September/October 2015 Family Matters

FamilyMatters Volume 25, No. 5 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

JFS at the JCC: Keeping Seniors Active and Engaged Client Spotlight page 6

REAL HOPE 2015 Meet the Honorees

page 4

A MAGICAL MATCH Volunteer Spotlight

page 8

SHALOM DENVER at 60 Program Spotlight page 12

A PUBLICATION OF

From the CEO JFS: A Safety Net for Seniors The elderly among us deserve

to be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion. They have worked hard throughout their lives to raise us, care for us, and protect us. They have lived rich lives and contributed so much to our world. They continue to give back and have much to offer. We owe it to them to make their life as comfortable, safe, and enjoyable as possible. At JFS, caring for seniors is central to our mission.

In this issue, you’ll read about the JFS at the JCC program that offers a haven for Jewish seniors to socialize, Yana Vishnitsky laugh, learn, and share a daily meal.

This is just one of many JFS programs that look after vulnerable seniors in our community.

• JFS is delivering kosher meals to isolated seniors every weekday. Last year, JFS volunteers delivered more than 10,000 meals to seniors across the Denver metro area.

• Many seniors need just a little help in order for them to stay in their homes, where they want to be. Last year, JFS homemakers made more than 6,000 homemaker visits to 300 seniors. They vacuumed, changed sheets, and did laundry.

• JFS at Home, our fee-based nonmedical homecare service, served another 85 seniors with 37,273 hours of homecare services.

• There are older adults in our community

who do not have family nearby. Last year, 28 Friendly Visitor volunteers donated 2,184 hours of their time to ensure that isolated seniors are cared for and not alone.

• Seniors deal with loss every day and sometimes they need help. They struggle with growing old and grieve when they lose their spouse and friends. Our geriatric counselors made 427 counseling visits last year, giving troubled seniors someone to talk to and lift their spirits.

• Simply navigating the many services available to our senior population can be overwhelming. JFS care managers help older adults and their families access services, acquire benefits, and locate housing. Last year, JFS helped nearly 500 seniors in Denver and Boulder by making 1,526 care management visits.

JFS is making a big difference in the lives of thousands of seniors in our community and we have committed to expand our reach in the coming years to meet a growing need. If we are lucky, each of us will eventually grow old. When my time comes, I know that I want to be cared for with dignity, respect, and compassion. Don’t you?

B’shalom,

Yana Vishnitsky, LCSW President & CEO

Jewish Family Service of Colorado (JFS) believes in strengthening the community by providing vital services to people in need. Every day, JFS helps people overcome life’s challenges to live fuller, more meaningful lives. Founded in 1872, JFS is a nonsectarian, nonprofit human services agency serving metro Denver and Boulder. JFS helps seniors live independently in their homes, provides quality mental health counseling, offers training and job placement to those with developmental disabilities and other barriers to employment, and provides food and financial aid to people in crisis. Every year, the agency benefits more than 25,000 people of all ages, faiths, incomes, and abilities.

For more information, call 303.597.5000 or visit www.jewishfamilyservice.org.

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Eliza Lanman Joins Jewish Family Service as Director of Jay and Rose Phillips Senior Solutions Center We are pleased to announce

that Eliza Lanman, MSS, joined Jewish Family Service in July as director of the Jay and Rose Phillips Senior Solutions Center. She is responsible for providing leadership, vision, strategic direction, and program development to all programs serving seniors, including care management, homecare and homemaker services, meal delivery, visiting companions, and social activities in Denver and Boulder.

Before joining JFS, Eliza served as the executive director for HealthSET, one of JFS’s partners in its Colorado Senior Connections NORC (naturally occurring retirement community) program in Wheat Ridge, and as the director of Centura Health LINKS. Prior to those positions, she was the senior program director for the American Lung Association for six years. Eliza advocates for the aging population in her role as a commissioner for the Denver Commission on Aging and was recently appointed to Governor Hickenlooper’s State Strategic Planning Group on Aging. Eliza received a Master of Social Sciences from the University of Colorado at Denver and was selected to complete the yearlong Centura Health Executive Leadership Program.

“It is truly gratifying to have the opportunity to lead such a remarkable team of committed and compassionate people as JFS continues to positively impact the aging population,” Eliza says. “I am focused on sustaining current programming, creating innovative strategies, and strengthening collaborative Eliza Lanman relationships with community partners to serve the growing senior population.”

“Eliza brings tremendous experience and vision to this position and is passionate about working with and advocating for the elderly in our community,” says Yana Vishnitsky, JFS president & CEO. “Seniors represent a rapidly growing segment of our population and are a growing focus for JFS. Eliza’s knowledge and leadership will help JFS meet the needs of vulnerable seniors today and into the future.”

