November/December 2011 Family Matters

FamilyMatters Volume 21, No. 5 • November/December 2011 Family Matters is published bimonthly by Jewish Family Service of Colorado, 3201 S. Tamarac Dr., Denver CO 80231

The Ellie is the Place to Be on December 8!

Reel Hope Moves to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House for its 16th Anniversary

R

eel Hope, Jewish Family Service’s annual benefit film screening, returns for its 16th year on Thursday, December 8 at our new venue — the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on 14th and Curtis streets in Denver.

We are delighted to honor Ken and Rebecca Gart as the Jack Shapiro Community Service Award recipients, and Harvey and Sue Allon as the Kal Zeff Business Leader of the Year Award winners. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; the program starts promptly at 6:00 p.m. (Please note the new time!) Early arrival is strongly suggested.

The event efforts are being led by co-chairs Kerry Shelanski and Debra Duke, and event advisor Carla Bartell. Lisa Belkov-Snyder, host of “LIVE with Lisa!” on Mile High Sports AM 1510 and FM 93.7, will serve as this year's emcee.

As you watch the program and the soon-to-be-announced Hollywood movie, you will enjoy a boxed dinner catered by Kevin Taylor all while supporting JFS in its four key areas of mental health counseling, senior support services, disability and employment services, and family safety net services.

Tickets for this event are $180 and sponsorship packages start at $1,500. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.jewishfamilyservice.org or contact Dawn Richard at (720) 248-4605 or drichard@jewishfamilyservice.org.

In This Issue Reel Hope Sponsors 2 Spotlight on Staff 3 Volunteer Spotlight 4 Colorado Gives Day 5

Learn more about the honorees!

Ken and Rebecca Gart, 2011 Jack Shapiro Community Service Award recipients, exemplify the term “community service” and are truly deserving of this award. Their passion, whether for children’s causes or Jewish organizations, shines through in both of their professional and philanthropic lives.

Ken and Rebecca have generously supported JFS for many years. They were among the first donors to make a multi-year commitment to the agency. The Garts have taught their three children, Sydney, 11; Jeremy, 9; and Max, 4, the value of giving back and spend time volunteering as a family at JFS and many other organizations. “We’ve been able to find special organizations to help us engage our kids in the gratification of philanthropy,” says Ken. “Our family is deeply committed to helping those in need and JFS is instrumental in supporting those in our community who need assistance the most. By helping JFS with its compassionate mission, we are helping to restore well-being in the community at-large based on our own Jewish values. We are honored to receive this meaningful award as we strive to give back to our community,” Rebecca says.

Continued on page 2

Thank You for Caring! 6 JFS Legacy Society 8 Volunteer Corner 9 Year-End Gifts 10 How to Conquer Shame 11 JFS Staff Anniversaries 11

2

F A M I L Y M A T T E R S N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 011

The Ellie is the Place to Be on December 8! Continued from page 1 Harvey and Sue Allon, 2011 Kal Zeff Business Leader of the Year recipients, are each nationally recognized leaders and visionaries in their respective professional fields, who together strive to improve the community and world in which they live through their civic leadership and philanthropy. While each was building successful careers in different sectors of the mortgage industry, they jointly realized that they feel responsible to give back with their time, donations, and helping organizations they support raise funds.

Since 2006, their Oak Tree Foundation (Allon is Hebrew for Oak Tree) has sustained excellence and empowered positive change primarily in the areas of education and Jewish life, establishing long-term strategic partnerships that create lasting change.

They are proud of their 13-year-old daughter, Natalie, and Harvey’s grown children, Aaron and Rachel. Harvey and Sue say, “By providing critical support in the community, JFS embodies the Jewish values that we believe improve lives, thus making the world a better place for us and for our children.” G Thank you to our Reel Hope sponsors to date (as of October 11, 2011):

Harvey and Sue Allon

Producers Ken and Rebecca Gart Steve and Elizabeth Kris Joyce Zeff Production Managers

