“JFCS is very close to my heart,” says former board member Harry Cohn.  “When my family came to San Francisco from Germany during World War II, the Eureka, as JFCS was known then, was very helpful to us.” The agency arranged for Harry’s family to rent an old Victorian on Divisadero Street for $18 a month and made sure there was a bottle of milk on the doorstep every morning.  His father worked in Butchertown, and his mother did catering. Harry worked at the neighborhood drugstore and delivered newspapers to make ends meet. “I remember coming to 1600 Scott Street… Read More

“We are interested in providing this legacy because of the great work JFCS does in providing for the wide range of needs within our community—youth, parents, adults, and seniors.” With these words Board member Alex Ingersoll and his husband, Martin Tannenbaum, a strategic planning, business, and training consultant to the agency, notified Jewish Family and Children’s Services that we are one of three major beneficiaries of their estate plan. Their significant commitment has been shaped by each man’s lifelong exposure to, and belief in, the importance of philanthropy. Carrying Forward Deeply Rooted Family Values Alex, who grew up on a… Read More

William “Bill” and Renée Rothmann along with Bill’s siblings, John Rothmann and Susan Rothmann Seeley, were honorees at the 2nd Annual Fammy Awards Gala in 1986, the year the event officially became a tradition. “We were huge Gala goers,” said Bill, reflecting in 2018 on the JFCS fundraiser. “The Fammy’s were my wife’s favorite. I don’t know that we ever missed one.” Bill has always recognized the importance of family, and when it was suggested that he be honored for his leadership he said yes, as long as his family was included, too. Bill’s family plays a central part in… Read More

When Tad Taube, of blessed memory, left Poland in 1939 en route to New York via Ellis Island, the Krakow-born child didn’t know that he and his parents would narrowly escape the Nazi invasion. The eight-year-old also did not know that he would never return to the culturally rich and prosperous Polish Jewish community that he knew in his youth, or that this community would be destroyed during World War II. As the war raged on, Tad and his parents would soon learn that Tad’s beloved grandfather had been murdered by the Nazis, along with many others in their family.… Read More

As a successful entrepreneur and legendary business leader, Barney Mizel knows an effective enterprise when he sees one. The Marin County resident has built three national insurance brokerage firms over the course of his long career and generously shared his time, talents, and expertise on JFCS’ Program and Planning Committee and Endowment Committee. Barney and his wife, Ann, have been providing significant support to JFCS and the community it serves through their family foundation. The couple is planning for the future by leaving a bequest to JFCS. “I truly admire JFCS for the valuable work it does, and I am… Read More

The dynamic husband-and-wife duo, Nancy Livingston z”l and Fred Levin, together honored a family legacy to support the Jewish community. Well-loved patrons of the Bay Area’s arts scene and married nearly four decades, they were the type of couple who regularly completed each other’s sentences. They were steadfast and passionate supporters of JFCS for over fifteen years, having served on JFCS’ Special Events Committee and worked on the Annual Campaign. Nancy, who died in 2019, once said, “The scope of JFCS’ work is truly amazing.” It is our privilege to share this 2018 interview with Nancy and Fred. How did… Read More