Holiday Office Closures Please note the following office closures in September and October: September 7 Labor Day September 14 and 15 Rosh Hashanah September 22 2:00 p.m. for Erev Yom Kippur September 23 and 24 Yom Kippur September 28 and 29, and October 5 and 6 Sukkot

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Join Us for ReAl Hope December 10!

Please save the date and join us

for Real Hope, our longest-running fundraiser, on Thursday, December 10, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

Now in its 20th year, this fundraiser benefits the life-transforming work of Jewish Family Service. This gala event is a fabulous party complete with heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, live entertainment, a red-carpet photo booth, and a chance to socialize with hundreds of JFS supporters.

Let’s come together to celebrate and honor two special individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, philanthropy, and dedication to JFS and our community for many years: Adam Agron, Kal Zeff Business Leader of the Year, and Andrea Stillman, Jack Shapiro Community Service Award recipient.

The event is being led by cochairs Katie Agron, Scott Stillman, and Dr. Steven and Debra Weinstein. Sponsorship packages start at $2,000 and are available now. Tickets will be available November 5 at www.jewishfamilyservice.org/ RealHope. Contact Lisa Benoit at 720.248.4633 or lbenoit@jewishfamilyservice.org for more details.

Meet the Honorees!

Adam J. Agron Kal Zeff Business Leader of the Year Adam is comanaging partner of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and was formerly cochair of the firm’s Corporate & Business Group.

He is also a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.

As a partner in the firm’s Corporate & Business Group, Adam represents private and public companies, private equity firms, and entrepreneurs in a variety of transactions.

In addition, he provides strategic counsel to 4

FAMILY MATTERS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

Adam Agron, Kal Zeff Business Leader of the Year

corporations and their boards of directors on corporate governance, operational execution, fiduciary duties, and other corporate matters.

In addition to his work at Brownstein, Adam regularly teaches law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and is involved with political campaigns and philanthropic endeavors across the United States.

Adam has been recognized as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA (2010–2015) and Thomson Reuters’ Colorado Super Lawyers (2009–2015) in the areas of corporate law and mergers and acquisitions law.

He holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Denver College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Adam serves as board member and counsel for the Denver International Sports and Olympic Bid Committee and council member for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). He currently serves on the Jewish Family Service Board of Directors.

“Thank you for this incredible recognition,” Adam says. “I am honored to be part of an organization that, with compassion and dignity, provides critical resources to those who need it most in our community. The dedication and passion within Jewish Family Service serve as inspiration to all of us in Colorado.”

Adam and his wife, Katie, have two daughters, Hayden and Dylan.

Andrea Stillman Jack Shapiro Community Service Award Recipient Andrea Stillman has been volunteering at Jewish Family Service for the past four years.

She began working in the Weinberg Food Pantry stocking shelves and assisting the clients with their shopping. As Andrea became more familiar with the agency, she was inspired and found new ways to put her skills to work.

For two years Andrea helped with buying and organizing school supplies and backpacks for pantry clients. Andrea took the project on with passion. She researched prices and products so that she could get the best value and stay within the budget provided.

For the past three years, Andrea has played an integral role in the success of the Bright Holidays program, which provides holiday gifts to low-income clients. As the donations come to JFS, Andrea makes sure that each client receives the gifts that are on their wish list, checking to make sure sizes and items requested match what has been donated. She then delivers the gifts to JFS staff for distribution. Andrea also helps with shopping for the clients, which she finds “fun and fulfilling.” “Many of them ask for things that they need to live. It’s always an eye-opening experience for me.”

Andrea’s commitment to the program made it possible to provide 515 individuals with thoughtful gifts in 2014. Recipients include seniors, single mothers, children, and immigrant families. “It’s wonderful that JFS is able to make the holidays brighter for those less fortunate.”

“I am honored to receive the Jack Shapiro Community Service Award,” says Andrea. “JFS reaches out to the whole community—all races,

Andrea Stillman, Jack Shapiro Community Service Award

faiths, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and ages—and offers so many vital services. I am so proud to be a part of JFS as it makes a real difference in so many lives.”

Andrea shares her life with her “best friend and soul mate,” Scott. They have been married for 28 years. Andrea and Scott have two children.

Abbie is 24 and attending school at UCCS. Jacob is 22 and just graduated from CSU.

Thank you to the following sponsors (as of July 21, 2015): Chief Operating Philip and Elle Winn Jack and Celeste Grynberg

Executive Vice Presidential Charlie Gwirtsman and Nancy Reichman

Associate Ed and Marlin Barad Rob Kaufmann and Jennifer Gilbert-Kaufmann Jay and Lisa Perlmutter

FAMILY MATTERS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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CLIENT Spotlight

JFS at the JCC: Keeping Seniors Active and Engaged

“Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged.” —Leviticus 19:32

Herb White, 88, has been coming

to JFS at the JCC for the past 15 years. It’s part of his daily routine and something he looks forward to. He gets a delicious hot kosher lunch, the camaraderie of good friends, thought-provoking programs, and the chance to partake in his favorite pastime of playing poker. More than all that, Herb is taken care of. He’s engaged and living life to its fullest in his later years.