Will and Sheri Gold

Phil and Elle Winn Directors

Berenbaum Weinshienk

PC

Ken and Rebecca Gart

Eric and Ellen Pollock Gary and Teresa Yourtz

Casting Directors Community Banks of Colorado Dependable Cleaners Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Green Manning & Bunch, Ltd. National Jewish Health Meyer and Geri Saltzman Associate Producers Brian and Elise Barish Dan and Carla Bartell Brent Cohen and Dana Klapper Cohen Feldman Mortuary, Inc. Hyde Park David and Judith Koff David and Laura Merage Foundation Rocky and Suzi Miller Miller Global Properties, LLC Robert and Robyn Naiman Michael Opatowski and Ruth Malman Jordon and Essie Perlmutter Richard and Michele Right Robinson Management Company Chet and Louise Schwartz Marty and Shira Zimmerman Cinematographers Evan and Meghan Zucker Gaffers Mark Smith

F A M I L Y M A T T E R S N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 011

Spotlight on Staff

M

3

Michele Weber

ichele Weber has always loved working with people, but it took her 15 years to realize she could make a career out of it.

That’s how long Michele, who earned a bachelor of fine arts degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design, spent as an art director for corporate advertising departments in Atlanta. Gradually, the drafting table came to feel like a lonely place.

“I wanted to help people connect,” she recalls. “I really wanted to counsel people, and that opportunity wasn’t there in advertising. I looked at my values and my purpose and did a search and said, ‘I need to do something else.’” She took some night classes in various social services and on the way discovered gerontology. “I couldn’t get enough of it,” she says.

While there are other senior care agencies in Denver, none require Michele’s special blend of skills more than JFS. Her title in the Senior Solutions department is care manager, which, at JFS, puts her behind a desk for only about 30% of a typical workweek. The rest of the time she gets to be exactly where she wants to be — working with clients.

“Right now I have 65 or 70 clients, at all different stages of need,” she says. “Some I see every week or every other week, some every six months because they’re doing fine on their own; they just need someone to check in on them every now and then.”

This was Michele’s first paid job in her second career, right out of the University of Denver’s social work master’s program. “I like that there’s an infinite variety of people, issues, and situations that I work with,” she says. “If somebody has a disability, whether physical or cognitive, I might drive them to an appointment, advocate for them, or explore ways that they can remain independent at home. Many of our senior clients need help transitioning from home to assisted living, or home to an apartment. I help them get through that transition. It’s sort of like being a guide or navigator. We’ll do as much as the client needs, but we’ll encourage the clients to do things for themselves, too.”

Michele’s duties are expanding even more because she recently became a licensed clinical social worker, meaning she can now provide clinical counseling as well as care management.

As much as she values her field work, don’t get the impression that Michele dislikes her office time.

Intake, which can be a low-level function at some agencies, is handled on a rotating basis by Senior Solutions’ professional staff.

That means speedier referrals and opportunities to address questions before they escalate into crises.

“When potential clients call JFS, they’re talking to someone with 10 to 20 years of experience, so the quality of the advice and guidance that people get is Michele Weber excellent. And, we all work together to help each other help each client,” says Michele.

At home with her husband, who she met in Savannah and who still works as a designer, Michele loves gardening, cooking, hiking, yoga, and visual arts projects. They have a cat and two rescue dogs, one of whom only responded when they called the cat, so they named her Kitty.

One of the most satisfying parts “I like that there’s an of Michele’s work is guiding new infinite variety of people, clients through their initial anxiety issues, and situations that and helping them realize they may I work with.” need less assistance than they —Michele Weber imagined.

“Sometimes clients don’t realize what we can do for them until we’re there,” she explains. Not infrequently, for example, people call saying they need assisted living, but that may be a conclusion they leapt to without knowing there were alternatives. It may turn out that with a few meals per week and household help, they can stay in their home.” G

Thank you to Eric Hübler for writing the Staff and Volunteer Spotlight articles in this newsletter! We appreciate his generosity and creativity.

4

F A M I L Y M A T T E R S N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 011

Volunteer Spotlight

A

Debra Reinhard and Evan Silverman

social-services agency may seem like an odd place to come for a little peace and quiet. But for Debra Reinhard, volunteering in the back office provides a treasured respite from the “always on” demeanor she maintains in her real estate career. “I feel like something is missing when I don’t get there,” she said recently. “It’s my solitude time — a spiritual time for me. Even though it’s not a synagogue, it’s in some ways more my connection.”

