Family Matters V o lu m e 2 7 , N o. 6 • N O V EM B E R / D E C EM B E R 2017
OVERCOMING BARRIERS
Shalom Denver page 6
refugee mental health
Mental Health Matters page 8
THE FACES OF JFS
Honorees Gay Curtiss-Lusher and Sam Zaitz 2017 Winter Soirée, page 3
colorado gives day
Donor Spotlight page 10
A PUBLICATION OF
Serving people of all faiths, ages, incomes, and abilities
From the
CEO
The Power of Human Potential
Dear Friends,
Jewish Family Service serves the vulnerable in our community in myriad ways. As you’ll discover in this issue of Family Matters, we support those with intellectual and developmental disabilities at our SHALOM Denver division. There, we’re helping people learn, grow, work, engage, and realize their full potential. As you’ll read in the Educational Stacking Cups article, SHALOM Denver partners with area businesses to perform a variety of mission-critical business functions—all while helping those with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain valuable experience. Clients handle packaging, assembly, printing, and mailing projects Shepard Nevel while gaining valuable work skills. The goal of the program is to give our clients the skills they need to ultimately move into more integrated work settings. You’ll also read about Stephani, an active participant in SHALOM Denver’s Arts and Community Exploration (ACE) program at SHALOM Denver. This recreational day
program gives those with developmental disabilities the opportunity to learn, connect, and create. Here our clients experience the joy of creative expression and the satisfaction of accomplishment. They test their minds and bodies with exercise while learning about making healthy life choices. They engage in their community by volunteering and visiting cultural attractions. They have much to offer and we are helping them discover their boundless abilities. We see the power of human potential every day at Jewish Family Service. Whether it’s a refugee teen succeeding in school, an older adult re-engaging with friends and family, or a single mom finding a new job so she can take care of her family, it’s all about being the best that we can be. Speaking of human potential…we are thrilled to be honoring two wonderful members of our community, Gay Curtiss-Lusher and Sam Zaitz, at The Faces of JFS Winter Soirée on December 14. Please join us as we celebrate them and showcase the impact of JFS on our community.
Shepard Nevel President & CEO
Jewish Family Service of Colorado (JFS)
believes in strengthening the community by providing vital services to people in need. Founded in 1872, JFS is a nonsectarian, nonprofit human services agency serving metro Denver and Boulder. JFS helps seniors live independently at home, provides quality mental health counseling, offers training and job placement to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other barriers to employment, and provides food and financial aid to people in crisis.
Family Matters is published bimonthly by Jewish Family Service of Colorado, 3201 S. Tamarac Dr., Denver, CO 80231 / www.jewishfamilyservice.org
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CLIENT Spotlight
Stephani Baca: Operating at Maximum Potential
Stephani Baca may have Down syndrome, but it’s
not keeping her from living a rich, full life. She has dozens of friends and enjoys going to SHALOM Denver every week and engaging in a variety of activities that keep her active and engaged. Stephani recently celebrated her fiftieth birthday, but you wouldn’t know it. She has boundless energy and a big bright smile that lights every room. She started coming to SHALOM Denver 20 years ago, where she worked on assembly and packaging projects for various business clients. She later transitioned to the Arts and Community Exploration (ACE) program which offers her recreational and arts and crafts activities. She’s been attending this program for the past 10 years—and loves it. The ACE program is a people-centered interactive day program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It focuses on the whole person, community involvement, and integration into the greater community with stimulating activities tailored to each participant’s needs and unique personality. The richness of different cultures is celebrated through crafts, foods, literature, history, and art. “We work to tap into the natural creative and artistic talents of the clients we serve,” says Heather Dawson, ACE program manager at SHALOM Denver. “There is a lot of satisfaction in helping our clients discover what they can create and do.” SHALOM Denver’s ACE program promotes education of healthy lifestyles, focusing on good nutrition and frequent exercise. Open expression of feelings is encouraged, resulting in the development of healthy relationships. Participants explore the community at cultural and art centers, parks, libraries, shopping centers, and museums. They also enjoy helping others by volunteering, recycling, and donating time and money to our community. THE ACE program is an important part of Stephani’s life. It gives her purpose and a real sense of normalcy. It gives her some independence away from family where she can live her own life and form her own relationships. She looks forward to interacting with others and seeing her many friends who attend the program.
Stephani attends the ACE program three days a week. She loves all the activities, but especially dancing and working on arts and crafts projects. Every week the family’s mantel proudly displays Stephani’s latest creations, including drawings, paintings, collages, and crafts. “We have to clear our mantel every weekend to make room for the next batch of crafts,” says Robert. “We enjoy seeing her colorful work come home and her sense of pride in creating it.” “Stephani loves to dance and she’s getting the exercise she needs,” says Margaret, Stephani’s mother. The ACE program gives Robert and Margaret some needed respite and freedom to take care of themselves and their home. “Having Stephani at home is wonderful,” says Robert. “But it’s also a full-time job. The ACE program gives us some time to ourselves and the opportunity to run errands and take care of the day-to-day tasks we need to get done. We’re now in our seventies and still acting as Stephani’s primary caregivers. Not only is the program great for Stephani, it really helps us out.” SHALOM Denver’s ACE program is giving Stephani access to new experiences and people she wouldn’t have otherwise. “As a result, she has become very comfortable with people and has a wider view of the world,” says Margaret. “SHALOM Denver is truly maximizing her potential and for that we are very grateful.”
