Join JFS at Heebonism 2009!

JFS is a sponsor of Heebonism, a Christmas Eve bash for Jews!

When: Dec. 24, 8:30 PM until the wee hours of Xmas morning

Where: The JET Hotel - 1612 Wazee St, Denver

Tix: $18 in advance; $25 cash or check at the door (or $20 with three non-perishable food items for JFS)

Click here to find out more and buy tickets.

JDN Hanukkah Party

Last weekend, Adina Krausz, Jewish Disabilities Network (JDN) coordinator, hosted a Hanukkah party for participants of the group and their families. About 30 people attended and enjoyed traditional Hanukkah foods including latkes with applesauce and traditional jelly donuts, sufganiot.

Adina's husband, Daniel lit the menorah and led everyone in singing the blessings and Hanukkah songs. Participants also iced Hanukkah cookies, decorated cards for residents at Shalom Park, and enjoyed socializing with each other. Barb Goldstein, a JDN and Shalom Park volunteer, said, "Last year, I witnessed how much joy it gives the residents to receive a card, and I wanted to make sure that they had the chance to get them again this year. "

Adina adds, "Since Hanukkah is a holiday that is celebrated in the home, I enjoyed opening up my home for the party and sharing it with all my JDN friends and clients."

Annual Movie Fundraiser Provides “Reel Hope” for JFS Clients

Jewish Family Service recently honored community leaders Brent and Julie Morse, and David Friedman at Reel Hope-Take 14, our annual movie-themed fundraiser at Regal Cinemas Continental Theatre in Denver. Despite difficult economic times, the event grossed $370,000! Our heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful community-minded individuals and organizations that support the agency through this event!

Now in its 14th year, Reel Hope benefits the programs of Jewish Family Service and is held in partnership with Variety of Colorado, the children’s charity with its roots in the entertainment industry. Variety helped secure the venue and the special benefit screening of Summit Entertainment’s New Moon, the second installment of Stephenie Meyer’s successful Twilight romance series. We thank Variety, Regal Cinemas, and the filmmakers for making this event possible.

Complete with Hollywood-style lighting effects, the festivities featured the movie screening, the presentation of a touching JFS agency video, a brief awards ceremony, a box dinner, and dessert reception. Gary Shapiro, 9News morning news anchor, made his debut as a JFS event Master of Ceremonies. Heartfelt and entertaining videos introducing the honorees were generously produced by JFS Board Member Lindsey Gutterman with the assistance of Steve Pettit of Starwest Productions.

Ernie Johnson, president and “chief barker” of Variety of Colorado and Steve Kris, JFS board chair, spoke briefly and thanked the evening’s sponsors and attendees. After a video introduction of Brent and Julie Morse, Event Co-Chairs Rocky and Suzi Miller spoke about the Morses and presented the Jack Shapiro Community Service Award. Brent and Julie then spoke eloquently, speaking of their volunteer experiences with JFS and on accepting the award.

Sheryl Goodman, event co-chair and longtime friend of David Friedman, along with David’s father, Shel, introduced David and presented the Kal Zeff Business Leader of the Year Award to him. Shel added humor to the ceremony by saying, “David, I am proud of you for following in my footsteps. JFS, as other nonprofits, has had a difficult financial year; therefore we decided David should get my award from seven years ago.” As anyone who knows David would expect, he accepted the award with humor and grace.

Yana Vishnitsky, JFS president and CEO, spoke from the heart about the help JFS provides for those in need and how much we need the community’s generous support. She shared that JFS provided Thanksgiving meals to 180 families this year. “There were many children running around waiting in line with their parents. I looked into their eyes. There was joy and hope. The parents’ eyes expressed fear and pain. People come to us when their lives are broken, when their hope is lost, when their strength is challenged.”

Our deepest and sincere thanks go out to Dean Prina, M.D., JFS development chair; Rocky and Suzi Miller and Sheryl Goodman, event chairs; and the extraordinary Reel Hope committee who made the event such a success: Douglas Antonoff, Carla Bartell, Shell and Lisa Cook, Cami Cooper, Steven and Faye Demby, Lisa Eller Davis, Sanford Feld, David Fried, Ellen Friedman, Michelle Friedman, Elaine Gampel, Brett Goldberg, Carol Karsh, Donald Kortz, Jeff and Jocelyn Kraus, Gary and Connie Levine, Alan and Peggy Mayer, Rick and Mindy Miller, Larry A. and Carol Mizel, Anita Niebrugge, Devra Ochs, Jay and Lisa Perlmutter, Michael and Shereen Pollak, Dean Prina, M.D., Andrew Raabe, Jane E. Rosenbaum, Linda Schatz, Michael Schatz, Chet Schwartz, Michelle Toltz, Marci Waldman, and Leslie Williams-Heins.