Debra learned about Jewish Family Service a year and a half ago, during a service-learning workshop led by Nancy Benyamin, director of volunteer services, at her youngest daughter’s religious school. “We filled up soup baggies, parents and children together, and it felt like someplace where I wanted to be. So I went and spoke with her and we talked about the some of the different volunteer opportunities at JFS. None of them quite fit what I was able to give or what I really wanted to do. So she said, come on in.”

Debra Reinhard At the time, Debra was unable to identify what was making her feel anxious about the volunteer jobs that Nancy proposed. It came to her when she visited the office, though.

“I wanted to give back “They have a lot of amazing, by helping the people in wonderful programs, and a lot of it had to do with dealing directly with the office, and sort of stay behind the scenes.” people or making phone calls. I wanted to give back by helping the —Debra Reinhard people in the office, and sort of stay behind the scenes.”

As she stuffs envelopes and brochures or files paperwork, Debra says she sometimes questions whether she’s really being useful, but the staff reassures her that her help is truly valued. “Everybody seems very positive and genuinely wants to be there.

They’re in a profession where there’s just so much

need, and you can be negative — ‘Are we really making a difference?’ — and yet they just seem to reach out to do more and more and more. They are a great, great staff.’”

Aside from real estate, Debra’s other chief activity these days also requires a big commitment: traveling with her daughter to competitive soccer tournaments.

She has an older daughter who is in college, and a son who is in high school; all three are pursuing volunteer activities that suit their personalities. As for relaxation, Debra concedes that seven years into her transition to divorced parenthood, “I’m still trying to figure out what’s fun.”

One thing at a time, perhaps. Home sales are increasing, and the volunteering, as quiet as Debra keeps it, clearly is a win-win.

“My only wish is that I could get in there more consistently,” she said. “They always seem very grateful when I’m there. It makes me feel good, and it makes me want to go more.”

A

sk any career coach: volunteering can be a way to give something that you can’t give, or get something that you can’t get, at work.

For Evan Silverman, on the other hand, volunteering at Jewish Family Service is a way to replicate the very same things he likes about his paid job, at the Tattered Cover Book Store.

“I majored in sociology in college so I like to think about people and groups,” he said. “From my perspective, JFS and the Tattered Cover have some similarities, one of which is that the quality of the staff is extremely high, and also that people are valued for their uniqueness. Being an active member of a healthy community is a way to cultivate love.”

Uniqueness and acceptance are big themes with Evan, who lives with schizophrenia. One of his proudest accomplishments is having a first-person account of his experiences published by the magazine Schizophrenia Digest a few years back. “I was in Vegas visiting my grandma, and I got a call from the magazine saying they wanted to take my picture and run my story. For the first time in many years, I went to a non-Great Clips location to get my hair cut.”

As if being a writer and a bookseller weren’t enough, volunteering at JFS gave Evan the opportunity to expand his creative portfolio into Continued on page 5

F A M I L Y M A T T E R S N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 011

Volunteer Spotlight Continued fromn page 4 acting. When JFS was putting together some printed materials, they asked Evan to participate in a photo shoot. He went to a client’s house, handed her a bag of groceries, and made chitchat (“‘Remember Uncle Charlie made us lamb chops last night? That was good,’ that sort of thing”) for the sake of authenticity.

“Currently my master plan at JFS is to volunteer every couple of months in the marketing department and to help with any other opportunities that open up over the course of the year,” Evan said. Past volunteer gigs for the agency have included “Being an active canning food and serving as a cultural tutor to an member of a healthy African immigrant. community is a way JFS’s new theme, “Chain Reaction of Good,” to cultivate love.” is something Evan has long believed in: “I —Evan Silverman certainly believe everything is connected, for sure, and that what we do has an impact on other people.” That may be part of the reason he sees more similarities than differences between his day job and his volunteering. G

Follow JFS on: www.facebook.com/jfscolorado

Evan Silverman

www.twitter.com/JFS_Colo

24 Hours to Give Where You Live

S

upport Jewish Family Service on the second annual Colorado Gives Day! On December 6, Colorado citizens will come together again to raise millions of dollars for nonprofits like ours. Last year, the goal to raise $1 million for Colorado charities was exceeded — $8.7 million was raised and distributed instead!

