January/February 2016 Family Matters

FamilyMatters Volume 26, No. 1 • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Kathy Shumard: Thriving at SHALOM Denver Client Spotlight page 6

JFS PARA-CHAPLAINS Program Spotlight page 8 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS Mental Health Matters page 10 tips for staying active Seniors Matter page 11

A PUBLICATION OF

From the CEO An Important Announcement It is with mixed feelings that I

am sharing an important decision in my life.

I have formally given notice to our Board Chair, Jane E. Rosenbaum, of my intent to retire from my role as President and CEO of Jewish Family Service in January 2017.

The decision is bittersweet.

A part of me cannot imagine a life without JFS. Another part is looking forward to retirement and enjoying time with my family and friends. After 37 years with JFS, the time has come. And the time is right.

I will be leaving JFS in excellent hands, with strong Yana Vishnitsky leadership and a capable, dedicated staff. The agency is in sound financial health and has a thoughtful strategic direction moving forward. JFS offers relevant,

effective programs that are transforming lives throughout the community.

There are not many people as fortunate as I to have loved and cherished their job for 37 years. Each day has been a blessing. JFS has been a positive force in my life since I arrived in Denver so many years ago. I arrived in this country and immediately found a welcome, caring community and friends that I cherish to this day.

I am not leaving the community and intend to continue to support JFS in any way that I can. I will always be a passionate advocate of the agency and its sacred mission.

I will be working closely and cooperatively with the Board of Directors on a transition plan in the coming months to find the next leader of Jewish Family Service. I am eternally grateful to our amazing staff, Board, volunteers, and donors for all your support of JFS and me over the years.

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 nearly 25,000 people of all ages, faiths, incomes, and abilities. For more information, call 303.597.5000 or visit www.jewishfamilyservice.org.

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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FAMILY MATTERS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Upcoming Jewish Disabilities Advocates Inclusion Programs Jewish Disabilities Advocates (JDA) and its supporting agencies are

planning activities throughout the year for clients and their families and for anyone who would like to join us in promoting inclusion.

During the winter, events will highlight disability awareness and inclusion throughout our community. The following events will be held at BMH-BJ, 560 South Monaco Parkway, in Denver: • January 24: Tu B’Shevat Seder • February: “Learning the Meaning of Inclusion: A Children’s Reading Marathon—Four Books in Four Weeks” as part of Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month • February: Inclusion sermon from Rabbi Hillel Millgram: “Would You Approve of the Prophets?” related by Bernice Dinner and an additional sermon by BMH-BJ’s rabbi about inclusion.

B’nai Havurah is also planning a series in February for teen leaders who help in religious school classrooms about how to help students with disabilities. The congregation is working to bring actors from PHAMALY to speak to the religious school in the coming months as well.

Other programs are in the works for the spring at various synagogues, including a “Chesed Without Boundaries” Friday night inclusive musical Shabbat service and a presentation of the documentary film Invisible Voices at BMH-BJ. Please watch the JFS website for more details and to find out what other programs that support our mission of inclusivity and awareness will be happening during the upcoming months. If any synagogue or temple would like to host a program that supports disabilities awareness or inclusivity, please contact Lynn Rubenstein, JDA program coordinator, at 303.623.0251 x204 or lrubenstein@jewishfamilyservice.org.

Honor a Loved One with a Tribute Plaque Have you noticed the brass plaques on the brick wall

as you walk up the stairs in the JFS Tamarac office building? You can permanently honor, commemorate, or memorialize friends and loved ones, or recognize special occasions, with your personalized engraved plaque on this wall.

For a $613 “mitzvot“ level tribute gift, an eight-inch by two-inch plaque will be engraved with the words you provide (type and space restrictions apply). For more information or to make a mitzvot tribute, please contact Dawn Richard, development director, at 720.248.4605 or drichard@jewishfamilyservice.org.

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Thank You for Making 20th Annual Real Hope A Great Success!

More than 400 people hit the red carpet at Sports Authority Field at Mile High to pay

tribute to Adam J. Agron and Andrea Stillman at JFS’s 20th annual Real Hope fundraiser. Everyone enjoyed the fabulous party, complete with cocktails, decadent food stations, and passed hors d’oeuvres catered by Epicurean, and a red carpet photo opportunity. Digital Pocket, a unique music group comprised of a guitarist, a trumpet player, and a DJ, provided entertainment and created a great ambience for the party.