Heather Dawson and Stephani Baca FA M I LY M AT T E R S N O V EM B E R / D E C EM B E R 2017
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JOIN US FOR
Jewish Family Service (JFS) is pleased
to present The Faces of JFS 2017 Winter Soirée on Thursday, December 14, at 6:00 p.m., at the Grand Hyatt Denver, 1750 Welton Street. This inaugural fundraiser will celebrate the diversity of JFS clients while benefiting the life-transformative work of the agency. The event will include cocktails, international-themed food stations, entertainment, and a short program. The highlight of the evening will be the recognition of two special individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, philanthropy, and dedication to Jewish Family Service and our community. Gay Curtiss-Lusher will receive the Joyce and Kal Zeff Humanitarian Award, and Sam Zaitz will be honored with the inaugural Yana Vishnitsky Leadership Award. Sponsorship packages start at $2,000 and tickets are $350. Please contact Dawn Richard, development director, at 720.248.4605 or drichard@jewishfamilyservice.org or visit www.jewishfamilyservice.org/Faces for more details. Thank you to co-chairs Jeremy Abelson, Barry CurtissLusher, Ben Lusher, and Stephanie Zaitz for leading an outstanding 42-person committee and making this event a success! Meet the Honorees Gay Curtiss-Lusher Joyce and Kal Zeff Humanitarian Award It’s fitting that Gay Curtiss-Lusher is receiving the inaugural Joyce and Kal Zeff Humanitarian Award. She is
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a humanitarian to her core, exemplified by a lifetime of giving back. A long-time supporter of JFS, she is currently a volunteer with the JFS at the JCC program. Every weekday she serves seniors lunch and engages with them in activities and fun. Gay has been in that volunteer role for the past 12 years and still looks forward to her daily shift. “This program is so important to our seniors,” says Gay. “Not only do they get a nutritious meal, but they socialize and engage in a variety of activities. I’ve gotten to know them all. They are such good people and I love seeing them together. I’m certain that I get more out of volunteering than they do from my presence.” Gay and husband Barry have been supporting JFS for decades. She served on the JFS Board of Directors in the 1990s and helped to resettle a Jewish Russian refugee family. More recently Gay has served on two event committees. Beyond JFS, Gay has been an ardent supporter of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and has served on its regional board for years. She been involved in two of ADL’s longest running programs: The Catholic-Jewish Dialogue and the Governor’s Holocaust Remembrance Program. Barry recently completed his three-year term as the ADL national chair. Gay has a Master’s in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Michigan, and has worked at a federal penitentiary, at a radio station, as a caterer, as a tour guide at the Molly Brown House, and spent many years working at Eddie Bauer. Gay and Barry have been married for 42 happy years.
Gay Curtiss-Lusher
They have three grown children: Ben (Nicole), 34, and twins, Joey and Julie (Andrew), 30. They have three grandchildren, Anna, 4, Ellie, 2, and Addison, 1. “This is such an honor for me,” says Gay. “JFS is a first-rate group that is very well run and serves from the heart. I’m so happy to be a part of it.” Sam Zaitz Yana Vishnitsky Leadership Award Three years ago, Sam attended his first JFS Development Committee meeting and was instantly hooked. He joined the committee and has since been a passionate advocate and effective fundraiser for the agency. He has served on the Executive Luncheon Committee for the past three years and was a co-chair of the 2015 event, which was keynoted by Magic Johnson. At 36, Sam brings a youthful energy and has introduced the life-transforming work of JFS to a new generation. Sam, son of Mark and Carol Zaitz, is a Denver native and attended Cherry Creek High School, before going to Colorado State University and earning a Bachelor’s in Business. He is a partner at Legend Retail Group, a retail brokerage and development firm. Sam is married to Stephanie and they have three children: Zach (6), Chloe (4), and Penelope (infant). “I am honored to be receiving the first Yana Vishnitsky Leadership Award as very few people in the history of Colorado have done more than she has for this community,” says Sam. “My favorite quote is from John
Sam Zaitz
Wooden: ‘You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.’ Yana is an incredible example of doing just that!” Thank you to our sponsors (As of October 4, 2017) Chief Operating Sponsors—$25,000 Curtiss-Lusher, Lusher, and McQuade Families
Associate Sponsors—$2,000 David and Anna Asarch Colorado Real Estate Journal
FOLLOW US! www.facebook.com/jfscolorado www.twitter.com/JFS_Colo www.instagram.com/jfscolorado
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Overcoming Barriers to
SHALOM Denver and the
EMPLOYMENT Curious Case of the Colorful Cups The work floor
at SHALOM Denver is overflowing with colorful plastic cups. There are tens of thousands of them that workers are busy sorting, packaging, labeling, and packing for shipment to schools, educators, and moms nationwide. Educational Stacking Cups are tactile learning tools for toddlers, who enjoy sorting and stacking them by number, color, and shape. Even more, they enjoy knocking them down. Kids love playing with them, all while developing vital cognitive skills. The cups are the brainchild of entrepreneur and executive Carol Janet, who invented the educational cups quite by accident as a way to keep her toddler busy many years ago. Originally from South Africa, Carol spent a career as a successful product development and licensing executive for some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca-Cola, AnheusWill Garth and Carol Janet er-Busch, and Taco Bell. At 66, Carol and her husband own a licensing boutique in Atlanta, processing the orders on her own from home. Then came working with a variety of corporate clients. an order for 1,000 sets and everything