Herb is one of approximately 30 seniors who participate in the JFS at the JCC program each weekday. In the last year alone, the program served more than 9,000 meals and

Herb White with Lil Shaw, JFS at the JCC meal site coordinator/administrative assistant (left), and Suzi Malman, JFS at the JCC coordinator (right).

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offered 45 different activities. The program has been operating for more than 25 years, although JFS took it over just four years ago.

Other partners include JEWISHcolorado, the Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center, Volunteers of America, and Kavod on the Road. Meals are prepared under kosher dietary guidelines by Shalom Cares and delivered daily to the JCC, where they are served to program participants.

The JFS at the JCC program has significantly strengthened and broadened the services provided to Jewish seniors. Before the meals, participants often enjoy a stimulating educational or entertainment program that is tailored specifically to older adults. In fact, the seniors who participate have an active voice in determining the programs and activities that are offered. After lunch, many stay on and play poker or mahjong well into the afternoon.

For many, JFS at the JCC is a lifeline. Like Herb, most are widowed and live alone, and this program has become their primary social and recreational outlet. Herb has been a regular ever since his wife Dorothy unexpectedly passed away. They were married for 47 years and in all that time, Dorothy did all the cooking. Other than mastering the grill, Herb didn’t know how to cook a thing for himself.

A friend first brought Herb to the JCC with the hope that they could play bridge together with the group who was playing there. Before long, Herb saw that the poker group seemed to have a lot of fun, so he switched and has been playing poker ever since. He’s made lots of good friends. In fact, Herb’s social life is centered on the JFS at the JCC program. “We get together every day,” he says. “We meet, we talk, we communicate, and we laugh. It’s a whole lot better than sitting home alone feeling sorry for myself.”

In addition to poker, Herb looks forward to the great food that is offered daily. He still can’t cook much, so having access to a nutritious and delicious kosher lunch every day is very important. “The food is fabulous,” exclaims Herb. “It’s the best meal I get every day. If it wasn’t for JFS at the JCC, I would be eating fast food and probably wouldn’t be alive today. I mean that.”

The monthly Active Minds sessions bring guest speakers and thoughtful programs on a wide range of interesting topics. There are music programs with guest artists and regular gatherings where participants discuss current events. In addition, there are outings to local attractions and community events. There’s even a monthly foot-care clinic where seniors get help clipping their toenails.

“We have created a place where seniors want to come,” says Suzi Malman, program coordinator. “They want a nice meal and the opportunity to socialize. They want to be intellectually stimulated and entertained. JFS at the JCC provides a wonderful outlet for them and that’s why they keep coming back.”

Herb rarely misses a day. “It’s a blessing,” he says. “What would we do without JFS

at the JCC and all the organizations that support it? This is a lifesaving service. There are many people here who truly wouldn’t survive without it. And it’s open to everyone: Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists. It’s wonderful in that way.”

Thanks to the generosity “This is a of organizations and lifesaving service.” individual funders, the lunch —Herb White and activities are offered at no cost to participating seniors. The suggested $2.50 donation for lunch is very reasonable for most participants. If they can’t afford that, they don’t have to pay. “Many of us are on a fixed income at this point in our lives,” says Herb.

“This is a huge help to many of us.”

Herb is very grateful for the meals and the program that is so central to his daily life. “I feel cared for and appreciated,” he says. “I feel blessed by the people and organizations who donate to make a home for seniors like me. I wonder if they realize how many people they are helping. I want to thank them.”

Cover photo: Herb White enjoying a meal with friends at the JCC.

JFS Brings High Holy Day Services to Senior Living Communities Thanks to Jewish Family Service, hundreds of Jewish residents

in more than 30 senior living communities in Denver and Boulder will celebrate the High Holy Days this year.

We are excited about new partnerships we have formed in the past several years with facilities such as Balfour at Riverfront Park, High Pointe Assisted Living and Memory Care, and Vi Senior Living. Through our evolving para-chaplain program, we strive to meet the continuum-of-care needs of all residents, many of whom are younger seniors.

Thank you to Rabbi Eliot Baskin, Jewish community chaplain, and the following volunteer para-chaplains who will be leading services at long-term care facilities, assisted living centers, and retirement communities in metro Denver: Paula Breese, Bob Epstein, Deb Fowler, Leland Huttner, Allan Kantrowitz, Elliott Magalnick, Allan Markman, Jay Miller, Bob Rottman, Michelle Stern, and Andy Thangasamy.

We also greatly appreciate our many additional volunteers who give their time and energy to assist senior residents at many services being held at the various facilities in Denver and Boulder.