Dancers and stilt walkers from Traveling Performers artistically helped transition the crowd from the party to the seated program.

Steve Peckar, emcee, welcomed the crowd, thanked sponsors, and shared a bit about JFS. After a touching video that told the story of four clients JFS helped last year, Yana Vishnitsky, JFS president & CEO, and Jane E. Rosenbaum, board chair, presented the awards. The honorees, Adam and Andrea, received standing ovations as they received their awards and shared their personal, heartfelt connections to JFS. Thanks to the hard work of our Real Hope cochairs Katie Wolfe Agron, Scott Stillman, and Dr. Steven and Debra Weinstein, the Real Hope committee, and our honorees, this event raised more than $480,000! Thank you to our honorees for providing a matching gift opportunity. A special thank-you to all the wonderful community-minded individuals, organizations, and corporations that supported the agency through this event.

Please visit www.jewishfamilyservice.org/realhope to view more Real Hope 2015 photos.

Adam J. Agron (2nd from left) with his wife, children, parents, and siblings.

Honorees Andrea Stillman and Adam J. Agron.

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Thank you to all of our generous sponsors: Chief Operating Adam and Katie Agron Sunny and Norm Brownstein Jack and Celeste Grynberg

Steve and Elizabeth Kris Brent and Julie Morse Philip and Elle Winn

Chief Financial Marshall and Helene Abrahams Gary Agron Sam and Nancy Gary

Scott and Andrea Stillman Executive Vice Presidential Megan Agron Sherr and Noah and Casey Agron Vicki Agron and Joel Friedman Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP The Chotin Foundation— Steven and Robin Chotin Colorado Real Estate Journal Barry and Gay Curtiss-Lusher and David Ickovic Dependable Cleaners EKS&H

Freeman Family Foundation Charlie Gwirtsman and Nancy Reichman Kroenke Sports Charities Pluss Family Foundation Ellen and Eric Pollock Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Chet and Louise Schwartz Thompson Flanagan Morris & Sylvia Trachten Family Foundation Gary & Teresa Yourtz Foundation Vice Presidential Bain Family Foundation Lana and Ted Friedman and Sheldon and Leslie Levy Katherine Gold Michael Opatowski and Ruth Malman Richard and Michele Right Meyer and Geri Saltzman Yana Vishnitsky and James Wolfe

Associate Sue and Harvey Allon David and Anna Asarch Ed and Marlin Barad Berlin Investment Group BNY Mellon Wealth Management Brinker Capital

Colliers International Denver Agency Company Bob and Jodi Eisen and Charles Eisen & Associates Feiner Family Foundation Feldman Mortuary, Inc. David and Michelle Friedman David and Ashley Goldberg Barbara Goldburg Jon and Sheryl Goodman Leland Huttner The Hyatt Family Alissa, Joel and Andrew Isaacson Julian Izbiky and Jennifer Rothschild Rob Kaufmann and Jennifer GilbertKaufmann John Keith—Harvard Communities KeyBank Lion Equity Partners MediLogix MidFirst Bank Jay and Lisa Perlmutter Jordon and Essie Perlmutter Mike and Ilene Rosen The Seff Group, P.C. Springwood Retirement Campus TMS Center of Colorado, LLC Dr. Steven and Debra Weinstein Andy Weiss Laurence Wolf

Andrea Stillman (center) with her extended family.

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CLIENT Spotlight

Kathy Shumard: Thriving at SHALOM Denver

“I love my independence,”

exclaims SHALOM Denver client Kathy Shumard. “I love working at SHALOM Denver!”

Kathy, 38, has a general developmental delay. Sometime before the age of 18, she stopped developing cognitively and it’s caused her some barriers and challenges.

Kathy first came to SHALOM Denver in October 2012, when she enrolled in the prevocational program. This program is designed to teach basic work skills to adults “It’s amazing with developmental disabilities. to see how far They learn good work habits Kathy has come and life skills, including coming to work on time, working well in the past with coworkers, and accepting three years.” supervision and feedback. The —Jessica Shouse goal is to ultimately get clients competitive jobs in the community, where they are integrated as productive members of society.

Kathy had just moved out of her mother’s house and into a host home. The environment at her mother’s home was difficult. She was left to care for children and do housework and rarely left the house. She wasn’t learning or growing. She ultimately made the decision to move out and into the host-home environment.