changed. Mother The company behind the stacking cups is Design Plus, and daughter needed to quickly scale up production and which had its humble beginnings decades ago around the find a way to fulfill the orders and meet the newfound kitchen table over a cup of tea. Carol was working in her demand. home design studio when she came up with the idea of a Enter SHALOM Denver. sorting game for her then toddler, Abigail. The cups were Carol’s new high-volume customer is a Denver-based a hit and kept Abigail occupied and engaged for hours. educational products company, so Carol decided to try to Over the years, mother and daughter merged their skills find a fulfillment company in Denver to save on shipping and experience and further developed the product. But it costs. A quick internet search brought her to SHALOM wasn’t until many years later when Abigail’s own toddler Denver, which could handle the sorting, packaging, and began playing with the stacking cups that Bottle Cups was labeling at the scale she needed with an important added born. benefit. Carol learned that SHALOM Denver employs “I’ve always kept the stacking cup idea in the back of people with developmental disabilities and helps train my mind and thought they had market potential,” says them for the workforce. “When I heard that, I had to do it,” Carol. “When my daughter had a daughter of her own, we explains Carol. “Here’s a nonprofit that is giving people with both thought the time was right to take the next step.” barriers to employment an opportunity to work and earn a Bottle Cups started small and Abigail could handle living. How could I not support that mission?” 6
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a SHALOM Denver consumer works on packaging the Educational Stacking Cups
When Carol met Will Garth, SHALOM Denver’s business development manager, she was sold. “We immediately hit it off,” says Carol. “Will understood my business needs and came back with a solution that covered all the bases and ensured that we could deliver quality products to market at a reasonable price. I just love that we’re giving back to the community at the same time.” The Educational Stacking Cups project is employing 25 people with developmental disabilities and teaching them critical work skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. “Our clients love working with the cups and take incredible pride in their work,” says Will. “This is a match made in heaven.” SHALOM Denver, a division of Jewish Family Service, is wellequipped to handle quality printing, mailing, packaging fulfillment, and assembly services for area businesses at its central Denver facility. SHALOM Denver trains and prepares adults with developmental disabilities for the workforce and
WELCOME
community-based employment. Clients learn workplace fundamentals, critical thinking skills, and good work habits in a nurturing, supportive environment. If your company needs quality packaging and/or assembly support, contact Will Garth, business development manager at SHALOM Denver, 303.623.0251, wgarth@jewishfamilyservice.org.
to New Chief Development Officer Julie Alcorn
Julie Alcorn joined Jewish Family Service in September 2017 to fill the new
role of Chief Development Officer. As a key member of the JFS executive leadership team, Julie is responsible for developing the strategy behind our growing fundraising and communications programs and for overseeing the implementation of those strategies. Julie leads and provides vision for the marketing and development staff and is responsible for supporting the fundraising and communications efforts of the organization. She says, “As a third-generation Coloradan, I have deep roots in the area and great love for this region and the people in it. My professional experiences cross from corporate to nonprofit, from customer service to child and family service, and from education to health care. I am honored to serve our clients, volunteers, donors, Board of Directors, and staff in support of the mission and to help make our community (and world) a better place.”
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MENTAL HEALTH Matters
An Inside Look at Refugee Mental Health
By Caroline McEaddy, LCSW, Refugee Mental Health Therapist About the Refugee Mental Health Department
There is no such thing as a “typical day”
for the Refugee Mental Health team. We work with men, women, and children from more than 15 countries including Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Bhutan, and Somalia. Our clients’ needs are equally as diverse. Many clients, particularly those who have only recently arrived in the United States, are facing challenges adjusting to their new lives. In a new country, everyday tasks like reading the mail or taking the bus can be a challenge, much less learning a new language and finding a job. On top of concerns about meeting basic needs, they often struggle with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Our team works to meet these individuals on their level and provide them with support to help them progress and thrive. A Refugee Experience Maryam* is a 47-year-old woman from Iraq. She fled to Turkey with her three children after her husband was killed for working with the US Army. Two years ago, Maryam and two of her children moved to the US, while her eldest daughter remained in Turkey with her own family. When Maryam first arrived, she cried every day, overwhelmed with the prospect of starting over. Maryam also experienced symptoms connected to her traumatic past, including feeling very afraid in groups of people, difficulty sleeping, and chronic nightmares. After a few months, Maryam found a job at a daycare. She enjoyed it, but continued to struggle with her mental health symptoms. After being referred by her doctor, Maryam started seeing a Jewish Family Service therapist for emotional support and practical assistance. In therapy, she learned about trauma and developed skills to reduce and manage her symptoms. She gained confidence and signed up for English classes. Due to her busy schedule and improvements in symptoms, Maryam decided to stop seeing her therapist.