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VOLUNTEER Spotlight

A Friendly Visitor and Her Client: A Magical Match

By Audrey Friedman Marcus

There is something awe-inspiring

and magical—perhaps even mystical—when the pairing of a Friendly Visitor volunteer and a Jewish Family Service client results in a long-term, close, and respectful friendship.

Such is the case with Friendly Visitor Tamara Weil and her client Bess Brown. What is just as remarkable is that both of these women have over the years had a long-term relationship with Jewish Family Service.

Tamara Weil’s husband, Ken Weil, is a past board member and board chair of the agency, and together they have both been longtime supporters of JFS. In her more active years, Bess, too, volunteered for Jewish Family Service, driving people to their appointments.

Tamara’s search for a volunteer opportunity

Bess Brown and Tamara Weil

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began in February 2014 when she met with JFS Volunteer Services director, Nancy Benyamin. Realizing immediately that the Friendly Visitor program would be a perfect fit for Tamara, Nancy referred her to Beth Lippa, Senior Solutions volunteer coordinator. After a meeting with Beth, and Laura Harter, JFS Senior Solutions care manager, Beth paired Tamara with Roz, her first client. Tamara brought flowers on her weekly visits, and the women shared stories and formed a close relationship. Tamara found the experience to be immediately satisfying, and when the client passed away six months later, she signed on for another magical match, this time with Bess Brown.

At 99, Bess is an active resident at Kavod Senior Living. Although she uses a walker and lives in Assisted Living, she enthusiastically takes part in exercise classes three to four times a week and goes downstairs for two meals a day. She also enjoys many other programs offered at Kavod, such as excursions to dinner theater. Both Tamara and Bess eagerly look forward to their weekly visits.

Although the get-togethers are primarily for the benefit of the client, Tamara says their time together is mutually beneficial. “It has been unexpectedly rewarding,” she asserts, “to build a relationship with a stranger that, over time, has turned into a wonderful friendship.”

Together, she and Bess cover a surprising variety of topics—everything that’s currently going on in Bess’s life, her two children and their visits, as well as an update by Tamara on her family—and much, much more.

In the one and one-half hours a week that she spends with Bess, Tamara helps her with reading and sorting the mail. Because it’s easier for Bess to communicate via email than to have long conversations on the phone,

she dictates her responses to Tamara who types them into the computer. Tamara says Bess’s responses to emails are “thoughtful and thorough,” and she feels that this manner of communication enhances her connection to family and friends. There are other ways, too, that Tamara aids Bess, such as helping to keep her calendar up to date, planning meals, going over important papers, and taking care of whatever else is needed. Grateful to Bess for the opportunity to help her and be her friend, Tamara also loves the fact that there is always a snack waiting for her, usually cookies and a glass of cold water. “Bess has an amazing spirit,” asserts Tamara.

JFS staff members describe Tamara with great enthusiasm, calling her “deeply insightful,” and “a marvelous and dedicated person.” They point out that she treats everyone with kindness and compassion and refer to her as “a gem” who can always be counted on.

Tamara is providing service at JFS in another capacity, too. For the last nine months, she has been an AmeriCorps member in the Refugee Mental Health program at JFS. Cathy Wellwood, Refugee Mental Health program

coordinator, emphasizes how fortunate the program is to have Tamara. She helps clients get medical care and learn how to access services on their own, and also provides enrichment. For example, she recently took a family from Iraq with three young children to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, followed by a picnic in City Park. Since most refugee families are focused on survival, this was a fun and unusual break for both parents and children. Tamara also made sure they knew when free days were offered at other cultural facilities, such as the Denver Zoo. “Tamara’s concern, caring, and warmth comes through in spite of the language difference,” states Cathy. “And it doesn’t hurt that Tamara is able to use Google Translator to effectively communicate with clients!”

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 authored the book Survival in Shanghai: The Journals of Fred Marcus 1939 to 1949 (Pacific View Press).

New! Healing Minds Clothing Donation Bins Are Now Available It’s now even easier to support JFS

through a donation of gently used clothing and household items! Through a partnership with Savers Thrift Stores, these donations are sold and a percentage of the proceeds supports the mental health programs of Jewish Family Service.

You can drop off your donations in bins at the following King Soopers parking lots: University Hills, 2730 South Colorado Boulevard in Denver; Pioneer Hills, 5820 South Parker Road in Aurora; Monaco, 890 South Monaco Parkway in Denver (beginning September 6); Louisville, 1375 East South Boulder Road in Louisville (beginning September 11); and Krameria,1355 Krameria Street in Denver (beginning September 15).

Or, as always, you can schedule an at-home pickup online at www.healingmindspickup.org or by calling 303.232.GIVE. FAMILY MATTERS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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MENTAL HEALTH

Matters

The Power of Sadness

By Betty Tullius, LMFT, JFS Mental Health Specialists Therapist

This summer’s animated film Inside

Out was an entertaining and inventive look into the inner workings of an 11-year-old child’s brain. It also provided a potent and moving lesson on the importance of sadness.

