Attitude of Gratitude!

Have you been meaning to make a donation to JFS, but don't have a "traditional" reason such as a birthday, anniversary, or Bar/Bat Mitzvah to commemorate through a tribute gift?

Jari Thymian, JFS database manager recently added a new way for donors to creatively give to JFS. Now you can make tribute gifts to express your gratitude for anything you want such as the beautiful weather, an upcoming trip you're taking, you finished a project or met a deadline at work. Be creative and celebrate anything in your life you are grateful for!

The Hebrew term for gratitude is hikarat hatov, which means "recognizing the good." Share your gratitude and recognize the good things in your life today with a tribute gift to JFS by contacting Jari Thymian at (303) 597.5000 x386.

Also, when you make a donation - of any amount - you will receive a personal phone call from Jari.  "It is so fun and energizing for me to call our donors!" says Jari enthusiastically. "I really get a rush out of finding out why people give and hearing how grateful they are to JFS for help we provided to them or a loved one."
 
She adds, "I actually get to see how infinite gratitute and goodness are when I make the calls. People are so happy to know that we received their money and we're using it for the program for which they intended." As an avid biker and poet, Jari shares an apt analogy: "Gratitude is like catching a tailwind on a bicycle!"

Now how is that for customer service?!?!
 

Don't Miss Out on Your Chance to See Christopher Buckley, Winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, Live in Denver!

You don't want to miss this exciting event. Get your tickets today!

Learn more about the featured speaker, Christopher Buckley, through this video.

Catch Frank Abagnale in Denver on May 12th!

Jewish Family Service is proud to announce Frank Abagnale as the speaker for the fifth annual Executive Luncheon on Tuesday, May 12, 2009. Tickets on sale now!

Frank Abagnale is one of the world’s most respected authorities on the subjects of forgery, embezzlement, and secure documents. For over 30 years he has worked with, advised, and consulted with hundreds of financial institutions, corporations, and government agencies around the world. Mr. Abagnale’s rare blend of knowledge and expertise began more than 40 years ago when he was known as one of the world’s most famous confidence men. This was depicted most graphically in his best-selling book, Catch Me If You Can, a film of which was also made, directed by Steven Spielberg with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.

Mr. Abagnale has now been associated with the FBI for over 30 years. More than 14,000 financial institutions, corporations and law enforcement agencies use his fraud prevention programs. In 1998 he was selected as a distinguished member of “Pinnacle 400” by CNN Financial News – a select group of 400 people chosen on the basis of great accomplishment and success in their fields.

The luncheon will be held at the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom, 1101 13th Street, Denver, CO 80204. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., program begins at noon. Tickets are $150, sponsorship packages start at $1500. For information, tickets, or sponsorships, please contact (303) 597.5000 x365.

--Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department

Together We Can Make a Difference!

Together we can make a difference helping those in need…

A little help goes a long way. Did you know that...

• In addition to food that is donated, JFS spends an extra $86 a month to feed a family of four facing hunger?


• The average amount of money that JFS pays for one month’s rent and utilities to help a family of four is $950?


• The average cost for four counseling sessions at the JFS Counseling Center is $440?

You may not be able to help these individuals or families on your own, but as a group, we can erase hunger, poverty, homelessness, and other challenges faced by many.

Think about it…if 10 people donate $10 each, we could feed a family of four for a month. If 100 people donate $10 each, we could provide rent and utilities for a family of four for a month.

Please contribute through our Facebook Cause and spread the word to your friends to help us meet our goal of raising $1,000 by June 30, 2009. If you cannot give financially, please consider giving of your time. JFS has numerous fulfilling volunteer opportunities. Please contact Nancy Benyamin, director of volunteer resources. For more information, please visit www.jewishfamilyservice.org.

Colorado Nonprofits Hurt by Economy

In tough economic times, people often turn to nonprofit organizations for support in meeting basic needs. But the increased demands for help and the steady decline in donations have many struggling to provide the same level of assistance they have in the past. And Colorado appears to be one of the hardest hit states in the US.

According to an article by the Associated Press, "In a survey released Monday by the Colorado Nonprofit Association, 762 charities in 57 Colorado counties cited economic worries similar to those faced by businesses. Declining income. Difficulty borrowing money. Staff cuts and reduced services. A few of them, 4.2 percent, said they didn't know if they'd survive 2009."

More findings from the survey on Colorado nonprofits suggest:

• More than half of the nonprofits (51.8 percent) said the recession hurt fundraising efforts.
• More than a third (38.5 percent) said the economic downturn has had a negative effect on their ability to serve clients.
• More than one in five (20.5 percent) described themselves as very unprepared or somewhat unprepared for the recession.
• More than a fourth (27.9 percent) have frozen staff wages, with 8.6 percent reporting layoffs.
• Most nonprofits reported declines in donations, from corporate sponsors and deep-pocket patrons cutting off funds to fewer people buying tickets to charity fundraisers.

Jewish Family Service is not exempt from these hardships; our donations are down, but our client needs have skyrocketed. A lot of people who have never needed help are lining up at our food pantry and seeking guidance from our counseling center. It's scary out there for a lot of people right now, but you can help us make a difference in others' lives.

One fun way to support our programs and the people we serve is by attending the fifth annual JFS Executive Luncheon on May 12th. Visit our Web site to find out more about this year's exciting guest speaker.

--Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department

Movie Premiere Raises Funds for JFS

Jewish Family Service recently honored community leaders Dr. Nancy Gary and Daniel Seff at Reel Hope-Take 13, a movie-themed fundraiser at Regal Cinemas Continental Stadium 10 and Giant Screen in Denver. Despite difficult economic times and a smaller theater capacity due to stadium seating renovations, the event sold out the 600-seat main auditorium and raised $400,000 to support JFS's many programs!

Complete with Hollywood-style lighting effects, the festivities featured a movie screening, the presentation of a touching JFS agency video, a brief awards ceremony, dinner, and dessert reception. Les Shapiro, a celebrity emcee, businessman and sportscaster, added the perfect mix of humor and professionalism as Master of Ceremonies.

If you missed it, we missed you, too! Don't worry, our next fundraiser is the JFS Executive Luncheon featuring Guest Speaker Frank Abagnale, author of his best-selling true story Catch Me If You Can on May 12th. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting event!

View photos from the event!

--Kari Alpen and Alaina Green, JFS Marketing Department