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However, she returned to JFS a few months later. She and her daughters had become increasingly concerned about their safety. After a friend was harassed at a bus stop and told to “go home,” Maryam said she was too scared to leave her home. She worried about her children and whether wearing a hijab was safe. She also wondered if, with the new changes in refugee admissions to the US, she would ever see her eldest Caroline McEaddy daughter again or get to meet her new grandson. Maryam’s fearfulness has improved in recent months. She shares that despite the scary things that have been happening, a lot of people have been very kind to her. She says she and her children watched the protestors supporting refugees on TV together, and that recently, a woman came up to her and told her that she was glad Maryam lives here. Maryam still worries about the future and particularly about her eldest daughter, but she prays every day that she is safe and hopes to be reunited with her one day. Maryam’s experience is just one of many the Refugee Mental Health team hears every day in our work with refugee clients. Their circumstances may vary, however common themes of resilience and strength emerge in each as they face struggles and take steps forward to success in their newly adopted country. *Name and some details have been changed to protect the client’s privacy. Caroline McEaddy is a licensed clinical social worker with masters’ degrees in social work and international development. She joined Jewish Family Service in 2015 as a refugee mental health therapist. She specializes in trauma therapy, adjustment challenges, anxiety, and depression.
seniors Matter
Heavy Hearts During the Holidays
By Charlie Johnson, MSW, Colorado Senior Connections Care Manager and Program Coordinator
The holidays present themselves as an opportune
time to cherish and celebrate life and love with family and friends. It is a time of excess decorations, sacred rituals, and reflection on the prior year. As the holidays bring feelings of happiness, joy, and community to many, others are greeted with heavy hearts as they face changed traditions forced onto them by the year’s losses. As we age, inevitably, our losses multiply and our grief thickens as we lose spouses, friends, pets, and family. These heavy hearts beg to question, “How will I get through without ___?” The answer unfortunately is complex and individualized, but I encourage those who find themselves with heavy hearts to practice some strategies that just might help them through the season. Some examples include: • Giving a toast/tribute at celebrations • Make a “memory box” of notes and keepsakes • Say their name or tell a favorite story about them • Light a candle in their memory • Watch their favorite movie, listen to their favorite music, or enjoy their favorite food • Write a letter to them • Create a new tradition to honor them (release balloons, go to a special dinner, etc.) • Continue to make plans and set goals Perhaps these ideas all seem to promote heavy hearts, but keeping their memory alive through small tributes allows you to better process your grief. You may have heard it before, but one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself as a grieving individual is the simple act of allowing yourself to grieve. Allow yourself to be reassured that you have every right to have the heavy heart you feel while you continually adjust to changed situations. Allow yourself to
Allow yourself to feel the sadness, anger, confusion, or relief that come and go with grief.
feel the sadness, anger, confusion, or relief that come and go with grief. Let yourself move through the season at your own pace and try not to push yourself to complete difficult tasks when you do not feel that you can. Allow yourself to accept help in completing tasks. The most important thing is to remember the togetherness that is magnified during the holidays is continued Charlie Johnson throughout the year if you look for it. Remind yourself that you are not alone in having a heavy heart during the holidays, or during the whole calendar year. Further, if you find yourself needing more, do not hesitate to seek help elsewhere by attending grief support groups or seeking one-on-one counseling. These avenues can not only open your thinking and ideas for how to process your grief, but also to find a community that you can share your grief journey with throughout the year. Call JFS at 303.597.5000 for resources and support. Charlie Johnson, MSW is the care manager for Colorado Senior Connections in Wheat Ridge as well as the care manager for Hearts and Hands HIV/AIDS clients. In her dual role, Charlie enjoys the opportunity to engage with clients and provide them with resources and services to promote a better quality of life. She focuses on the needs of clients in Wheat Ridge by expanding access and knowledge to services as well as empowering clients to be involved and impact their community.
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DONOR Spotlight
Stacey Garrett
There are so many ways you can give to
Jewish Family Service! One easy way is to donate through Colorado Gives Day. We spoke with Stacey Garrett, a CPA who has supported JFS in this way since 2011 to find out why she chose this method of giving. Family Matters (FM): Why did you choose to start supporting JFS through Colorado Gives Day? Stacey Garrett (SG): I am very familiar with the organization that runs Colorado Gives Day, and how the program is run. This day is like a national holiday where everyone is almost forced to stop in their tracks for a moment to think about something bigger than themselves. I wanted to be a part of such a worthwhile event, and also felt it was a great opportunity to involve my children. We sit at the table together every year to make our charity selections together. JFS is an organization that I like to support, and Colorado Gives Day is a convenient way to make that happen. It is almost like “one-stop shopping” for giving. You add the charities to your cart, and then check out in one fell swoop.
FM: This year you increased your support to JFS by donating books for Lunchbox Express and gave money to our Holocaust appeal. Tell us more about why you chose to support those programs. SG: I was moved by these programs. Regarding Lunchbox Express, I am an avid reader, and therefore firmly grasp the importance of books and literacy. The love of reading starts from an early age, and I feel strongly about all children having access to books. It might take only one book to open a child’s eyes and set them on a new course. Concerning the Holocaust program, I was moved by the need to care for survivors. They survived atrocities that are beyond our comprehension, and yet went on to lead productive lives and contribute to society. Now they are in need of care, and I want to contribute back. I am also Jewish, and therefore constantly aware that I am very fortunate to be born in a time and place where my family and I feel safe and secure. I don’t ever want to take this for granted by forgetting the survivors or failing to educate the public about what members of even a civilized society are capable of.
