News & Impact

For most of us a good quality of life means enough healthy food to eat, a safe place to live, a nurturing community of friends and family, and people who care about our physical and mental well-being. But many in the Bay Area do not have even their basic necessities covered. That is why JFCS works as a lifeline for people facing personal crises and challenges, making sure that everyone can live with dignity and respect, even when times get tough. Last year 2,500 Bay Area residents received emergency assistance from JFCS to help them maintain their independence and make… Read More

Over the past decade Alex Varum has paved the way for a new generation of young adults to support JFCS and step into leadership roles. He recently joined the JFCS Board of Directors and has been an influential force on the long-standing JFCS Emigre Committee. Originally from the Soviet Union, Alex immigrated to the U.S. with his family as a child. He completed his education in the Bay Area and holds a law degree. With his expertise in law and business, Alex has established himself as a successful Bay Area real estate professional and property manager. Alex, his wife, Natalie… Read More

Plucked from the ashes of Auschwitz and published in 2014 by the JFCS Holocaust Center, Rywka’s Diary: The Writings of a Jewish Girl from the Lodz Ghetto has been an international sensation, sold alongside The Diary of Anne Frank. The tattered school diary written in Polish by 14-year-old Rywka Lipszyc has captivated readers around the world and has been translated into 15 languages. It is now being published in its native Polish tongue. This month Rywka’s powerful words became available throughout Poland. The new and beautifully designed edition was published in partnership with Austeria Publishing House in collaboration with the… Read More

If you have been impacted by the North Bay wildfires, now is the time to begin the difficult process of getting your life in order. Here are 10 tips to help you get started: Get a post office box and have the post office begin forwarding all of your mail to it. Start saving ALL of your receipts. Loss of use insurance will cover incidentals such as phone chargers, a hairbrush, clothes, etc. Contact your homeowner’s/rental insurance to trigger “loss of use.” This typically will allow you to be in a similar property for a certain number of years and,… Read More

It has been a very long week for residents of Sonoma County and other regions hardest hit by the unprecedented and devastating wildfires still raging through Northern California. The number of people affected is staggering and growing. As many as 70,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, while more than 5,700 structures have burned completely to the ground—2,834 homes in Santa Rosa alone. Donate now > Last Monday JFCS’ staff and volunteers began to address the immediate and long-term needs of seniors, families, and people with disabilities who have lost their homes, livelihoods, or both. Diana Klein, JFCS’ Sonoma… Read More

For 30-plus years Carl Grunfeld, MD, Ph.D, has been a well-loved and deeply knowledgeable JFCS supporter. He and his family have strengthened the organization in significant ways that will continue to be felt for generations. Carl is treasured by JFCS clients and staff, and he humbly acknowledges, “I’ve pretty much done whatever JFCS felt I could contribute to doing.” Carl has been a member of the Board, the JFCS Palliative Care Taskforce, and the Loans and Grants Committee, as well as chairing the Ethical Care Committee. He has even taught Russian emigre teens how to bake desserts! As an internationally… Read More