WE ARE HERE
WINTER 2021 - 2022
when you need us
TRANSFORMATIONS
CONTENTS
WINTER 2021 - 2022
IN THIS ISSUE: FEATURES 2
Message from the President
MAKE A TRIBUTE
Zelda Mason
3
Message from the CEO
Marc D. Hopin
ARTICLES 5
State Grant Boosts Mental Health First Aid Training
6
"Why I Give" By Alan Goldberg
7
Food Insecurity Initiatives Gain Momentum & Support
8
Holocaust Survivor Benefits from Guardianship Program
EVENTS 9
Make a donation in honor or in memory of a loved one. You can do this online at alpertjfs.org/donate or by contacting Kelley Whiter, J.D., Chief Development Officer, at Kelley.Whiter@alpertjfs.org or 561-684-1991 To make your gift by check, please mail it to: Alpert Jewish Family Service, Attn: Kelley Whiter, P.O. Box 220627, West Palm Beach, FL 33422. The Alpert JFS tax ID# is 59-1520581
BECOME A
"No Excuse for Abuse" Virtual Evening
10 Third Annual Never Again Holocaust Survivors Benefit a
great success!
11 Save the Date for the 13th Annual Chai Society Gathering
Learn more about volunteer opportunities. Contact Belinda Lasky, Director of Volunteer Leadership, at Belinda.Lasky@alpertjfs.org.
A Message from the President ZELDA MASON Dear Friends,
This is a season of giving and receiving. No doubt, you’re spending time with loved ones, enjoying visits and meals together (safely, of course), exchanging gifts, and expressing gratitude for what we have in this life—most importantly—each other.
As we celebrate the holiday season, here’s a reminder that the hardworking team at Alpert Jewish Family Service is behind the scenes diligently upholding our promise that “we are here when you need us.” And thanks to the support of our dedicated board members and generous donors, the staff delivers kindness, support, and peace of mind to those in our community who need it the most.
Ushering in a new year brings with it a sense of rebirth, excitement, and celebration.
First, let’s celebrate the success of the Alpert JFS 3rd Annual Never Again Holocaust Survivors Benefit. I have nothing but respect and gratitude for the talented professionals who worked tirelessly to put this engaging virtual event together. Thank you Teri Hornstein, CBS12 news anchor, who graciously hosted the event. What amazing stories were shared by our speakers: Holocaust Survivor Evelyn Grapek; Private Investigator and Nazi Hunter Steven Rambam; Dentist Mitchell Josephs; and retired teacher Joanne Baseman. Special thanks to this year’s Never Again Co-Chairs Sheila Engelstein and Diane Herzog for your leadership in this worthwhile endeavor, helping us raise funds to continue to offer much needed assistance to Holocaust Survivors in our community.
I’m excited to remind you of our 18th Annual No Excuse for Abuse Virtual Evening featuring film actor, director, and producer Sean Astin as our guest speaker. Sean is an advocate for “breaking the stigma” around mental illness, inspired by his mother, legendary actress Patty Duke, who struggled with bipolar disorder. This is an event not to miss, so please mark your calendars for February 16 at 7:00 p.m.
Again, I thank everyone for their support of Alpert JFS during 2021. I wish you all a happy new year and let’s make 2022 our best year yet!
Warm regards,
Zelda Mason
2
Winter 2021 - 2022 |Transformations
A Message from the CEO
Dear Community Members,
MARC D. HOPIN
I have learned a lot since the pandemic started two years ago. I learned about a city in China called Wuhan, home to about 11 million people. I learned new words and phrases like COVID-19, KN95 mask, mRNA vaccines, social distancing, contact tracing, and PPE.
But the most important lesson I learned is how quickly life as we know it can change, increasing the need for human services in our community. For example, seniors, including Holocaust survivors, who are already isolated became even more so. Seniors earning extra income lost these jobs when their customers started working from home or lost their own jobs. Families with two incomes lost one or both. As children attended school online from home, parents became even more involved in their child’s education, while balancing work and other family obligations.
All of the above and more caused our Chai Line phones to ring. Many calls were from people who (thankfully) never had a reason to call us before. Prior to the pandemic, they had a steady income, sufficient savings to survive for a few weeks, a credit card to help finance some purchases, and their kids were doing well. By the time they called us they lost all of their financial footing while their kids struggled with isolation.
This brings me to the most important lesson the pandemic taught me—no human services challenge is too big for the employees of Alpert Jewish Family Service. We quickly learned how to work remotely. We armed our social workers, licensed professionals, and support staff with technology they needed to continue to fully operate our Behavioral Health, Long Term Care, and Chai Line services. We acquired the necessary PPE for our Residential direct care staff so they could continue safely caring for the residents. We put protocols in place to keep our staff and clients safe, and adjusted as the pandemic evolved, and as vaccines and therapeutics became available.
All of what we do is only possible because of the generosity of our supporters. Whether your philanthropy comes directly to us or indirectly through your gift to the Jewish Federation, it all goes straight to the work our agency does to help thousands of people during these challenging times.
Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do. Remember to take care of yourself and stay apprised of the latest news about the virus. We are here for you, your family, and your friends when you need us.
