From the Desk of CEO Judy Halper: November 2018
Now that the mid-term elections are over, and Thanksgiving dinner tables await with all your friends and family members, you’ll have ample opportunity to debate and share same and opposing points of view. We all know how well that goes!! Nevertheless, JFCS is here to help, through our Family Life Education program, by partnering with Beth El Synagogue to host a facilitated session by Better Angels, a group whose mission is to help heal all of us who feel strained and stressed to hear those with differing positions. The skills that will be taught and practiced can go a long way towards helping all of us to find respect with differing opinions, and develop skills to be a good listener and helpful responder. The workshop takes place on Dec. 11. Be sure to sign up here.
Our 30th Annual Laugh on their Behalf Benefit is right around the corner, taking place on December 1! We are extremely pleased to be awarding the JFCS Friends of the Family Award to Hindy and Scott Tankenoff, who support JFCS programs and services and particularly those serving children. Their commitment to making sure all children have opportunities to succeed is truly a gift to our community and to JFCS. In addition to honoring the Tankenoffs, we’ll welcome comedian Rachel Feinstein to the stage, and there will be plenty of food, fun and opportunity to support JFCS! It’s not too late to get your ticket – click here.
We’ve been busy this month preparing holiday packages for clients in our Hag Sameach (Happy Holidays) program, as well as Thanksgiving packages for families served in our ACT Program. Volunteers have come out in droves to help with every aspect of preparation and delivery for these important and necessary activities, and we couldn’t be more grateful!
If all of this isn’t enough…we also presented our 100,000th book through the PJ Library program, so generously underwritten by Harry and Sandy Lerner. We celebrated 10 years of PJ Library on Nov. 11 with a cupcake party held at Cornerstone Creek, and KSTP-TV even came to film the event and share it on the 10 p.m. news!
I’ve run out of space, but not out of stories! JFCS staff members are incredibly busy, and their boundless compassion and exceptional expertise continue to amaze me. They are truly a gift to our community in helping people to sustain healthy relationships, manage challenges of daily living, and offer support. I am incredibly thankful to each of them and very proud to work with them!
Happy Thanksgiving!