She was also interested in developing work skills and eventually getting a job.

When Kathy came to SHALOM Denver, she was anxious and seemed depressed. She had low self-esteem and lacked confidence. The staff at SHALOM recommended mental health counseling for her and worked closely with her to put some stability in her life. Her work skills were poor. She needed to improve her social skills and she had a hard time focusing and staying on task. She also had to work on her coping skills so she could accept constructive criticism and supervision without getting upset.

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FAMILY MATTERS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Kathy was a quick study and rapidly progressed. In less than a year, she improved her skills to the point that she was ready to move into a supported-work environment, where she works on a team with other SHALOM Denver clients on-site at an area business. Kathy is working at the greenhouse where SHALOM Peace Planters are produced.

She designs the planters, including selecting pots, filling them with dirt, and planting them to create an attractive end product.

At every stage of the program, Kathy is paid for the work she completes and is learning the value of working.

Since starting at SHALOM, Kathy is thriving. She’s built positive relationships with her coworkers, her supervisor, and even the owners of the greenhouse. She helps them with extra tasks like watering plants and unloading shipments that arrive.

“Kathy isn’t the same person she was when she first came to SHALOM Denver,” says Jessica Shouse, program manager. “In just three years, her demeanor has completely changed.

She has blossomed into a vibrant, happy woman. She is delightful, full of energy, and always smiling. She’s confident and is now able to complete tasks and meet goals. It’s amazing to see how far she has come in the past three years.”

As a result of the skills she has learned from working in the program, she has improved her home life as well. She is able to help with chores and can function much more independently than when she first arrived. She’s learned how to take care of herself, cook light meals, get dressed, and use public transportation.

She’s become much more independent and is able to be alone at home, as well as enjoy a social life. She’s active with Special Olympics, loves bowling, and frequently goes to dances and movies. She recently took a cruise to the

Bahamas with her host provider.

Kathy has a bright future ahead of her. Her goal is to get a job in a nursery or garden center so she can use the skills she has learned.

“She is doing remarkably well,” says Jessica. “I think she’ll be ready within a year or two.” Thanks to the training and support Kathy is getting at SHALOM Denver, she’s functioning at a much higher level and well on her way to an independent and fulfilling life.

Kathy working in the greenhouse.

Clean Out Your Closets to Help JFS! An easy way to help JFS serve those in

need is to clean out your closet! Through a partnership with Savers Thrift Stores, your donation of gently used clothing and household items is sold and a percentage of the proceeds supports the mental health programs of Jewish Family Service. Your gift helps to subsidize the cost of counseling services for low-income clients, bringing hope and healing to people in crisis. JFS provides counseling services to families and children dealing with serious mental illness, anxiety, trauma, depression, and grief. Schedule a home pickup online at www.healingmindspickup.org or by calling 303.232.4483.

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PROGRAM Spotlight

Two Decades of Service

by JFS Para-Chaplains

By Audrey Friedman Marcus

Jewish Family Service

is proudly observing the 20th anniversary of its outstanding para-chaplain program. The community joins staff and board members in honoring the dedicated volunteers who visit residents of non-Jewish skilled nursing, assisted living, and independent living facilities, hospitals and prisons, and who also provide companionship and friendship to Holocaust survivors.

Did you know these amazing facts about the dedicated JFS para-chaplains?

Para-chaplain Mark Zalkin leads a Hanukkah service at Balfour Riverfront.

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FAMILY MATTERS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

• Thirty-six volunteer para-chaplains provided holiday and Shabbat services and individual visits to 1,730 clients in 2015, giving them an important Jewish connection.

• Three of these volunteers—Paula Breese, Leland Huttner, and Allan Markman—have served for all 20 years of the program’s existence.

• Para-chaplains undergo extensive and valuable training before they embark on their work, and continue to benefit as well from ongoing training and support from JFS staff.

• Many para-chaplains regularly conduct Shabbat and holiday services in the facilities JFS serves.

Allan Markman began his service as a volunteer para-chaplain by leading Shabbat and holiday services, and he continues to do so at several communities, where he is known as a knowledgeable and enthusiastic leader.

After attending one of his Seders, a resident at Springbrooke commented, “Allan Markman explained beautifully the meaning of Passover. It was wonderful to be part of the Seder.” Aware that the residents look forward to these worship experiences, Allan relates that he is happy to be available to serve their needs, even after so long. “What I do helps these people to stay connected to their Judaism—and to stay connected to our Jewish community.”