Sadness, one of our so-called negative emotions, can be difficult for us to tolerate. It’s uncomfortable. It’s painful. It’s also a normal reaction to difficult life experiences and is a part of being human. Yet we are often encouraged to distance ourselves from sadness in order to feel better, as if there were something inherently wrong with feeling sad.

Studies have shown that, contrary to being a “useless” emotion, sadness is beneficial to us in ways that actually enhance our well-being.

Joseph Paul Forgas, Ph.D., has discovered that when we are sad, we can remember details more accurately, have better judgment, and have Betty Tullius more motivation than when we are happy. This seems to be due in part to sadness functioning as a signal that something is not right, making us more attentive to detail, more alert to social cues, and/ or more motivated to make changes.

Inside Out explored a more immediate benefit of sadness. In the movie, the character, Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), does all the heavy lifting in terms of the little girl’s functioning: tamping down Anger, Fear, and Disgust, and attempting to put Sadness (voiced by Phyllis Smith) in a corner of the brain where she can’t touch anything. This works well for the child

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until she has life changes that naturally make her feel bad; then the more Joy works to keep Sadness at bay, the worse the child functions. It’s only when Sadness is allowed to come to the surface and be felt by the child that she actually begins to feel better.

The point is, when we experience difficulties, such as loss, we’re supposed to feel sad. Trying to distance ourselves from sadness may force the feeling underground and stop the healing process (and possibly lead to depression).

Embracing sadness, on the other hand, helps us identify what is wrong and promotes thinking of ways to cope with and heal from difficult experiences. It allows us to know ourselves better and increases our empathy for others. Talking about the feeling connects us, elicits support, and brings more meaning to our relationships. We do not have to do anything to begin this process because when we experience difficulties, sadness prompts us to slow down and feel, which is exactly what we need to do to heal.

So the next time sadness occurs, think about the impact of this powerful emotion on our lives, our relationships, and the way we function in the world. And remember, without sadness, we could not appreciate happiness.

Worry that your sadness has turned into depression? Contact the JFS Mental Health Specialists at 303.597.7777 for further information.

Betty Tullius is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a master’s in clinical psychology.

She has more than 15 years of clinical experience and has been with Jewish Family Service for 10 years. She works with adults, adolescents, families, and couples dealing with life changes, stress, depression, and anxiety.

SENIORS

Matter

By Jillian Whittier, LSW, JFS Jay and Rose Phillips Senior Solutions Center care manager

In this age of rapidly changing

technology, it is impossible to ignore the technological advances happening all around us, all the time. While younger generations have a reputation for being the technology “experts,” people of all ages are using the Internet and other technologies to enhance their day-to-day lives. A 2014 PEW report shows that most older adults own cell phones and computers, and about one quarter are using smart phones and tablets.

Many seniors are seeing that technology and social media are great way to stay connected with friends and family. In fact, half of online adults age 65 and older are using Facebook, which represents 31% of all seniors. Real-time video chat programs like Skype and FaceTime are also being used by seniors to connect with friends and family near and far. People are even using this kind of technology to watch faraway weddings and graduations when they can’t get to these events in person.

In fact, many companies have been creating new technologies to be used specifically by seniors. Kavod Senior Life, an independent and assisted living facility in Denver, has been recognized for incorporating a new system called PEAC Technology, which allows residents of PEAC-capable units to control their environment using a handheld touch tablet.

Residents can adjust their thermostat and lights, open the door, and control the television with just a touch.

New technologies have also been created for people with dementia. GPS bracelets are sometimes used as a safety precaution for people with dementia who may wander away from home. The GPS tracker allows families to track the person’s specific location to reduce the risk of the person getting lost. Family members

Technology Is for All Ages! and caregivers are installing bed sensor alarms so that if a person with dementia gets out of bed at night, an alarm will go off alerting the family that the person has gotten up.

In addition, people are using automated medication dispensers to manage their loved one’s medications. A nurse or family member sets up the pills once a month as prescribed, and then each time the person is due to take their Jillian Whittier medications a reminder alarm goes off and the proper pills are dispensed into a cup. If the person doesn’t respond to the alarm within a certain amount of time, the machine will even call or email a designated family member or caregiver to alert him or her that the medications have not been taken.

As more and more seniors continue to utilize a variety of technologies to enhance their lives, and as our senior population in the United States continues to grow rapidly, we can expect to see more creative and helpful advancements allowing people to age a little bit easier.

Feel free to contact the Senior Solutions department for more resources to help seniors use technology at 303.597.5000.

Jillian Whittier, LSW, serves as a care manager in the JFS Jay and Rose Phillips Senior Solutions Center. She works to connect older adults in the Denver area with resources that are valuable for their individual needs. Jillian also coordinates the Senior Companion program at JFS, which connects senior clients who are in need of assistance with grocery shopping and appointments to senior volunteers who are able to assist with these needs.

