he would make lifelong friends, deepen his connection with his family’s Jewish heritage, and even meet the love of his… Read More

What can make a wedding day even more joyful? For Evelyn Danforth-Scott, daughter of longtime JFCS friends Gay and Carl Grunfeld, and Mitchel Scott, the answer was including a way to give back to their community. The caring couple invited guests to make a charitable gift to the Danforth-Scott Family Fund, their new Named Endowment Fund at Jewish Family and Children’s Services. The couple’s generous act followed the example of Gay and Carl, who requested charitable gifts as part of their own 2004 wedding. Gifts established a JFCS Named Endowment Fund, the Grunfeld Family Fund for Children’s Services, and… Read More

Established in loving memory by the Lasky family, the Henry Brand Lasky Memorial Endowment Fund continues the caring legacy of Henry Lasky z’l by supporting palliative and end-of-life care for Sonoma County seniors. Henry was born in Troy, New York, and grew up in Albany. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University and law degree from Albany Law School, he was called to active duty in the US Air Force. While serving at Hamilton Air Force Base, Henry honed leadership skills that would serve him throughout his life and gained judicial experience. He also fell in love with… Read More

We often receive questions about two types of investment vehicles that sound similar and operate very differently: charitable gift annuities (CGAs) and charitable remainder trusts (CRTs). In this article, Ken Dike, Esq., of Clifford Swan Investment Counselors, helps to break down the differences and answer common questions. By Ken Dike, Esq., CPA, CLPF, Executive Director of Planned Giving Services at Clifford Swan Investment Counselors What is a charitable gift annuity (CGA)? What are the benefits? A charitable gift annuity (CGA) is an arrangement whereby assets are given to a charity in return for the charity’s promise to make lifetime payments… Read More

“JFCS has helped my family and countless others in times of need,” says Howard S. Hahn, when reflecting on his recent decision to leave a legacy to help others facing hard times. “My parents raised me with Jewish values. Tikkun olam was especially important.” A native of New York City, Howard arrived in San Francisco for a visit not long after he graduated from college. He found a city and community he wanted to get to know better. “I never used the roundtrip part of the paper plane ticket,” Howard says. “I quit my job over the phone and stayed.”… Read More