Respectfully,
Marc D. Hopin
Winter 2021 - 2022 |Transformations
3
We are here, when you need us
MEET TOM
MEET BESS
4
Winter 2021 - 2022 |Transformations
STATE GRANT BOOSTS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING
Pictured below, l to r: Josephine Gon, Vice President, Jewish Community Relations Council; Dr. Elaine Rotenberg, Clinical Director, Alpert JFS; Michael Hoffman, President & CEO of Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County; Florida State Senator Lori Berman; Florida State Representative David Silvers; Marc Hopin, CEO, Alpert JFS; Zelda Mason, President and Board Chair, Alpert JFS Board of Directors; Cindy Wides, Director of Mental Health First Aid, Alpert JFS.
WHY I GIVE: BY ALAN GOLDBERG
"I am grateful for what Alpert JFS has done for my son. That is why I give."
-Alan Goldberg
Above: Alan Goldberg (left) with his son, Michael.
6
Winter 2021 - 2022 |Transformations
FOOD INSECURITY INITIATIVES GAINING MOMENTUM & SUPPORT
Volunteers working in the Alpert JFS Kosher Food Pantry.
Residents of the the Melvin J. and Claire Levine Jewish Residential and Family Service Apartment Program help assemble Thanksgiving Day food baskets delivered to Alpert JFS clients.
Herrendorf Family Foundation President Joshua Herrendorf and wife Suzi Glassman, deliver holiday meals to Alpert JFS clients.
Winter 2021 - 2022 |Transformations
7
Holocaust Survivor Benefits From Long Term Care, Guardianship Programs
Food Insecurity Continued from page 7
Above: Temple Israel students visited Alpert JFS to learn about the agency, food insecurity, and how the Kosher Food Pantry works.
Winter 2021 - 2022 |Transformations
Thank you to those that made our program a success! Featuring:
Steven Rambam
Private Investigator & Nazi Hunter
Co-Chairs
Sheila Engelstein & Diane Herzog
Evelyn Grapek, Survivor
Intimate sit-down and a unique perspective on a lost childhood
Event Emcee
Teri Hornstein, News Anchor, CBS12
Joanne Baseman Mitchell Josephs, D.D.S.
Giving Survivors something to smile about
Recipient of the Inaugural Never Again Award in Memory of Vivienne Felberman Ivry z"l
Thank you to our Event Sponsors & Hosts
Presenting Sponsor Sheila Engelstein Hope Sponsor Senior Helpers of the Palm Beaches • Gayle and Paul Gross/Gayle and Paul Gross Foundation Strength Sponsor Nancy Dershaw/NEXT GENERATIONS of Holocaust Survivors George and Martha Rich Foundation/Diane and Bob Herzog • Eva and Marvin Schlanger Memorial Sponsor Comiter, Singer, Baseman & Braun, LLP Courage Sponsor Zelda Mason • Sheila and Larry Wilensky
For a complete list of sponsors and hosts, please visit AlpertJFS.org
Rewatch our program online: https://vimeo.com/656834855
9
Please Join Us Virtually... February 16, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Event Emcees
Wendy & Geoff Stahl
Intimate Sit-down with Actor, Producer & Director
Sean Astin
Event Co-Chairs
The son of legendary actress Patty Duke, Sean is a vocal advocate for mental health education and for ending the stigma of mental illness and domestic abuse.
Renee & Robert Gordon Patti & Tony Lampert Barbara & Peter Sidel
A Look Back at 18 Years of No Excuse Hear from Past Event Chairs
Hear How Our Agency Addresses the Mental Health Needs in Our Community
Learn More About Our Relationship & Decisions Teen Trainer Program
Emotional Client Impact Stories
Emily Helfrich, Relationship & Decisions Program Specialist
Presenting Sponsor Zelda Mason Empower Sponsor
Arlene Kaufman & Sandy Baklor • Nancy & Joel Hart Awareness Sponsor
Diann & Thomas Mann
Strength Sponsor
Judith & Jack Rosenberg
Hope Sponsor
Marsha & Steve Funk • Renee & Robert Gordon • Sharon & Mitchell Kitroser • Jane & Arnold Lampert Patti & Tony Lampert • Barbara & Peter Sidel
Hosts
Rick Baer • Marjorie & Bary Berg • Traci & Keith Braun • Sheila Engelstein • Donna Baumzweig & David Ginsberg Alan Goldberg • Hope & Gary Hoffman • Jimmy Katz • Judith & Martin Knopf • Marjie & Dr. Sheldon Konigsberg Barbara Leidner • Vivian Lieberman • Jennifer & Michael Lourie •Karen Levy-Lutner & Dr. Lawrence Lutner Maxine Marks • Marsh and McLennan • Robyn & Dale Rands • Shelley & Nathan Rabhan • Hope & Gene Silverman Wendy & Michael Tulman • Carolyn & Michael Yasuna * as of 12-15-2021 Join us for a celebration of the 18th -"Chai"- year of our signature event!
This virtual evening is FREE to the community-at-large.We are asking our friends and neighbors to please help us raise $300,000 for our 2021-2022 Annual Campaign.
https://www.alpertjfs.org/2022NoExcuse For more information please email Events@AlpertJFS.org or call 561-252-8825.
NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID WEST PALM BEACH FL PERMIT NO 1446
Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service PO Box 220627 West Palm Beach, FL 33422