Allan and a group of talented and knowledgeable para-chaplains have created beautiful services for Shabbat and for Jewish holidays that are appropriate in content and length for the various settings they serve. JFS produced these services as attractive and meaningful booklets for use by each facility, thus creating a sense of community and a connection to Judaism.

As new senior facilities have been added in the last couple of years, para-chaplains

have stepped “You’ll surely up to serve receive more a population from the program that is more than you give.” engaged in life and interested in —Allan Markman discussion groups on current events and other appealing subjects. New possibilities such as these provide further interesting opportunities for para-chaplains.

The staff at Jewish Family Service is very open, supportive, and future-oriented, and they relish these new challenges. Beth Lippa, Senior Solutions volunteer coordinator, is presently redesigning the training sessions to be one-on-one and more accessible to volunteers, thereby enabling the staff to recruit volunteers for the program all year long as the need arises, and to train them right away.

Allan Markman invites interested individuals to join him and the other dedicated para-chaplains. “You, too,” he asserts, “can derive enormous satisfaction by becoming part of this important endeavor and enriching the lives of isolated, often forgotten, and vulnerable people. You need only go through the training and agree to volunteer for a period of at least six months.” Adds Allan, “You’ll surely receive more from the program than you give.”

For additional information, contact Beth Lippa at 720.248.4599 or blippa@jewishfamilyservice.org.

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).

Beth Lippa, JFS Senior Solutions volunteer coordinator, lights the menorah with a Balfour Riverfront resident.

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FAMILY MATTERS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

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MENTAL HEALTH

Matters

Tips for Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions

By Cathy Wellwood, LPC, Refugee Mental Health Program manager

It’s a brand new year and many

of us use this new beginning to make positive changes. Almost 50 percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions each year. While many resolutions focus on improving health, others target spending, improving relationships, enjoying life more fully, and learning new skills.

Maintaining this effort is challenging—only 46 percent of resolutions are kept for over six months. Despite the challenges, resolutions are worthwhile— people who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to reach their goals. Making one resolution at a time is more effective than tackling a long list.

New research in behavior change gives us strategies to Cathy Wellwood increase our chances for success.

The first step is awareness— noticing when we are on autopilot and tracking the patterns we’d like to change.

Identifying behavior triggers is key. Is it related to stress or to a certain time of day or situation?

When the trigger occurs, this is your opportunity to establish a plan and activate a new behavior. For example, “Instead of binge watching Netflix when I’m stressed, I’ll go for a walk or call a friend.” Or, “When I go out to eat, I’ll order salad and an appetizer.”

Self-awareness is also part of the process.

Knowing yourself can help you figure out the best way to make changes for you. Are you a morning person? Do you like to do activities with others or on your own?

According to studies on behavior change, most of us are either “moderators” or “abstainers.” Moderators are people who can 10

FAMILY MATTERS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

keep a delicious People who dark chocolate explicitly make bar in their desk resolutions are drawer and eat 10 times more one square every likely to reach day. An abstainer their goals. would tend to eat the whole thing, so abstainers need to give up something altogether and declare it off limits.

We often think that behavior change relies on willpower, but new studies show we actually have a limited supply. After people exert self-control in a test, they have measurably less self-control for a second task.

Too many decisions and tests of self-control throughout the day make us more likely to slip into old, familiar behaviors. Changing our environment to make new behaviors easier is more effective. For example, having fresh fruits and vegetables on hand, or a list of fun activities (and the supplies) to do with your children, makes it much more likely that you’ll follow through. New routines, such as an enjoyable bedtime routine for the family, build in positive activities.

It takes an average of 66 days to change a habit, and approximately eight weeks to establish a new skill, so don’t give up.

Celebrate small wins and reward yourself along the way!

Cathy Wellwood, LPC, is manager of the Refugee Mental Health Program at Jewish Family Service. She has more than 25 years of experience in mental health services, specializing in cross-cultural treatment of trauma, depression, anxiety, grief work, and adjustment issues. Before joining Jewish Family Service in 2011, Cathy spent 11 years in Alaska, working for a tribal healthcare organization.

