News & Impact

When Anna and Dave, a Sonoma County couple who have been married for 11 years, decided to grow their family through adoption, they looked at the options and decided to work with JFCS’ adoption agency, Adoption Connection. They are so glad that they did, because three months ago, Max, their son, came into their lives. Their joy at becoming parents is matched by their gratitude—to both Adoption Connection and to the birthmother and her family, who selected Anna and Dave to raise her baby. “We think the people at Adoption Connection are great,” says Dave. “They have always been… Read More

The fall is busy for many of us—work, school, and preparations for the Jewish New Year. It’s also a hectic time for Amy Darling, a JFCS friend on the South Peninsula. But Amy always makes a commitment to JFCS at the High Holidays, rallying family and friends to assemble and deliver Rosh Hashanah foods to older JFCS clients in need. It’s a tradition she strongly believes in. “I grew up visiting nursing homes with my grandmother,” she says. “I now take my 7-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter with me, and I encourage as many people in my community to participate… Read More

Ayala Feder-Haugabook, an incoming senior at the Jewish Community High School of the Bay, has had a busy summer. While gearing up for an August trip to Israel, where her brother is in the army, she also participated in a first-in-a-lifetime experience: a paying summer internship. Ayala was one of approximately 60 teens throughout San Francisco, Marin County, and the Peninsula who were selected to be part of JFCS’ Summer Internship Program, which provides valuable work experience—both at JFCS and at various organizations and businesses in the Bay Area. In addition to working in various offices and acquiring on-the-job… Read More

When Jessica Youngman had the chance to go Columbia University,  she needed a way to finance it. So she contacted JFCS’ Financial Aid Center, which has existed for many decades to help the people of our community get a start in life. The Center is supported by many JFCS friends, including JFCS Financial Aid Committee member Dr. Carl Grunfeld, along with his in-laws, Albert (z’’l) and Janet Schultz (z’’l). They created the Miriam Schultz Grunfeld Scholarship Fund for Youth in loving memory of Carl’s late wife as a way to pay homage to a beloved individual and former JFCS… Read More

Each summer, JFCS’ YouthFirst program provides paid internships to Bay Area high school students seeking valuable work experiences. This summer, we have welcomed approximately 60 outstanding young people to the program. They are gaining important skills at various departments throughout the agency, as well at many local businesses and organizations pleased to work with us to help our young people hone their vocational abilities. We’re pleased to introduce one of them to you here. Stay tuned for more profiles! Domenic M, incoming sophomore, Archbishop Riordan High School, San Francisco Where are you working this summer? In JFCS’ Seniors At Home’s… Read More

Amy’s family was in trouble. She and her husband, Bill, argued constantly—mostly about how to raise their son, Ben, now 9. “I felt that Ben was playing off of my and Bill’s differing parent styles,” Amy recounts. “Whenever I said ‘no’ to Ben, he’d run to Bill, who would invariably say, ‘yes.’  We needed help, but given our tight budget, I didn’t know where to turn. Thank goodness for Parents Place, which stepped forward with a scholarship for counseling for us. Otherwise, I’m not sure the three of us would still be living under the same roof.” “It’s surprising… Read More