News & Impact

Some families are dreamed into being long before they take shape. From the earliest days of their relationship, Stephane and Marie shared a clear and heartfelt commitment to building their family through adoption. At JFCS’ Adoption Connection, we are grateful to have supported them as they welcomed their second child through adoption. In her own words, Marie shares how adoption has shaped the heart of their family:  “From the beginning, adoption was part of our story. From our second date to the day we said our vows, welcoming souls was already our shared mission. We dreamed of a home with… Read More

JFCS’ Legal Services is providing immigration services to local families with relatives in Ukraine or recent arrivals from Ukraine. Read below for answers to our most frequently asked questions regarding legal options and immigration status. Based on present information made available on 03/21/2023 by the Department of Homeland Security, subject to change. What is Temporary Protected Status? Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a humanitarian grant of temporary lawful status available to foreign nationals or habitual residents of listed countries, including Ukraine, where ongoing armed conflict or other emergency conditions make return unsafe. TPS protects against deportation from the United States… Read More

JFCS is proud to announce that Jacqueline Neuwirth has been elected President of its Board of Directors. A longtime supporter and dedicated leader within the organization, Jacqueline brings both passion and vision to this new role. Service as a Family Value Jacqueline’s commitment to service is deeply rooted in her Jewish values and personal conviction that supporting the community is a sacred responsibility. Her relationship with JFCS spans decades. Together with her family, she has poured her time, energy, and resources into strengthening the agency and uplifting the lives of those it serves. She and her husband, Stephen Swire, have… Read More

For the past fourteen summers, the JFCS YouthFirst Summer Internship Program (now known as the Shmunis Internship Program) has connected hundreds of high school students with Bay Area businesses, offering them meaningful opportunities to explore career paths aligned with their interests. This summer, one of those students joined the JFCS Marketing and Development team with a passion for storytelling. Her project: to interview a Holocaust survivor and transform their testimony into both a written blog and a short video—an unforgettable experience in honoring memory through narrative. We’re deeply grateful for the dedication Poppy brought to her time with JFCS. A… Read More

Simon Miller, volunteer with JFCS’ Legal Services Program: When I first started volunteering with JFCS, I was looking for a way to feel more rooted in my community. I began with grocery deliveries—a simple way to offer help that fit easily into my week. I didn’t expect that a one-off request to accompany a client to the Social Security office would become one of the most meaningful days I’ve spent as a volunteer. The client, Katya, is 77 years old. She recently became a U.S. citizen with support from JFCS and needed to update her records with the Social Security… Read More

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. A Transformational Opportunity for Teens The… Read More