SENIORS

Matter

By Katelyn Jones, Jay and Rose Phillips Senior Solutions Center intern

Coming up with excuses

for not exercising seems to be a pretty easy task. Throw in cold temperatures, snow, ice, and a dark, dreary sky and the chances of leaving the couch becomes even less likely.

Thankfully, staying active does not have to involve bundling up and facing the winter weather. Here are five tips for staying active during the cold, winter months without leaving your home: • Stretch. Stretching can help loosen muscles, increase blood flow, relieve joint pain, and help you feel more energized. Try fitting 10–15 minutes of stretching into your morning routine.

• Get moving! It can be tempting to stay curled up in bed or wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, but getting up and moving around can be extremely beneficial to your health. Take a lap around the living room or stroll up and down the hallway; try to get up and move around as often as possible.

• Chair exercises are a good way to get your body moving. Complete these exercises while watching your favorite TV show or listening to music.

Arm exercises*: • Arm circles: Hold arms straight out from your body. Begin with small circles and gradually get larger. Switch directions.

• Arm raises: Stay seated with your feet flat on the floor. Raise your arms above your head and bring them back down until your elbows make a 90-degree angle.

• Punching exercises: Alternately extend each arm to the front of the body.

• Jumping jack arms: Move arms above your head and back down as you would during jumping jacks. * Feel free to add hand weights or

Tips for Staying Active During the Winter Months hold cans of soup for more resistance.

Leg exercises: • Ankle circles: Rotate one ankle starting in a clockwise direction and then switch to a counterclockwise direction. Change feet.

• Toe pointing: With leg extended, point toe toward the ceiling and then toward the ground. Switch legs.

• Flutter kicks: With legs Katelyn Jones extended, move legs slightly up and down. When you move the left leg up, move the right leg down, and vice versa.

• Leg crosses: Similar to flutter kicks, but a side-to-side motion rather than up and down. Cross the left foot over the right foot, then the right foot over the left foot.

• Do some light housework. Vacuuming, sweeping, or doing the laundry will get you moving and keep your home looking nice.

• Get an exercise video. This does not need to involve spending money. Borrow one from a friend or the local library, or find one online.

Remember, safety first! Only complete activities you are comfortable with and don’t push yourself too hard. Start slowly and easily, gradually making the workouts harder if desired.

Katelyn Jones is a graduate student at Metropolitan State University of Denver working toward her master’s in Social Work. She is completing an internship at Jewish Family Service, working primarily with the Wheat Ridge Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC).

She also helps to build community through the Edgewater NORC and assists with clients from the main JFS office as needed.

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THANK YOU for Caring!

The following donations reflect tribute gifts received from October 1 to November 30, 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 ANNIVERSARIES Morey and Evelyn Cohen Robert and Diane Cohn Bob and Barb Guttsman Bernard and Leba Munishor Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Micky and Louann Miller IN HONOR OF BAT MITZVAHS Sophia Dinn Alison Dinn Alyssa Zimmerman The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service James Wolfe and Yana Vishnitsky

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

Lisa Taussig The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Harvey and Judith Cohen Arleen Gershen Barbara Goldburg Judy Joseph Josh and Elizabeth Klopper Stan and Sharon Marks Ronald and Rhoda Resnick Eldon Silverman Carol Sobel James Wolfe and Yana Vishnitsky Norman Zilber John Menninger and Claire Zilber IN HONOR OF ENGAGEMENTS Andy Feinstein and Amy Schaefer Stan and Sharon Marks Greg Karsh and Ali Brodie Stan and Sharon Marks IN HONOR OF MARRIAGE Daniel Gilden Allan and Alberta Sulzer

IN HONOR OF THE BIRTH OF A BABY

IN HONOR OF A NEW HOME

Doris Raizen’s Grandson Barbara Winters David Tornek’s Twin Granddaughters Ronald Hull and Eva Ruda-Hull

Matthew and Regina Heit Syril Beinhorn

IN HONOR OF BIRTHDAYS Stan Boxer Shirley Leff Jack Feuer Allan and Alberta Sulzer Hazel Gensberg Gary and Janet Friedland Karen Goldblatt-Sullivan Helene Hoffman Marion Goldstein Theodore and Vivian Epstein Marsha Kempton Marvin Tyor Larry Kueter Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Estelle Levitt Estelle Stine Kathy Luth Pam Naiman Michael Miller Samuel and Benita Idelberg Rikki Mor Martin and Marilyn Warren Renee Singer Lorne and Cindy Polger Allan Sulzer Allan and Alberta Sulzer Victor Sulzer Allan and Alberta Sulzer

