News & Impact

A first taste of life in the working world hours and his pay statements. By Olivia Perlman Excerpts from the article originally printed in the August Issue of The New Fillmore. As my junior year at Marin Academy was coming to a close last spring, I decided to apply for a summer internship with Jewish Family and Children’s Services on Post Street. This paid internship program offers teens the opportunity to work with local businesses for six weeks under a supervisor’s guidance. The program also includes a weekly workshop in which the interns are taught workplace and life skills, with… Read More

For Claire Solot, Managing Director and Co-Founder of the Bigglesworth Family Foundation (BFF), serving on the JFCS Board of Directors seemed like a perfect fit in 2004. At the same time, her foundation was building and growing—and with JFCS’ broad range of services also expanding, Claire embraced the synergy that came from growing side-by-side. Remembering her grandparents’ involvement with JFCS (on the east coast) when she was a young girl, she felt a lasting connection to JFCS in the Bay Area. Claire served on the JFCS Board for ten years and chaired the JFCS Public Issues Committee. She enjoyed advocating… Read More

Upon receiving the news that he was one of the recipients of the Vivienne S. Camp Scholarship, Ziven Posner was in disbelief. He read the email from JFCS’ Financial Aid Center two more times before he convinced himself that it was real. He then shouted and started to cry. Maya Ben Tov, the other recipient awarded a scholarship, had a similar response to the news. “I was so shocked and happy! I know there were many qualified applicants for the scholarship. This relieves me of needing a student loan for now. I’m so grateful!” The Vivienne S. Camp Scholarship is… Read More

Carole Meyers and her family started volunteering with JFCS in 1993, when they “adopted” a Jewish family that had just emigrated from the Soviet Union. The Meyers guided the newcomers in many practical and emotional ways (not an easy task given the language barriers) and built a deep friendship with them. This experience, coupled with Carole’s love of teaching, inspired her to volunteer to teach a JFCS English Second Language class. Twelve years later, the small group of Russian-speaking Jewish emigre women continues to meet weekly, and Carole admits that learning English is only a small part of the class;… Read More

Aging is happy and healthy when we are part of a warm and welcoming community. That’s why JFCS is providing a growing range of social clubs that create meaningful connection and exciting programming specifically for older adults. Connections and Culture at San Francisco’s New Plaza Social Club Each week, members of the Plaza Social Club meet at JFCS and Rhoda Goldman Plaza’s beautiful campus in Lower Pacific Heights.  Members enjoy inspiring lectures, current events and art discussions, Jewish learning, films, music, and more. Locally sourced, homemade lunches are provided, as well as access to comprehensive services by experts from Seniors… Read More

Raising children today is more challenging than ever before, especially in the Bay Area. Without a place to turn for coordinated services, too many families don’t find the help they need until it is too late. To address this growing crisis and serve thousands of Bay Area children, JFCS has announced the launch of its new Center for Children and Youth.  One of the largest initiatives ever undertaken by JFCS in its 170-year history, the Center for Children and Youth is bringing together and expanding critical services in four key areas: Parent consultation and community education through JFCS’ Parents … Read More