24 Hours to Give Where You Live Support Jewish Family Service on Colorado Gives Day
Join Stacey and hundreds of other supporters by donating to JFS on Colorado Gives Day on Tuesday, December 5! The value of your donation will be increased by the FirstBank Incentive Fund and you can win prizes. Thanks to help from supporters like you, we raised nearly $60,000 last year. This year, our goal is to raise $65,000 through Colorado Gives Day. Jewish Family Service is committed to providing the highest quality, nutritious food though all our food programs. We believe that everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food regardless of their income, faith, ethnicity, or ZIP code. By giving to JFS through Colorado Gives Day, your monetary donations can help us leverage our funding so we can purchase more fresh products at a reduced rate from Food Bank of the Rockies for our Weinberg Food Pantry clients, such as produce, dairy products, eggs, and meat. Donate online at www.coloradogives.org/jfscolorado anytime during the 24-hour period of December 5, or schedule your payment in advance to “give where you live”! ColoradoGives.org is made possible by Community First Foundation.
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Stacey Garrett
FM: Why should others support JFS on Colorado Gives Day? SG: JFS has so many worthwhile programs, and they don’t just benefit the Jewish community. When I dropped off books for Lunchbox Express, I saw some individuals lining up for the food pantry. One of them was a Muslim woman, which sent a message to any observer that this organization is willing to help people of all backgrounds, and not just Jews. There is both a Jewish focus that connects me to my heritage, and a broader community focus that shows we care about the need to help everyone around us. I am reminded of the concept of Tikkun Olam, or reparation of the world, where we try to make our community and the world a better place. Jewish or not, everyone should be able to get behind that. Denver is fortunate to have an organization that cares about so many of its citizens.
CLARENCE V LAGUARDIA FOUNDATION
Grants Multi-Year Gift to JFS Senior Solutions Center By Audrey Friedman Marcus, Volunteer Writer
For the second year in a row, the Jewish
Family Service Senior Solutions Center is a grateful beneficiary of a generous grant from the Clarence V LaGuardia Foundation. Clarence V LaGuardia, a native of Denver and an engineer, established this worthwhile and significant foundation. Clarence was a distant cousin of Fiorello LaGuardia, mayor of New York City from 1934 to 1945. A graduate of North High and the University of Colorado, Clarence received his engineering degree from the University of Denver. Following his death in 2015 at the age of 96, the foundation continues to give generously to many local causes that were close to their founder’s heart. Motivated by the past involvement and ongoing enthusiasm for Jewish Family Service by former JFS Board member Michele Right, wife of LaGuardia Foundation trustee Richard Right, the trustees of the LaGuardia Foundation considered providing a grant to JFS to benefit older adults in the Denver metropolitan area. In 2016, they met with JFS staff to assess the growing needs of those served by the Senior Solutions Center. Following the proposal submission, the foundation provided a generous grant of $50,000. This funding helped Senior Solutions staff provide care management, information, referral and
assistance, and homemaker and counseling services to 3,076 older adults throughout 2016. Early in 2017, the trustees held a second meeting with JFS staff members Shepard Nevel, the new JFS president and CEO, and Chandra Matthews, director of Senior Solutions. They outlined additional ways the LaGuardia Foundation could support the services provided by JFS by directing funding to homemaker services through the Colorado Senior Connections program, as well as the care management internship program. This discussion resulted in a second generous grant to JFS by the LaGuardia Foundation, this time in the amount of $53,000 per year for five years as ongoing support for JFS’s programming. Jewish Family Service is proud of the valuable support the agency provides for people in need of help, regardless of their religion, race, or national origin. The generous financial support by caring individuals, as well as by both Jewish and non-Jewish funders like the Clarence V LaGuardia Foundation, make this vital work possible. Audrey Friedman Marcus is a volunteer writer for JFS. She was cofounder and executive vice president of A.R.E. Publishing, Inc., for 30 years before retiring in 2001. She also founded the annual Fred Marcus Memorial Holocaust Lecture and co-authored the book Survival in Shanghai: The Journals of Fred Marcus, 1939 to 1949 (Pacific View Press). FA M I LY M AT T E R S N O V EM B E R / D E C EM B E R 2017
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HOLIDAY Volunteer Opportunities The holiday season is a great time of year for families to
volunteer together! JFS has several rewarding ways you can help other individuals and families: Distribute or Deliver Thanksgiving Meals • Give out turkeys and all the fixings for complete Thanksgiving meals to families in need. Volunteer on November 21 or 22 to distribute food items to clients in our food pantry, and on November 22 to deliver to those who are homebound. Family Projects • While your kids are home during Thanksgiving or winter break, work on an at-home project to help JFS! Kids of all ages can participate by collecting food, diapers, school supplies, toiletries, or new winter clothing, or preparing nutrition packs for clients who need help when the pantry is closed. For details on needed items and how to pack them, please contact volunteer@jewishfamilyservice.org. 5 Ways to Assist Refugee Clients • Many of our refugee clients do not have basic household necessities and personal care products. Help with their transition to Colorado by providing individual packages of care and cleaning items. For information, please visit www.jewishfamilyservice.org/features/refugee-assistance. Purchase Holiday Gifts or Help Families Choose Gifts • Holidays are difficult for clients who are unable to buy Hanukkah or Christmas gifts for children or loved ones. We need volunteers to help families choose gifts at JFS on December 20 and 22. You can also help by purchasing gifts through our Bright Holidays program! See details on page 13 or visit www.jewishfamilyservice.org/donate.