Presented once again by Community First Foundation and FirstBank, Colorado Gives Day asks you to give to your favorite charities through the website GivingFirst.org, an online giving resource featuring all of the nonprofits participating in Colorado Gives Day. • 100% of your donation will come to us when you give through GivingFirst.org.

• When you give online anytime on December 6, the value of your donation will be increased by the FirstBank Incentive Fund.

• Help us win cash prizes! We have a chance to win $1,000 Bonus Bucks and $5,000 High Five cash prizes when you remember us on Colorado Gives Day. Donate online at GivingFirst.org/jfscolorado anytime during the 24-hour period of December 6 to Give Where You Live! G

5

6

F A M I L Y M A T T E R S N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 011

Thank You for Caring!

The following donations reflect tribute gifts received during the period from August 1, 2011, to September 30, 2011. Due to space limitations, we are only able to list tribute gifts received during this time, but all contributions are greatly appreciated.

T

hank you for your generosity! Your support makes all our good works possible. Please accept our apologies for any omissions or errors.

Lucas Feierstein Terri Tilliss Stacy Pocrass Dylan Marks Howard and Donna Lutz Weston Trasen Howard and Donna Lutz IN HONOR OF BIRTHDAYS

WITH GRATITUDE FOR JFS Staff Jeffrey and Roni Cruz IN HONOR OF ANNIVERSARIES Ron and Michelle Catalan Terri Tilliss Herb and Arlene Galchinsky Marvin and Renee Brilliant Harold and Marilyn Lande Arthur and Ruth Chapman Lawrence and Roberta Sanders Marvin and Shirley Leff Jerry and Diane Speer Sidney and Susan Greenwald Loren and Andrea Weinstein’s 50th wedding anniversary David and Gayle Ann Weinstein IN HONOR OF BAR MITZVAHS Ari Asarch Michael Asarch Tyler Fried James Adelstein Ira Weiss Howard and Donna Lutz IN HONOR OF BAT MITZVAHS Zoe Miller The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Yana Vishnitsky and Jim Wolfe IN HONOR OF BIRTHS Samuel Bird Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard

Edward Cohen’s birthday Ron and Andi Linkow Herb Cohen The Negreann Family Ruth Epstein Beryl Brasch Sheryl Goodman Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Lindsey Gutterman JFS Staff Paul Haley Marvin Tyor Harvey Karsh Gary and Janet Friedland Jeff King Vickianne King Frankie Loeb Benjamin Newman & Marcee Gordon Newman Ronald Marks Howard and Donna Lutz Caz Matthews Joseph and Helen Drexler Micky Miller Kristi Dinner Wendy Dinner Wyatt Rosenthal Edward and Judith Rosenthal Jeanne Saunders Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Charlie Schneider Gareth Heyman and Betsy Mordecai Heyman Raphe and Nancy Schwartz Jonathan and Emily Ganan Yana Vishnitsky Rex and Nina McGehee Hershial Weinstein Harvey and Judith Cohen

IN HONOR OF MARRIAGE Andy and Andrea Albershardt Shirley Gilman Benjamin Berman Bennie and Joan Bub Steven Harmon and Terese Rose Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum The Board and Staff of Jewish Family Service Eyal Sella and Sarah Klahn’s wedding David and Kimberly Taussig Douglas Clements and Janet White Chris Hudson Rordan and Amanda Shane Mark and Susie Barter IN HONOR OF Renee Cohen Caryn Aviv La Vaughn De Petro Thomas De Petro Steven Kris’ commitment to JFS Jim and Kit Leventhal Helen Ruth Mozer Cynthia Chapman Anneke Rachinski joining the staff at JFS Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Micah Rosenbaum Rabbi Frederick Greenspahn and Barbara Pearl Stanton Rosenbaum Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Mia Schneider Gareth Heyman and Betsy Mordecai Heyman Ruth Toltz Samuel and Cherie Kirschbaum Jari Thymian Jon and Sheryl Goodman Douglas Friednash’s appointment as Denver City Attorney Les and Estelle Levitt