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IN HONOR OF THE REAL HOPE HONOREES Adam Agron Jenna Burstein Todd Dutkin Roy Lapidus Andrea Stillman Steve and Sandy Berkowitz Arthur and JoAnn Boss Bruce Coulter and Teri Spector Jerome and Carol Friedman Mark and Essie Goodside Sherman and Lois Rich Charlene Shaffer IN HONOR OF RETIREMENT Nancy Nowak Audrey Friedman Marcus IN HONOR OF Rachel Amaru Rabbi Deborah Bronstein Ellen Beller The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service James Wolfe and Yana Vishnitsky Lisa Benoit Harriet Mehl Rottenburg Ron Bostwick Judith Dack

FAMILY MATTERS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Boulder JFS Staff Cynthia Weinger Michael Brittan Elizabeth Brittan Rabbi Deborah Bronstein Rachel Amaru Judith Cohen David and Debra Flitter Hollis Fasbender Doris Fasbender Michael Garfinkel Elizabeth Otto Bobbi Furer Jonathan and Toni Saiber Paula Goldberg Heidi Schoen Sherri Goldstein Perry and Susie Moss Barbara Gould Estelle Miller Regina Heit Usha Varma Dan and Amy Hemmati Allison Greenstein Stuart and Myra Herz Michael and Debbie Huttner Sarine Krovitz Jeff Greenstein and Gail Krovitz Susan Lavowitz David Spiro and Robin Youngelman Donna Lutz The Lunch Bunch Jay and Lois Miller Aaron Stambler and Elaine Miller Lola Miller Marc and Rhoda Silverglade Marcee Newman Jon and Sheryl Goodman Sam, Joseph, Jack, and Hank Orzynski Tania Orzynski Marpha Borisovna Samoylenko Boris Peisahodin Karyn Schad Sydell Pannor Naomi Singer Jonathan Singer and Linda Leonard Gerry Smith Sylvia Smith Jim and Linda Stein Joel and Michelle Kralj Scott and Andrea Stillman William Silvers Cathy Summer Hal and Risa Aqua Judith Dack Jonathan and Lindsay Lev Estelle Miller Bradley Reiff and Caryn Summer Allen Taggart and Barbara Gould Claudia Swick Lorayne Rosenfeldt Whitney Chotin Wolz The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service James Wolfe and Yana Vishnitsky

Dave and Jill Yasskin Scott and Andrea Stillman IN MEMORY OF Mary Altman The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Chris Anderson Bart and Jill Miller Marlene Ansell Larry and Jodi Ansell Sherman Ansell Larry and Jodi Ansell Walter Appel, Jr. Jim and Susan Eichberg Ruth Bailis Annette Blacher Chandra Balachandran Andrew Thangasamy Mickey Barter Jeffrey and Sandra Barter Howard Bender The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Bruce and Janyce Wald Lou Bloon Debbie Garelick Mimi Bloon Debbie Garelick Bea Butler Simeon and Heather Margolis Howard Cantor Mark and Susan Labovitz Baby Chance Cynthia Chapman Betty Chayet Boulder Jewish Community Center Adam Cohen Gail Cohen Jacob Cohen Max Silverman Mildred Cohen Max Silverman Noah Cohen Paul and Jane Cohen Claire and Phil Cohen Sara Cohen Joseph Mark Cruz Jeffrey and Roni Cruz Edith Davis Joyce Meltzer Mother of Louis J. Davis Jim and Susan Eichberg Sue Diamond David and Randi Racenstein Elsa Finesilver Arthur and Arlene Moss Stanley Gampel Jeanne Lerner Morris Garnek Howard and Tilly Rollin Mickey Gershtenson Robert and Diane Cohn