Check out this year's agency video that was shown at Reel Hope!

View more photos from the event! Thank you to Howard Lutz for donating his time and photography skills again this year!

Westword Holds Holiday Drive for JFS!

Thank you to Westword and its readers for helping our clients have a brighter holiday season!

A Sigh of Relief...Reel Hope is Over!

Thanks to everyone who attended Reel Hope-Take 14, our annual movie fundraiser, last night! We hope you all enjoyed the event and learned more about JFS and our honorees, Brent and Julie Morse and David Friedman.

Since we're exhausted from working the event until late last night, we're going to keep this blog post brief! We'll provide a full event re-cap with photos next week.

We'd love your feedback on the event, so if you attended, please leave a comment on the blog!

Enjoy this photo of Kari cleaning up at the end of the night and celebrating that the event is over after many months of hard work! Thank you to all of the staff and volunteers who helped the evening run smoothly!

JFS Staff is Thankful for...

With Thanksgiving and the holiday season upon us, we wanted to share what some of our staff members are thankful for:

"That I have woken up every morning for the past 32 years loving my job! I'm also thankful for my children, my family, and friends."
-Yana Vishnitsky, President & CEO

"For my health, family, and freedom!"
-Marlene Adam, Payroll Accountant

"I am thankful for all the daily blessings my four-year-old daughter brings me every day...from hearing her cheerful laugh, to watching her discover something for the first time, to listening to her preschool tales!"
-Alaina Green, Marketing & PR Associate

"For my friends and co-workers who have been so supportive through the difficult times I've had the past year."
-Pat Stein, Senior Solutions Care Manager

"For my friends - including my new friends at JFS, my husband, and people with a sense of humor!"
-Jari Thymian, Development Database Manager

"I am thankful for the gift of JFS and all its staff and people that have been in my life for the last 19 years!"
-Annie Reilly, Care Manager, Hearts and Hands Homemaker Program

"My back is not hurting anymore and that I exercise in the beautiful Colorado outdoors!"
-Janet Chamberlain, Office Manager

"To have a job that I love!"
-Cathy Grimm, Senior Solutions, JFS at Home, and Boulder JFS Director

"That I don't have to cook Thanksgiving dinner!"
-Allison Miller, Data Collection and Research Coordinator

"That I'm retired and am able to do the things I want to do like volunteer at JFS!"
-Mark Krivel, JFS Volunteer

"Not only that I have a job, but 10 years at a job where there is a great sense of community."
-Jennie Creasey, Senior Solutions Care Manager

"All the help from staff and volunteers for Reel Hope (which is next Thursday, December 3rd)!
-Dawn Richard, Development Director

"I am thankful for my family and friends!"
-Talia Richard-Lande, 6 year-old daughter of Dawn Richard

"That I am able to be in the graduate program at DU and for my family."
-Jessica Huffer, Senior Solutions Intern

"That my wonderful 17-year-old son, James has grown up to be such a great guy."
-Doreen Osborne, JFS at Home Schedule Coordinator

"My job!"
-Ann Veenstra, Director of Administration

"For my husband's family who will be feeding me on Thanksgiving, being able to run to work off that big meal, and for my new flatscreen TV that I plan to buy on Black Friday!"
-Kari Alpen, Graphic Designer

"My new job at JFS, the Colorado sunshine, and that am able to volunteer at the Mile High United Way Turkey Trot tomorrow morning."
-Lynn Cooper, Development Associate

Please leave comments to tell us what you're thankful for this year! We wish everyone a happy, healthy Thanksgiving!

Brighten the Holidays for Those in Need!

Each year, Jewish Family Service is astounded by the generosity of individuals and organizations who provide food and gifts for people we serve during the holiday season. Your care and thoughtfulness makes a significant impact on those who receive them. One way you can help out this holiday season is through our Bright Holidays program.

The Bright Holidays program allows donors to provide Christmas or Hanukkah gifts for individuals and families in need. This program is completely anonymous. Our care managers refer clients with specific wish lists, donors like you provide the gifts and drop them off at our office, and then our staff delivers the gifts to their clients.

To participate in this program, contact Shelly Hines at (303) 597.5000 x319.

And the Weinberg Food Pantry can always use food and monetary donations to provide complete holiday meals to low-income clients during this much celebrated season. Some items we need for holiday meals include frozen turkeys, stuffing mix, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, instant mashed potatoes, and boxed desserts.

Please make a cash donation now or drop off food donations at JFS, 3201 S. Tamarac Dr. between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

We appreciate every donor for making the holidays bright for so many of our clients!