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PROGRAM Spotlight

SHALOM Denver Celebrates 60 Years!

SHALOM Denver, a division of

Jewish Family Service, was established in 1955 as The Utility Workshop of Denver to help Holocaust survivors who had recently moved to this country. In the basement of the United Way building, six refugees received rehabilitation services and vocational training in printing, powersewing-machine operation, clerical, and janitorial services.

The Workshop evolved to serve new groups of clients, including refugees from Soviet Bloc countries in the 1960s and a diverse clientele of people with varying types of disabling conditions starting in A newsletter from 1980. the 1970s. It was a revolutionary concept to emphasize work and rehabilitation instead of welfare. In the 1970s, the Nixon administration viewed the program as a national model and prototype, and sent a federal commission to visit the workshop. Shortly thereafter, The Utility Workshop landed at 1212 Delaware, its first permanent home since its inception.

Throughout the years, The Utility Workshop moved away from primarily helping Holocaust survivors to serving people with physical, mental, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. In 1978, it was renamed “SHALOM Denver,� and shortly after this time, the organization took on collating and mailing services for a local nonprofit, which then grew into a large-scale mailing services component. Due to a favorable community response, the program 12

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soon served more than 70 clients.

In 1997, SHALOM Denver added another group of clients, people in the TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), or welfare-towork, program. This program helps single and two-parent families on welfare become part of the workforce.

In 2001, SHALOM outgrew its 6,000square-foot location on Delaware Street and moved to its current state-of-the-art 18,800square-foot facility at 2498 West 2nd Avenue.

This facility helped SHALOM Denver meet many of its goals, including expansion and automation of its mailing enterprise, development of more multifaceted employment programs, expansion of its welfare-to-work program, and Jewish case management services for families with disabled family members.

Now SHALOM Denver offers mailing, packaging and assembly, digital printing, and labor services for business customers. It operates a large TANF program satellite office to provide an intensive job-readiness training program. It also manages three enclaves, which are teams of up to eight clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities who work on-site at area businesses. One of these enclaves is at a greenhouse where clients produce SHALOM

The Utility Workshop at 1212 Delaware.

Peace Planters, which are available for sale at Arc Stores, Tagawa Garden Center, various hospital gift shops, restaurants, and through SHALOM Denver for gifts or event centerpieces.

Last year, SHALOM served more than 300 clients and their families with a wide array of services, taught hundreds new employment skills, and helped nearly 100 people move off public assistance and into full-time jobs.

While the program has evolved and grown tremendously in the last 60 years, the mission to help those with barriers to employment gain valuable job skills and find meaningful work has remained the same.

SHALOM celebrated its 60th anniversary in late August with a picnic at City Park for clients, customers, dignitaries, and those who have helped shape the organization into what it is today. Look for photos and an event recap in an upcoming blog post and e-newsletter article.

A staff member and client working on an assembly project at SHALOM Denver today.

Thank You to Lunchbox Express Volunteers!

The heart and soul of the Lunchbox Express

program is its dedicated volunteers. Our second summer with the program was a success and we could not have done it without each and every one of them! More than 100 hardworking volunteers served lunches every weekday to thousands of children at our 15 locations.

We were thankful to have so many individuals wanting to help, young people wanting to serve others, and corporate groups wanting to give back to the community.

We look forward to seeing you back next year to serve hungry children in our community!

STAFF Anniversaries Congratulations to the following staff members celebrating their anniversaries in September and October: 15 years: Dawn Richard, development director 5 years: Lisa Twardowski, accounts receivable/billing specialist

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THANK YOU for Caring!

The following donations reflect tribute gifts received from June 1 to July 31, 2015. 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 A NEW HOME

Dan and Betsey Wilinsky Debra Reinhard IN HONOR OF ANNIVERSARIES Ronald and Tobye Kaye Marshall Greenstein and Mary Ellen Rich Bonnie and Jordie Saliman Ronald and Roni Brown Howard and Sherrie Zeppelin Sherrie and Heshie Zeppelin Robert and Diane Cohn Ronald and Roni Brown Martin Tobin IN HONOR OF THE BIRTH OF A BABY Evelyn Cruz Joe and Tsai Bilett The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service IN HONOR OF BIRTHDAYS Gerald Berenstein Jon and Sheryl Goodman Annette Finesilver Ruth Epstein Arleen Gershen Phyllis Goodman Byron and Evelyn Shafer Ron Fishman Jordan and Sue Hochstadt Buzz Geller Howard and Sherrie Zeppelin Marion Goldstein Loretta Blessinger Lynne Roll Lawrence Levin Susan Schulstrom and Joel Lipscher Annette Melmon Mirella Schreiber Harvey Mizel Cynthia Chapman Bernard Naiman Cynthia Chapman Roberta Naiman Cynthia Chapman

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Thank you for your generosity! Your support makes our life-transforming work possible.