Debra Weinstein’s Golda Meir Award The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Ann Riley’s retirement Roz Begun Esther Lustig Miriam Sherman WITH WISHES FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY Gary Agron Pam Naiman Ms. Cynthia Chapman Pam Naiman Marvin Cooper Ralph and Berta Goodman Helen Fogel Pam Naiman Cookie Gold Pam Naiman Ms. Alice Goldberg Jerry and Peggy Goldberg Paul Jacobs Justin and Sharon Roth Hud Karshmer Jack and Celeste Grynberg Harold Lande The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Milford Pepper Ely Birnbaum and Shirley Londer Debra and Leonard Herz Alan and Gloria Kris Libby Marcus Morey Plattner Ely Birnbaum and Shirley Londer Lisa Robinson Rob Kaufmann and Jen Gilbert-Kaufmann Rubie Rubenstein Harold and Marilyn Lande Irvin Rubin Leon and Kathryn Rubin Jim Wolfe Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard

F A M I L Y M A T T E R S N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 011

IN MEMORY OF Shelley Altman Jerry Altman Harold Bloomenthal Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Shirley Brody Ruthie Cohen Mary Cytrynbaum Lenora Silverman William Bromberg Herbert Dixon Anne Clay Cynthia Chapman Ralph Dennis Ron and Andi Linkow Eleanor Freedman Ken and Linda Heller Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Ronald Colson and Karen Paul Sheldon and Ellen Friedman Joyce Freeman The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Yana Vishnitsky and Jim Wolfe Peggy Hermann Feldman Mortuary, Inc. Eileen Eller The Quiat Family Charles Friedman Abraham and Selma Friedman Helen Friedman Abraham and Selma Friedman Ida Friedman Abraham and Selma Friedman Stuart Gins Beth Samuelson

Butch Ginsberg Ken and Linda Heller Alvin Greenberg Stuart and Marilyn Spinner George Hausman Sidney and Susan Greenwald Charles Kaplan Marvin Tyor Maxine Katzson Rob Kaufmann and Jen Gilbert-Kaufmann Cindy Levitt The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Bobbie Carr Carol Stanwood Donald Norgren Isaac Milzer The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Carol Sobel Mike Montano Pam Naiman Jon and Jamie Sarche Louis Morrone Jerry and Peggy Goldberg Mel Moss David and Connie Suson Dail Neugarten Marck Pogrebin Michael Nowak Larry and Margaret Ballonoff Oscar and Selma Sladek Miriam Ohr Ruth Ann Quick Ron Pretekin Nicki Hirsh Anne Ritter Audrey Friedman Marcus

Maury Rosenthal Karen Stein Lorraine Sekerak Michael Sekerak Steven Sekerak Michael Sekerak Fred Seymore Cynthia Chapman Jack Shaffer Ken and Linda Heller Sharon Lasky Ronald Colson and Karen Paul Morris Shander Dr. and Mrs. David Shander Isadore Shore The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Susan Rifkin Pam Naiman Elliott and Gloria Husney Rick and Sheila Bugdanowitz Elinor Simon David and Gayle Ann Weinstein Adele Sollender Donald and Henny Kaufmann Minnie Tyor Marvin Tyor Erwin Wainer David and Ami Opat Cydney Wax Marvin and Shirley Leff Gloria Yashiro Ed Wiener and Celia Menaker Weiner Gerald Zuckerman Ken and Linda Heller Lilly Zuckerman Les and Estelle Levitt Gil and Jane Hermann

Help JFS by Grocery Shopping!

H

elp raise funds for JFS when you buy your groceries by purchasing a reloadable King Soopers gift card from us for $20. Take your gift card to your King Soopers store and load more money on it before you start shopping, then simply swipe your gift card like you would a credit card to pay for your groceries.

Every time JFS supporters reach $5,000 or more in reloads (as a group, not just you individually), we will receive a rebate check for 5% of the total amount. That's $250 for every $5,000!