For more information on these projects and other volunteer opportunities, visit www.jewishfamilyservice.org/volunteer or contact Christine Gillow, Volunteer Services manager at 720.248.4599 or cgillow@ jewishfamilyservice.org.
Put the THANKS in Thanksgiving It’s a struggle for many families in our community to put food on the table every day. For that,
they can’t begin to plan for turkeys and everything else needed to create a festive Thanksgiving meal. Thanks to the Dorinda Levy Thanksgiving Fund, we are able to help many of these families celebrate a traditional Thanksgiving meal. We need your help too! Please contribute to this fund by using the enclosed envelope and indicate “Dorinda Levy Thanksgiving Fund” in the memo line, or donate online at www.jewishfamilyservice.org/Thanksgiving. Because we can stretch your dollar by purchasing items directly from Food Bank of the Rockies and King Soopers at a reduced cost, we prefer monetary donations. The expected cost of a complete Thanksgiving meal for a family of four this year is $69.59. If you would prefer to donate food, please contribute any of these items: frozen turkeys, disposable aluminum-foil roasting pans, canned yams or sweet potatoes, instant mashed potatoes, stuffing, canned pumpkin pie mix, evaporated milk, canned cranberry sauce or jelly, canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, turkey gravy mix, fresh apples, and canned fruit. Grocery gift cards for clients with special dietary needs are also greatly appreciated. Please bring food donations to Jewish Family Service, 3201 South Tamarac Drive, Denver, CO 80231, by Monday, November 13.
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FOUR EASY WAYS
to Provide Holiday Gifts
Can you imagine not being able to buy Hanukkah or Christmas gifts for your children or
loved ones? That is the unfortunate reality for many of our clients, but you can help through our Bright Holidays program! There are a number of ways you can help fulfill the promise of the holidays for those in need. Choose which category works best for you and note the staff contact information and deadlines below: Adopt-a-Family Program • Sponsor an individual or family by purchasing gifts from client wish lists. You will receive a story about the family and a detailed description of their requested gifts. Sign up by November 15 by contacting Shelley Tait, stait@jewishfamilyservice.org or 720.248.4653. Gifts must be dropped off at JFS no later than December 8. Secret Shopper Program • This is a new component of the Bright Holidays program, which will enable JFS to help more families. If you are interested in an easy way to buy toys for children and/ or gift cards for teens, this is a great option! You will purchase gifts from our Amazon Wish List and have them shipped directly to our office no later than December 11. Check the JFS website, www.jewishfamilyservice.org/donate, for a link to the gift site. Contact Doug Vega, dvega@ jewishfamilyservice.org or 720.248.4671, with any questions about this program. Holiday Helper Program • Purchase toys and drop them off at JFS no later than December 18 for our pantry client families. Parents will choose gifts for their children right before the holidays when they come in to pick up their food packages. This option is great for last-minute shoppers or people who prefer to pick out items in stores. We can accept these donations during our regular business hours: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For questions, please contact Shelly Hines, shines@jewishfamilyservice.org or 720.248.4654. Monetary Donation Program • If you prefer, you can donate cash or gift cards to the program. Each year a volunteer does last-minute shopping to fill in missing gifts or gaps. Gift cards to grocery stores, Target, Walmart, or similar stores are also extremely helpful so our clients can purchase food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and gasoline. Please contribute to this fund by using the enclosed envelope and indicate “Bright Holidays” in the memo line, drop off checks and gift cards to our office at 3201 South Tamarac Drive, Denver, CO 80231, or donate online at www.jewishfamilyservice.org/donate.
Support JFS by Shopping You can help JFS by doing your grocery shopping! Simply purchase a $20 reloadable
King Soopers gift card from us and add money to it at the store when you go shopping. JFS receives a rebate check for five percent of the total amount you load and spend. Learn more at www.jewishfamilyservice.org/donate/king-soopers-gift-cards. You can also support JFS through Amazon Smile. Go to www.smile.amazon.com and choose Jewish Family Service of Colorado as your charity. JFS will receive a 0.5 percent donation on any eligible purchase.
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THANK YOU
for Caring!
The following donations reflect tribute gifts received from August 1 to September 30, 2017. Due to space limitations, we are only able to list tribute gifts received during this time, but all contributions are greatly appreciated. Please accept our apologies for any omissions or errors. IN HONOR OF ANNIVERSARIES Cary and Stacey Chapman Cynthia Chapman Alon and Rikki Mor Martin and Marilyn Warren Jon and Jamie Sarché Cynthia Chapman Ed and Bobbie Towbin Mimi Karsh Marc and Rhoda Silverglade IN HONOR OF THE BIRTH OF A BABY Ellis Lillian Hank and Sherrie Brandon IN HONOR OF BIRTHDAYS Steve Bucholtz Robert and Diane Cohn Vern Engbar Robert and Diane Cohn Judi Haley Marvin Tyor Paul Haley Marvin Tyor Barry Hirschfeld Ted and Marsha Alpert Sheldon Seidel and Judie Davidson-Seidel Florence Melnick Sara Ganton Harold Rosen Sheldon Seidel and Judie Davidson-Seidel Lorraine Rothchild Larry and Judy Zepelin Jack Welner Nina Judd IN HONOR OF ENGAGEMENT David Feiner and Jordan Beckoff The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service
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Thank you for your generosity! Your support makes our life-transforming work possible.