Wyatt Rosenthal Edward and Judith Rosenthal Gerard Rudofsky Robert and Diane Cohn Philip L. Stahl Bernard and Leba Munishor Allan Striker Howard and Sherrie Zeppelin Ayla G. Sturniolo Edward and Judith Rosenthal Maddox W. Sturniolo Edward and Judith Rosenthal Marvin Tyor Roger and Marsha Kempton IN HONOR OF B’NAI MITZVAH Elyza Berry Mark Pogrebin Jeremy Gart Ken and Rebecca Gart Jan Ground Bev Sloan Ethan Gutterman The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service James Wolfe and Yana Vishnitsky IN HONOR OF MARRIAGE Matthew and Leah Pearce Marion Goldstein Peter Colussy and Willie Recht Dean Prina Devon Wilson Jim and Susan Eichberg IN HONOR OF RETIREMENT Melvyn Klein Richard and Patricia Levenberg IN HONOR OF Andrew and Laurie Brock Jane Fruchtman Ida Garnek Howard and Tilly Rollin Sheryl Goodman Bryan Pulte Paula Gudder Gail Gudder Jerry and Linda Kernis Michael Asarch Maury Kroopnick Jan Fisher Steven and Dorothy Resnick David Marks Don and Barbara Griss Mike Misgen Jim and Ruth Sharon

FAMILY MATTERS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

Alexis Mitzner Christa Kilk Sam, Joseph, Jack, and Hank Orzynski Tania Orzynski Mindy Levy Peckar Jim and Jenene Stookesberry David Plunkett Denver Chapter of Hadassah Jane E. Rosenbaum Jan Fisher Myron and Louann Miller Sharon Roth Robert and Diane Cohn Norman Zilber John Menninger and Claire Zilber Karl Zimet Gilbert and Jane Hermann WITH GRATITUDE FOR Jeanne Adams Albert and Joan Klinger WITH WISHES FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY Steve Berkowitz The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Barry and Randie Winograd Ben Friedman Betty Karsh Sherri Goldstein Jon and Sheryl Goodman Irwin Horwitz Fred and Maxine Davine Stanley Kamlet The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Don and Linda Neuman Bruce and Nora Schrutt James Wolfe and Yana Vishnitsky Bernard Karshmer Richard and Patricia Levenberg Naomi Miller David and Beth Lippa Lori Sigman Jon and Sheryl Goodman Halene Weisbart Richard and Bobbe Cook Teresa Yourtz Betty Karsh IN MEMORY OF Blanche Appel Norman Aaronson Lou Appel Norman Aaronson Al Axelrod Marlene Siegel

Ruth Bailis David and Eileen Naiman Mary Baniak The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service James Wolfe and Yana Vishnitsky Mickey Barter Jeffrey and Sandra Barter Dina Bat Avraham Gary and Lydia Kris Alex Berkowitz Marvin Berkowitz Ann Breslow Helene Hoffman Ruth Cohn Oroshnik Steven Peckar and Mindy Levy Peckar Vicky Contreras Shirley Ashlock Jonathan Blutfield Mira Huyghe Anthony Martinangelo Marc Paolantonio Rose Fishman David and Peggy Marks David and Gayle Ann Weinstein Grace Fleischman Grace’s Table Pearl Frank Larry and Judy Zepelin Brother of Iris Freedman Floyd and Edythe Sunshine Jeanette Altman Frieden Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld Scott and Ellen Robinson Robert Schwartz and Beth Levy Abraham B. Goldberg Zelda Friednash Cathy Grimm Shmuel Deitel and Janet Sherman Steven Ellis and Cathy Summer Mark Grimm Roger Vossler and Roberta Reinfeld Steven and Debra Weinstein Alan Groussman Sheldon and Ellen Friedman Keri Hale Myra Schneider Joy Hood Joe and Tsai Bilett Cynthia Chapman Edward Hootstein David and Nancy Benyamin The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Elderlink Companion Care Edna Harrell Brian Inkeles Harold and L Denise Force Hans Kahn Jack and Celeste Grynberg

Lori Kamlet Mark and Susan Barter David and Nancy Benyamin Joe and Tsai Bilett The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Michael Boxer Larry and Jo Ann Cohen Barbara Goldburg Helene Hoffman Robert and Sheila Hyatt Isadore Kozatch David and Beth Lippa Debbie and Fred Meisterplass Devra Perch Steven and Dorothy Resnick Barton and Marci Rivkin Bruce and Nora Schrutt Michael and Karen Shapiro Yitzchak and Michelle Teitelbaum Marlene Tillis Walter Karpel Marvin and Jackie Cooper Roberta Karsh Marvin Tyor Sylvia Krawezyk Shirley Gilman Edward Lackner The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Leo Levinson The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service