Learn more and purchase one online by visiting: www.jewishfamilyservice.org/donate/king-soopers-gift-cards. G

IN-KIND DONATIONS Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado Azteca Ranch Market Birthright Israel NEXT Colorado Boulder Jewish Community Center Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck ColoradoBiz Media Congregation Hebrew Educational Alliance Congregation Rodef Shalom The Donut Maker Einstein Bagels Ekar Farm FoodWorks Humana MarketPOINT Colorado Jewish Community Center King Soopers – Monaco King Soopers Reclamation Pasata More Gourmet Food Pizza Hut at Leetsdale Rose Women’s Organization – Donor Advised Fund Safeway South Denver Fencing Academy Sunflower Market Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Whole Foods at Tamarac Whole Foods at Cherry Creek Wide Open West Internet Cable

7

8

F A M I L Y M A T T E R S N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 011

JFS Legacy Society (Members through September 13, 2011) Thank you to the following JFS Legacy Society members. You are the JFS supporters who had the vision to include us as a beneficiary of your estate plans.

Anonymous Sanford Alpert Barbara Altenberg McDonald Judy Altenberg and Bruce Plotkin Elaine and Max Appel Rabbi Eliot and Dr. Hilary Baskin Estate of Michael Baum Robert and Samantha Baumgarten Bruce and Jennifer Bendell Steve and Sandy Berkowitz Estate of Jack Bernstone Mel Brody William Bromberg Jerry and Bobbie Carr James and Alissa Cohen The Winters Creasey Family Ken and Sheryl Feiler Estate of Terry Fisher Rabbi Steven and Joyce Foster Estate of Max Frankel Brad and Laurie Friedman Benjamin & Lillian Ginsburg Charitable Trust Estate of Lewis J. Goldsmith

Richard C. Goldstein Estate Sidney and Ann Grazi Philanthropic Fund Chuck and Anne Gross Estate of Louise F. Guggenheim Jerry and Zelda Gutman Jeffrey and Sharon Haber Estate of Betty Ann J. Halperin Ken and Linda Heller Peggy Hermann Irwin and Jacquie Hoffman Ron and Gale Kahn Sterling and Ruth Kahn Trust Estate of Lottie R. Klebe Lisa Koenigsberg Estate of Elizabeth S. Krash Steven and Elizabeth Kris Buzz and Shelley Krovitz Estate of Alan Laff Harold and Marilyn Lande Estate of Mary Latanik Howard and Blanca Lerman Estate of Guscile and Rona Levin J. Leonard & Myra B. Levy Family Fund

Estate of Edith Lewitt Leonard and Sylvia Litvak Bob and Robyn Loup Sandey Luciano Irene Mayer Estate of Walter Mielziner Estate of Ruth Milzer Perry and Susie Moss Stephen and Lois Nadler Gail Nussbaum Gail Pennington Shirley Politzer Eric and Ellen Pollock Dean Prina, M.D. Andy and Renee Raabe Estate of Irene Rantz Dawn Richard John and Lore Roth Estate of Minnie Rothchild Estate of Corinne Rottman Dr. & Mrs. Richard and Jo Sanders Chet and Louise Schwartz Estate of Edith Schwartz Meyer Jean B. Seeman Charitable Trust

Dan and Marian Seff Estate of Pearl Shames Amy Shapiro Helen Shapiro Estate of Ruth Shapiro Donald and Debbie Silversmith Barry and Regina Silvestain Estate of Adele Sollender Sally Steele Metzger Estate of Lillian Stein Estate of Samuel H. Sterling Estate of Susie Strait Lynn and Lisa Taussig Jorge and Francine Topelson Estate of Walter Vasen Dan and Ann Veenstra Yana Vishnitsky and Jim Wolfe Estate of Alan Irwin Wandel Lary and Lori Weintraub Estate of Sandor Weisz Phil and Elle Winn Debbie Zimmerman and Charles Van Gundy

Thank You for High Holy Day Food Donations!

Help Needed for Thanksgiving

A

heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who donated food to the Weinberg Food Pantry during the High Holy Days. Your generosity is greatly appreciated by those in need! We need your help again this month to help provide a Thanksgiving meal for our Food Pantry clients who might otherwise not be able to celebrate the holiday.

Please contribute any of the items on the following list or provide a complete holiday meal for one family: frozen turkeys, cranberry sauce, stuffing, instant mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, canned vegetables, gravy mixes, canned pumpkin pie mix, and aluminum foil roasting pans. Grocery certificates for clients with special dietary needs are also greatly appreciated.