IN HONOR OF A HAPPY NEW YEAR Les and Estelle Levitt Zelda Friednash IN HONOR OF MARRIAGE Michael Lanphier and Molly Brenner Robert Berger Bradley and Carly Schlafer The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service IN HONOR OF RETIREMENT Mark Linkow Libby Marcus IN HONOR OF THE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Tamara Weil Patti Zetlin IN HONOR OF Hal and Risa Aqua Linda Cohen Nat and Peggy Bernstein Mark and Nancy Winski Peter and Cathy Buirski Daniel and Hannelore Schatz Sheldon Fisher Berdine Clumpus Dr. and Mrs. A Fishman Thomas Cain and Suzanne Fishman Carole Kornreich Susan Hofmann Marion Goldstein Nicole Blessinger Steven Goldstein Richard and Rae Negreann Sarah, Ben, and Sam Teri Hanke The Gruenwald Family Jon and Jamie Sarché Jacobs Bar Mitzvah Seth Ward and Carol Kozak Ward Edna Jacobson The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service JEWISHcolorado’s Young Adult Department JEWISHcolorado Dr. Stuart and Gail Kassan Daniel and Hannelore Schatz Jaclyn Kralj Steven and Stephanie Greenstein Alan Kris Martin and Gloria Trotsky Family Foundation
FA M I LY M AT T E R S N O V EM B E R / D E C EM B E R 2017
Steven Kris Martin and Gloria Trotsky Family Foundation Sherwin and Alice Littman Stan and Yvonne Stahl Myron and Dona Oliner Syril Beinhorn Michael Pollak Richard and Michele Right Justin and Sharon Roth Syril Beinhorn Mirella Schreiber Daniel Foss and Carole Kornreich Karli Sherwinter Dan and Julie Cohen Linda Siegel-Richman Berdine Clumpus Vic Sulzer and Wendy Morrison Josh and Meg Blum Carol and Marshall Tobin Daniel and Deena Zeppelin IN MEMORY OF James Armstrong The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Mickey Barter Jeffrey and Sandra Barter Verna Befort Cynthia Chapman Hennie Berdinis Alan and Peggy Mayer Andy Bernstein’s Mother David and Michelle Friedman Sophie Black Sheldon Seidel and Judie Davidson-Seidel Ruth Bograd Marvin Bograd William and Grace Carr Kristi Dinner Allan Kantrowitz Anne McClintock David Miller and Lisa Farber Miller Micky and Louann Miller Lori Nash Arthur Boss Jackie Frazin Paul and Zelda Goldstein Sanford and Rosemary Hertz Sherman and Lois Rich James Breman David and Jennifer Pelcyger Sol Brook Arnold and Karen Stein
Bill and Sandy Buffa’s Sister-in-Law Cynthia Chapman and Al Montano Sheila Bugdanowitz Bugdanowitz Family Fund Celia Cohen Max Silverman Claire Cohen Sara Cohen Phil Cohen Sara Cohen Wolf Cohen Max Silverman Lynn Cooper The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Fred and Maxine Davine Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Sheldon Seidel and Judie Davidson-Seidel Gail Crandus Joe and Tsai Bilett Char Crane Sue Lubeck Larry Crane Lawrence and Carol Levin Sue Lubeck Julia Decker Allan Kantrowitz Eileen Donner Allison Donner Charlotte Dubin Diane Balkin David and Joan Banko Penny Berenbaum Robert Evans Sheldon and Elaine Hayutin Elliott and Gloria Husney Muriel Leff Sherman and Lois Rich Joe and Marlynn Silver Arnold and Karen Stein Tom Ellis The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Harvey and Judith Cohen Judith Dack Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Nina Judd Joe and Carol Secor Bruce and Julie Shaffer Shepard Nevel and Anna Alejo Charles Van Gundy and Debbie Zimmerman Mary Ann Wilner
Daisy Flynn Tracey Kraus Ben Friedman Lawrence and Carol Levin Herbert Gelfarb Mary Ann Wilner Melvin Gelfarb The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Brad and Karen Ellison Rabbi Tirzah Firestone and David Friedman Jonathan Malin Suzan Geller Sheldon Seidel and Judie Davidson-Seidel Mary Goldman Larry and Debra Jacobs Sherman Goldstein Bill and Karen Cole Michael Leff and Hillis Rusinof Shirley Leff Richard and Rae Negreann Selma Gordon Ted and Marsha Alpert Cynthia Chapman Howard and Donna Lutz Van and Joni Mankwitz Roger and Linny Pretekin Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Sheldon Seidel and Judie Davidson-Seidel Howard and Sherrie Zeppelin Joey Greenberg Jackie Frazin Mariam Gruber Larry and Debra Jacobs Ed Hamowy Ed and Judith Rosenthal Diane Klein Henderson Michael and Elizabeth Freedman Violet Hirsh Van and Joni Mankwitz Sheldon Seidel and Judie Davidson-Seidel Jack Hyatt Allan Cohen Herbert Jacobson Henny Kaufmann Harvey Karsh Nancy Alterman Cynthia Chapman Sheldon and Ellen Friedman Debra Herz Lawrence and Joann Litvak Sheldon Seidel and Judie Davidson-Seidel Gail Sigman Arnold and Karen Stein Randy Karsh Ted and Marsha Alpert Nancy Alterman The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service