John Getz Toni Getz Don and Linda Neuman Lillian Glassman Paul and Jane Cohen David Goldstein Bob and Rosey Godshaw Yoram Gordon Gilad Gordon and Cathy Cohn Hy Goren Lauren Kauvar Shirley Leff Arthur and Arlene Moss Seymour Rubenstein and Charlene Loup Marlene Weiner Barb Grote Academy Acres Kennels Mildred Herman Joel Herman Miriam Hoffman Karin Fischer Jo Fukaye Cindy Gertz Elinor Greenberg Mark and Vicky Hakim Michelle Hanley Rick and Mindy Miller Richard and Rae Negreann Susan Shaner Hannah Sperber The Striker Foundation Gary and Terri Yourtz Betty Husney Buzz and Shelley Krovitz Gary and Joyce Lozow Stan and Sharon Marks Bernard and Leba Munishor Carol Sobel Lori Kamlet Kathy Jolly Judith Katchen Andrew and Dolores Fliss Jim and Diane Loup Wendy Sockolov Donald Spiegleman Adelle Lasersohn Audrey Friedman Marcus Adilene Lester Ted and Dorothea Brooks Abe Levine Don and Linda Neuman Barry Levine Don and Linda Neuman Mollie Levine Don and Linda Neuman Isabel Levitt Les and Estelle Levitt Dorinda Levy Alicia Appel Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Ted and Lana Friedman Barbara Goldburg The Hilb Kids Thomas and Susan Hilb

Kenneth James Erick and Marla Loss Don and Bonnie Messer Brad and Sara Nieder Robert Rottman Elizabeth Scott Mark Stein Allison Summerday Lenny Loitherstein Simeon and Heather Margolis Seymour Lozow Joe and Tsai Bilett The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Elliott and Gloria Husney Libby Marcus Stan and Sharon Marks Chet and Louise Schwartz James Wolfe and Yana Vishnitsky Esther Lustig David and Vicki Dansky Debbie and Michael Feiner and Family Stephen and Sherri Weinstein Rabbi Marshall Maltzman Ron and Joyce Fishman Jacqueline Roche Michael and Traci Sidon Fred Marcus Audrey Friedman Marcus Barry Melnick Larry and Jodi Ansell Harvey Milzer Elliott and Gloria Husney Lynne Montrose Sherman and Lois Rich Mel and Shirl Myland Wayne and Jackie Seltzer Mark Neuman Don and Linda Neuman Peg Neuman Don and Linda Neuman Julian Orleans Ellen Orleans Moisey L’vovich Peisakhodin Boris Peisahodin Sheba Penner Eve Ilsen Gerald Quiat Dan and Meg Quiat Amelia Rittenbaum Albert and Janice Dinner Leonard Rivkin Ed and Marlin Barad The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Sandra Brown Marvin and Jackie Cooper Ruth Epstein Craig and Vicki Eskanos Berta Goodman Edith Hayutin Helaine Hayutin Sheldon and Elaine Hayutin Jerilyn Heir

Harvey and Benita Newman David and DeDe Rose Amy Zeppelin Charlene Sachter Ronald and Roni Brown Sherman and Lois Rich Paul Saliman Floyd and Edythe Sunshine Sheba Penner bat Rivka Eve Ilsen Jackie Hunt Scezney Marvin Tyor Gnanm Selvaraj Andrew Thangasamy Francine Shafton Rabbi Julian and Susan Cook Twin Enviro Services Lois Sherman Larry and Jodi Ansell Sondra Siegel Turkins The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service James Wolfe and Yana Vishnitsky Joe Silberstein Claire Seiden Bertha Sklar Michael and Alana Sklar Albert Sorkin Marc and Laurie Sorkin Shirley Sorkin Marc and Laurie Sorkin Rene Stark Ronald and Roni Brown Marjorie Stein Rosalyn Imerman Michael and Beth Margolis Danny and Karli Sherwinter Jerry and Marilyn Snyder Josh and Ellen Taxman Shauna Steinberg Elliott and Gloria Husney Burton Sternburg Sternburg Communications Inc Mildred Sternburg Sternburg Communications Inc Richard Sulzer Allan and Alberta Sulzer Dorothy Velker Allan and Alberta Sulzer Sandra Vinnik Arthur and Arlene Moss Gigi Walden Pam Naiman James Wallace David and Toni Roitman Arnold and Norma Wilner Mary Ann Wilner Vita Wouk Arthur Wouk Joyce Zeff Gregory Densen Debbie and Michael Feiner and Family Perry and Susie Moss Chuck and Sharon Rosen