Because we can stretch your dollar by purchasing items directly from Food Bank of the Rockies at a reduced cost, we prefer cash donations. The approximate cost of a complete Thanksgiving meal is $36. Please make a contribution for any amount you can by using the enclosed envelope and indicate “Holiday Food” in the memo line or bring food donations to Jewish Family Service, 3201 South Tamarac Drive, Denver, CO 80231, by Wednesday, November 16.

Thank you in advance for your support to brighten another family’s Thanksgiving! G

F A M I L Y M A T T E R S N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 011

Volunteer Corner Give the Gift of Time this Holiday Season

D

uring the holiday season, when you and your family are taking time off to celebrate, please consider giving one of the most valuable gifts possible — your time. JFS has a large variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Whether you prefer to work directly with clients as a Friendly Visitor or Weinberg Food Pantry volunteer, assist in the office, or have a special skill that can support JFS, there is something for everyone, no matter what your interests are!

If an at-home project better suits your schedule and family’s needs, we have several low-impact, highyield volunteer projects you can tackle from the comfort of your home, which we’ve described for you below. Please contact Nancy Benyamin, director of volunteer services at (720) 248-4642 or nbenyamin@jewishfamilyservice.org to discuss details before getting started.

Bagging Rice Rice is such a versatile and well-liked food that it is always in demand at the Pantry.

• Purchase 25-50 pounds of rice (at a place like Costco) and quart-sized sandwich bags • Measure 2 cups of dried rice into each sandwich bag and seal

• Clean Up Note: this project is best done over a large, clean bin or table, so that rice which spills can be easily cleaned up and re-used.

Bundling Diapers Diapers are an essential item that cannot be purchased with food stamps. At the Pantry, diapers are always in demand and are distributed in bundles of six.

• Purchase diapers and rubber bands • Group diapers in bundles of six and secure with rubber band • Label all bundles with a sticky note indicating the size Purchasing Toiletry Items Did you know that you cannot purchase toiletries with food stamps? Purchasing full-sized toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, tampons, and other necessities is a simple, but truly impactful way you can help families in need. Simply add these items to your shopping list and drop them off at the JFS Weinberg Food Pantry. G For more information about volunteer opportunities, please contact Nancy Benyamin at (720) 248-4642, or nbenyamin@jewishfamilyservice.org.

Paula Breese, JFS volunteer Para-chaplain, blows the shofar as part of a High Holy Day service that she led for senior residents at the Village at Lowry in September.

9

10

F A M I L Y M A T T E R S N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 011

JFS Offers Creative Ways to Make Year-End Gifts

W

ith the holiday season and end of the calendar year upon us, we ask you to consider supporting JFS. In addition to making a financial contribution using the enclosed remittance envelope or donating online at www.jewishfamilyservice.org/donate, there are many other ways you can greatly help the agency while receiving potential tax benefits for 2011.

Peruse the list below and make your contribution by December 31!

Furniture Donations Do you have furniture in good condition that needs a new home? Give your furniture a second chance by donating it and supporting JFS in the process! Please call ARC at (303) 2385263 to arrange for pick-up. A note with the letters "JFS" should be taped to each item. All donations are tax deductible and tax receipts are available.

Clothing and Household Item Donations JFS Healing Minds collects clothing and household items donations and proceeds benefit the JFS Counseling Center. To schedule a pickup and to view a list of acceptable items, please visit www.healingmindspickup.org.

Vehicle Donations Make a difference in the life of a JFS client on their journey to self-sufficiency and empowerment by donating your car, SUV, truck, van, motorcycle, boat, or RV. Visit www.carsforcharity.net and choose “Jewish Family Service of Colorado” as your designated non-profit. For more information about the program, visit http://jewishfamilyservice.org/donate/vehicle-donation.

Enterprise Zone Tax Credits Taxpayers who make a contribution to eligible enterprise zone development projects in predetermined zones may be able to claim tax credits. To qualify for the credit, the contribution must be for purposes that are directly related to job creation, job preservation, assistance programs for the homeless, or community development.

