Letter From the CEO and Board Chair

From the CEO and Board Chair

Dear Friends,

Tzedakah is the obligation to do what is right and just for those in need. This belief is not just a Jewish value but rather a universal human value that we can all practice. No matter your faith or what you believe, this guiding principle is central to making our community and our world a better place. Not a day goes by where we don’t see goodwill, compassion, and generosity demonstrated throughout JFS. With your help, we continue to make the world a better place, and there is no better time to share what we have achieved together in the last year (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022) and honor what we’ve accomplished than in this 2022 Annual Report.

It seems each day brought new challenges globally, nationally, and locally. But, with the remarkable dedication and commitment of our staff, Board, volunteers, and donors, we’ve been able to adapt and expand to provide the resources and assistance our clients need. With your support over the past year, JFS:

• Met the increasing demand for food and other necessities at our Weinberg Food Pantry. • Became a State Afghan Placement & Assistance program to resettle Afghan refugees in the Denver Metro area and provided case management, housing, employment support, and medical and mental health services to help them adjust to life in Colorado. • Responded to extraordinary community needs resulting from the Marshall Fire, including providing mental health counseling and financial assistance to eligible households who need emergency support to pay for basic needs, such as mortgage or rent. • Experienced and heard how individuals from every walk of life are struggling—financially, mentally, emotionally, and medically—and we responded to be a part of the solution. • Celebrated 150 years of improving the lives of Coloradans. • And so much more.

Because of your generous support, individuals and families in our community had access to food, housing, mental health counseling, employment resources, spiritual guidance, programs for older adults, and services for individuals with disabilities. We know our clients want to improve their lives, and you’ll see how you helped make it happen throughout our 2022 Annual Report. Together, our work is inspiring, and we hope when you read the following pages, you’ll be even more proud to be a part of our JFS family.

On behalf of everyone at JFS, thank you for your support. We appreciate your ongoing commitment to the agency and those we serve.