David and Michelle Friedman Van and Joni Mankwitz Roger and Linny Pretekin Sheldon Seidel and Judie Davidson-Seidel Paula King Richard and Rae Negreann Zoe Tova Kislowitz Allyn Bandell Charlyn Klausner Joe and Tsai Bilett Shirley Leff Sheldon Seidel and Judie Davidson-Seidel Jeanne Krider Richard and Rae Negreann David Levin Steven and Amy Morris Gary Levine Toni Getz David and Beth Lippa Howard and Donna Lutz Dick Levitt Sanford and Rosemary Hertz Edward Levittt Sherry Levitt Selma Lewis Jackie Frazin Arnold and Karen Stein Amy Lipsky Laurent The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Dawn Richard Ernest Lourey Rita Lundgren Jay Lutz Aaron and Ellen Bregman Norman Markman Barry and Randie Winograd Peppy Markman Barry and Randie Winograd Sande Markman Barry and Randie Winograd Mollie Mishkin Robert and Diane Cohn Richard and Rae Negreann Bruce and Sandi Ogin Seth and Rivka Weisberg Ron and Sandy Yanoff, Philip and Virginia, and Keith and Nancy Eloyce Pepper Aaron and Ellen Bregman Paul and Zelda Goldstein Scott Pepper JoAnn Boss Hank and Sherrie Brandon Aaron and Ellen Bregman Kristi Dinner Jackie Frazin Sheldon and Ellen Friedman Paul and Zelda Goldstein Libby Marcus Alan and Peggy Mayer
Ron and Lisa Sherman Marlene Weiner Anne Pulaski Richard and Elaine Asarch The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard James and Deborah Frank Betty Karsh Neal and Kathy Kimmel Arthur and Joanne Kleinstein Micky and Louann Miller Ralph and Hildie Newman Ken and Vicki Pepper Art and Judy Seiden Jorge and Francine Topelson Nessie Rappaport Sheldon and Ellen Friedman Anne Ritter Audrey Friedman Marcus Carolyn Rosen Kippur Hein Marvin and Jackie Cooper Craig and Vicki Eskanos Barton and Marci Rivkin Arnold and Karen Stein Lin Rosen Ruth Struik George Rubinstein Ruth Wolff Joyce Sachter Mark and Susan Barter Kevin and Marleen Konieczny Gary Levine Shirley Saliman Baer Joe and Tsai Bilett Robert and Diane Cohn Ben Sandberg Steven and Linda Goldstein Pearl Shucard Hal and Karen Shucard Sidney Shucard Hal and Karen Shucard Fred Slavsky Paul and Zelda Goldstein Selma Stein Daniel and Kathy Conn Peggy Epstein Don and Janie Friedman Carol Sobel Manny Talkovsky Harvey and Judith Cohen Judith Dack Nina Judd Joe and Carol Secor Bruce and Julie Shaffer Charles Van Gundy and Debbie Zimmerman Mary Ann Wilner Barb Tierney Cynthia Chapman Susan Tyson Cynthia Chapman and Al Montano
Judy Urman Marion Goldstein Michael Weinberg Cynthia Chapman Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Harry Winograd Barry and Randie Winograd Selma Winograd Barry and Randie Winograd Willy Winograd Barry and Randie Winograd Anne Winokur Linda Boelter WITH WISHES FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY Howard Bellowe The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Lisa Herschli Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Marilyn Selinger Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Dee Trasen Don and Linda Neuman Ann Veenstra The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Alyse Ware Sheldon Seidel and Judie Davidson-Seidel David Weinstein Larry and Debra Jacobs Sara Zucker Sheldon Seidel and Judie Davidson-Seidel In Kind Donors Bagel Deli Boulder Jewish Film Festival Boulder Jewish News Boys Team Charity Breadworks Bakery and Cafe Child Rescue Foundation Colorado Real Estate Journal Congregation Bonai Shalom Ekar Farm Front Range Catering The Gift Arrangers L.E.A. Chapter of Hadassah JEWISHcolorado King Soopers Reclamation NJK Photography—Noah J. Katz Samuels Elementary Sensible Sundries Sprouts Farmers Market Temple Sinai Trader Joe’s We Don’t Waste Whole Foods at Tamarac
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NON PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID
Jewish Family Service of Colorado Joyce and Kal Zeff Building 3201 South Tamarac Drive Denver CO 80231-4360 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED tel: 303.597.5000 fax: 303.597.7700 www.jewishfamilyservice.org
Beneficiary Agency of JEWISHcolorado and Mile High United Way
Social services for Jewish victims of the Holocaust have been supported by a grant from The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
DENVER, COLORADO PERMIT NO. 1217