SHALOM Denver, a program of Jewish Family Service that provides job training to people with barriers to employment is an eligible enterprise zone project. The amount of the credit is 25 percent of the value of the contribution, up to $100,000 (12.5% for in-kind contributions). For more information on the credit for these contributions, visit www.colorado.gov and search for “Enterprise Zone” or consult your tax advisor.

Food, Toiletry, and Diaper Donations It is an unfortunate reality that the Weinberg Food Pantry is always in need of nonperishable food, toiletries, and diapers. The need is especially great during the winter holiday season. In addition to donating food, please consider organizing a food drive with your synagogue, church, school, or local community group to maximize the impact. For more information on how to organize a drive, contact Nancy Benyamin, JFS director of volunteer resources, at (720) 248-4642. G For more information and other ways you can support JFS, contact Dawn Richard, development director at (720) 248-4605 or drichard@jewishfamilyservice.org.

Save the Date for the JFS Executive Luncheon!

Tuesday, May 8, 11:30 a.m.

Stay tuned for an exciting announcement about this year's speaker!

F A M I L Y M A T T E R S N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 011

Bringing Shame Out of the Closet How to Conquer Shame and Increase Your Capacity for Intimacy

W

e all feel shame, a feeling of being flawed or deficient, at some A 90-minute interactive point in our lives. Shame-based behavior is more common — presentation by Anne K. Gross, and destructive — than you may realize. If you’ve never been able to Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist pin down such feelings before, there’s a reason: shame, by its very nature, is tied to secrecy. In this engaging, personal, and eye-opening presentation, Dr. Gross explores how shame leads to destructive family secrets and shuts down intimacy.

By sharing her own inspirational story of overcoming the shame associated with growing up with a paraplegic mother at a time when those with a disability were truly seen as outcasts, Dr. Gross provides tips for conquering this toxic emotion and reaping the rewards of increased intimacy. Dr. Gross’s awardwinning book, The Polio Journals: Lessons from My Mother, which explores the harm secrets and shame can inflict on a family, will be on sale at a discounted price.

Join us for this complimentary program of the JFS Counseling Center on Tuesday, November 8, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at JFS, 3201 South Tamarac Drive. Light snacks will be served. To RSVP, or if you have any questions, please contact Anne Gross at anne@annegross.com by Friday, November 4. G

Gifts Needed for Bright Holidays Program

T

his holiday season, please consider purchasing gifts for people who cannot buy them for their own families. Through our Bright Holidays program, donors like you can give Christmas or Hanukkah gifts to individuals and families in need. The care managers at JFS refer clients with specific wish lists. Donors provide the gifts and drop them off at the JFS office, and then our staff delivers the gifts to their clients.

If you can help by purchasing gifts for families in need, please contact Shelley Kolman at (303) 597-5000, ext. 4653 or skolman@jewishfamilyservice.org. All gifts must be purchased and dropped off at JFS by December 15. G

Happy Anniversary to JFS Staff Members!

The following staff members are celebrating their anniversaries with the agency in the months of November and December.

November: Inna Oganeysan, 20 years; Leonid Baksht, 14 years; Janet Chamberlain, 11 years; Allison Miller, 6 years; Ralitsa Ranova, 5 years; Kathryn Andres, 4 years; Dawn Konforty, 3 years; Mike Lobato, 3 years; Megan Glover, 2 years; Vicki Tomlin, 1 year; Ingrid Swords, 1 year.

December: Yvonne Sylvan, 25 years; Linda Neuman, 19 years; Jennie Creasey, 12 years; Kelly Perry, 9 years; Jovette Lucero, 8 years; Stevetta Rose, 8 years; Gail Pennington, 7 years; Julia Benjamin, 5 years; Eugena Simon, 2 years; Janet Cain, 2 years; Mariam Karapetyan, 2 years; Heather Salsgiver, 2 years; DeeAnna Bender, 1 year; Semhel Kahassai, 1 year; Bonnie Keegan, 1 year; Meredith Rose, 1 year.

11

NON PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID DENVER, COLORADO PERMIT NO. 1217

Joyce and Kal Zeff Building 3201 South Tamarac Drive Denver CO 80231-4394 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

tel: 303-597-5000 fax: 303-597-7700 www.jewishfamilyservice.org Beneficiary Agency of Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado and Mile High United Way