News & Impact

May his memory be for a blessing. A former administrator with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services, at which he oversaw western states’ implementation of the National School Lunch Program and other programs to help families and children, Jim took an early interest in JFCS’ Food Programs to help clients at risk of hunger.  This led to his creation of a JFCS named endowment fund, the Let Them Eat Bread Fund.  “My main charitable activities have involved feeding people,” he said. Over time, though, Jim’s philanthropic interests and involvement with JFCS have broadened.  He redid his… Read More

“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

A Philanthropic Legacy—Past, Present, and Planned “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 life-long exposure to, and belief in, the importance of philanthropy. Alex, who grew up on a… Read More

Jewish Family and Children’s Services and our community in the Bay Area are helping the victims of the devastating wildfires across California.  Please donate – Make a gift today and you can help JFCS provide direct aid in concert with the network of other disaster relief organizations to ensure that essential services are given. Our community experienced first-hand how the destructive 2017 North Bay fires have impacted thousands of people who still face a long-road to recovery. At JFCS, we are here to support those who have suffered the loss of homes, jobs, community, and loved ones—now and in the… Read More

William and Renėe Rothmann and 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 are huge Gala goers,” Bill says of the JFCS annual fundraiser. “The Fammy’s are my wife’s favorite. I don’t know that we’ve 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. One of the JFCS areas of service that speaks most to… Read More

JFCS’ Executive Director, Dr. Anita Friedman, was recently presented with the Silver SPUR Lifetime Achievement Award, the most prominent award for lifetime civic achievement in San Francisco. Dr. Friedman was honored for her visionary leadership in health and human services and innovative social enterprises across the Bay Area. In addition to heading JFCS’ services and humanitarian work, Dr. Friedman has served on various local, state, national, and international boards and commissions, and served as a consultant to Israel’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. As a speaker and author, Dr. Friedman’s expertise includes social policy and programming for diverse populations;… Read More