Katherine James Michele Kimminau Yaqiang Li Ming Ma Ashley Russell Vicki Weister Beverly Little Kevin Cohen and Laura Grushcow Bernard Markowitz Sy and Horty Youngelman Irwin Matus Mark and Susan Barter Kathleen McDonald Cynthia Chapman Phil Mobell The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Lawrence and Joann Litvak Dean Prina Lester Morss William and Rebecca Ellis Evelyn Neyman Ron and Joyce Fishman Fred Pasternack Joe and Tsai Bilett The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Bernard and Carol Papper Pat Peake Cynthia Chapman Marvin Pepper Aaron and Ellen Bregman Betty Karsh

Gary and Joyce Lozow Robert Schwartz and Beth Levy Alan and Karen Stein William Rifkin David and Nancy Benyamin The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Fred and Maxine Davine Libby Rosen Joe and Tsai Bilett Robert Rubin Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Charles Schneider Myra Schneider Minnie Schneider Myra Schneider Arthur Shenkin Daniel Foss and Carole Kornreich & Dan Foss Jack and Celeste Grynberg Gilbert and Jane Hermann Howard and Donna Lutz Bernard and Leba Munishor Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Albert Sorkin Marc and Laurie Sorkin Shirley Sorkin Marc and Laurie Sorkin David Stern Dani and Jennifer Stern Marvin Stone Shirley Leff Sid and Jane Schetina

Herbert Swords The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Marcie Weiner Walter and Iverne Treidel Florence Witkow Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Dorothea Zebrowitz Ted and Dorothea Brooks IN KIND DONORS Calvary Baptist Church Clinical Nutrition Center Congregation BMH-BJ Congregation Hebrew Educational Alliance Congregation Rodef Shalom Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill, LLC Girl Scout Troop #2879 Growing Home Havurah Chai – Temple Sinai JEWISHcolorado King Soopers Reclamation Nelson Ministries Samuels Community Garden Samuels Elementary Temple Emanuel Temple Sinai Trader Joe’s – Orchard

Help Fill the Pantry Shelves During the High Holy Days Food Drive We are currently collecting food for our annual High Holy Days Food Drive. Please add as many of the following items to your shopping list as you can to ensure that those struggling in our community can have a sweet New Year.

• Protein (canned tuna, chicken, and salmon) • Canned vegetables • Canned fruit • Oatmeal/cereal • Canned soup • Juice

• Tomato/pasta sauces • Carbohydrates (pasta, macaroni and cheese, instant potatoes, etc.)

• Diapers (sizes 4, 5, and 6) • Grocery store gift cards

When you attend services during the High Holy Days, please drop off food at one of the following synagogues, which are collecting food for the Weinberg Food Pantry. You can also bring food to Jewish Family Service, 3201 South Tamarac Drive, Denver, CO 80231.

Beth Evergreen 2981 Bergen Peak Drive, Evergreen, CO 80439 BMH-BJ: The Denver Synagogue 560 South Monaco Parkway, Denver, CO 80224 B’nai Chaim 4716 South Coors Lane, Morrison, CO 80465 B’nai Havurah Services at the Central Christian Church 3690 Cherry Creek South Drive, Denver, CO 80209 Congregation Rodef Shalom 450 South Kearney Street, Denver, CO 80224 Hebrew Educational Alliance 3600 South Ivanhoe Street, Denver, CO 80237 Temple Emanuel 51 Grape Street, Denver, CO 80220 Temple Micah 5209 Montview Boulevard, Denver, CO 80207 Temple Sinai 3509 South Glencoe Street, Denver, CO 80237 FAMILY MATTERS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

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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 80231-4394 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 Nazi victims have been supported by a grant from The Conference of Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

Annual Babi Yar Memorial to Honor the Victims of Genocide The Mizel Museum,

Jewish Family Service, and other community partners are hosting this year’s Babi Yar Memorial, held at Babi Yar Park in southeast Denver on Sunday, September 27, at 11:00 a.m. This annual event honors the memories of those lost during the massacre at Babi Yar, Ukraine, and other victims of the Holocaust 74 years ago.

The program will feature Deborah Yalen, associate professor of history at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, who is a scholar of Soviet Jewish culture in the interwar period. This service will also include remarks from Jessica Millstein, a Holocaust education advocate and the granddaughter of Babi Yar survivors, and a musical performance and readings of Holocaust writings by local school children.

Melanie Pearlman, president and CEO of the Mizel Institute states, “This is a time for us to remember how the perils of hate and prejudice led to the atrocities of Babi Yar. This memorial serves as a moving remembrance to not only honor the lives that were lost, but also to remind us to confront the horrors of fascism, genocide, and violent extremism.”

The Babi Yar Memorial is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and attendees can bring blankets and chairs to enjoy the program from the park lawns. For more information, contact Georgina Kolber at 303.749.5014 or gkolber@mizelmuseum.org.

DENVER, COLORADO PERMIT NO. 1217