WITH GRATITUDE FOR Justin and Cari Levy Kent Messer and Katherine Hackett Ruby Zimmerman The Abramovitz Family WITH WISHES FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY Steven Chotin The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Pam Naiman Sara Jane Epstein Ron and Joyce Fishman Melanie Gruenwald The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service James Wolfe and Yana Vishnitsky Dalton Levine Don and Linda Neuman Lori Sigman Barbara Sidon Maury Zemachson Pam Naiman In-Kind Donors B’nai B’rith Youth Organization Boulder Jewish Film Festival Bradley International School Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Congregation BMH-BJ Congregation Hebrew Educational Alliance Denver Jewish Day School Denver Rescue Mission Dumb Friends League Ekar Farm King Soopers Reclamation Otten Johnson Robinson Neff + Ragonetti PC Runuphill Racing Samuels Elementary South Denver Fencing Academy Southmoor Elementary Temple Emanuel Temple Sinai Trader Joe’s Whole Foods at Tamarac

FAMILY MATTERS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

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DONOR Spotlight

Tony Gottlieb and Katherine Dealy

Dr. Tony Gottlieb and his wife,

Katherine Dealy, have given to Jewish Family Service (JFS) every year since at least 1991 (that’s as far back as our computer records go)! We spoke to Tony to learn why he and Katherine have chosen to support the agency consistently for more than two decades.

Family Matters (FM): Why did you start supporting JFS? Tony Gottlieb (TG): To make a long story short, I grew up in Chicago and had a lot of trouble as a teenager, as did my family. I needed financial assistance and a place to live.

The Children’s Bureau of Chicago helped me a lot through high school and college.

I kept in touch with the social worker as I went through medical school. After I finished medical school and was living in Denver, I told the social worker I had so much appreciation for what the agency did for me and I wanted to contribute financially. He suggested I Tony Gottlieb contribute to Jewish Family Service of Colorado, since that was a similar agency.

I took his suggestion and began donating. I also volunteered to help resettle five Russian families. In fact, we are still in touch with one family who comes to our Passover Seder every year.

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FAMILY MATTERS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

FM: Wow, that’s quite a story! How else have you been involved with JFS? TG: I was trained in the first para-chaplain class 20 years ago and served as a volunteer para-chaplain for many years. Through that program, I met Rabbi Baskin (Jewish community chaplain), who started the Rafael Spiritual Healing Center at JFS, and he asked me to serve on its advisory committee, which I did for several years.

FM: What keeps you connected to JFS and donating after all these years?

TG: I had such great experiences as a para-chaplain. I counseled older Jewish people in nursing homes, which was a perfect fit for me as a geriatric psychiatrist. I also led Shabbat services with JFS therapist Leonid Baksht for Russian residents at a nursing home.

We conducted services in Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, and English! The residents would come alive when we sang songs and prayers in Russian. I retired for a few years and taught classes at Hebrew High. When we covered the subject of tzedakah, I took the class to volunteer at the JFS food pantry. Unfortunately I’ve had to go back to work three days per week and had to discontinue my volunteer efforts, but I still keep my financial donations coming.

FM: Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?

TG: I just wish I had more to give to JFS. I have two grandchildren with autism and I am setting aside as much as I can for their needs, which is why I’m still working at age 79. I would still be a para-chaplain if I had time. It has truly been a privilege and an honor to be involved with JFS. It is a wonderful agency that helps so many people!

Homecare from Our Family to Yours

JFS at Home offers non-medical, fully licensed, customized homecare by screened, compassionate, and insured caregivers. · Hourly to 24/7 personal care · Assistance with dressing, grooming, and hygiene · Light housekeeping and cooking · Transportation and shopping · Companionship

Support JFS While Shopping at King Soopers!

Raising funds for JFS is as easy

as going grocery shopping. Simply purchase 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 swipe your gift card like you would a credit card to pay for your groceries. It’s that easy! 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.

Learn more and purchase a card by visiting www.jewishfamilyservice.org/KingSoopers!

STAFF Anniversaries

Congratulations to the following staff members celebrating their anniversaries in January and February: 10 years: Margaret Bell, Group Home relief counselor, and Judieth Elrod, homemaker 5 years: Regina Spillari, personal care worker, and Debbie Estrada, personal care worker

FAMILY MATTERS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

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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

DENVER, COLORADO PERMIT NO. 1217

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.

JFS EXECUTIVE LUNCHEON WITH

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016 HYATT REGENCY DENVER CONVENTION CENTER SPONSORSHIPS AND MEET AND GREET OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE. CONTACT LISA BENOIT AT 720.248.4633 OR LBENOIT@JEWISHFAMILYSERVICE.ORG.