We are so inspired by Tuesday night’s joyful celebration. Over 100 people attended the 2023 Annual Meeting of Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service (Alpert JFS) and Melvin J. & Claire Levine Jewish Residential & Family Service (Levine JRFS). The night’s theme – “We are here for you. Today. Tomorrow. Always” – was a testament to our unwavering commitment to our clients and our community. We are proud to be an organization that provides support and care to those in need, regardless of their background or circumstance.  

The evening showcased some of our more notable accomplishments of the past year. Together they exemplify how we are innovative and a recognized leader in addressing the ever-changing and growing needs of our community. We also are continuously looking ahead to see how we can expand our reach and our impact, and look forward to a number of exciting initiatives that are on the horizon. 
 
We installed our new Board of Directors and recognized several dedicated volunteers for their outstanding service. We thank all who helped make the evening possible, including our sponsor, Comerica. Thank you to Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach for hosting us again in their beautiful synagogue. We also thank the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County for their partnership. 
 
Here are some key takeaways from our meeting, including a look ahead to the upcoming year. 

• We are building out two beautiful new facilities that will position us to meet the growing needs of our community. In the past two years, we secured a total of $1,025,000 in Federal earmarks for the construction of our Enrichment Center in Boynton Beach, thanks to the efforts of Congresswoman Lois Frankel. A special thanks to Barbara and Herb Shear, and the Shear Family Foundation, who provided over $500,000 in seed funding to help launch the center. In the fall, we will launch our new Enrichment Center at Temple Shaarei Shalom in Boynton Beach. The center will be a beacon of hope for the growing A.L.I.C.E. (Asset Limited Income Constrained and Employed) population in the southwest part of our service area. It will include a new shoppable food pantry offering fresh foods and proteins.
  
  We also secured an $825,000 Federal earmark for the buildout of our new Center for Wellbeing in Palm Beach Gardens, which Congressman Brian Mast sponsored. The Center will be opening this summer; it will continue to be the hub of social interaction for adults with special needs living at our Apartment Program. The Center also will serve the broader community of those with differing abilities. In the first year, we anticipate our expanded program will serve up to 100 additional people with disabilities in our new day socialization program. We will also deliver counseling services to approximately 500 people over time at our new counseling offices at the Center. 
   
• We are meeting the increasing need for food with several key initiatives. We added a dedicated care manager to our food insecurity team and increased by 50% the number of households that receive holiday baskets for Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving, and Passover.
   
• Our 19th Annual No Excuse for Abuse Evening at the Kravis Center raised nearly $570,000. This year’s event surpassed the fundraising for any previous event in our history.
   
• JFSComForCare, our premier home health care agency, continues to grow. In the last 12 months, we provided more than 95,000 hours of in-home care for 145 seniors.
   
• In the past year, we provided over 200 Holocaust survivors with $7.5 million worth of in-home care, care management, financial assistance, medical and dental care, and socialization. This includes over 250,000 hours of in-home care and 12,000 hours of care management.
   
• Thanks to State Senator Lori Berman and State Representative David Silvers, we received $200,000 in State funds to continue to expand our Mental Health First Aid Program. Last month, we trained our 10,000th person in this life-saving skill since we first brought this program to our area almost eight years ago and will be expanding the program statewide.
   
• Honoring Our Past, Securing Our Future. In January, we will begin our 50th Anniversary year. Join us for a year of celebration as we Honor Our Past and Secure our Future. We will be launching a special anniversary endowment campaign and a series of parlor meetings to support the growth and expansion of our programs and services, ensuring that we are able to continue meeting the evolving needs of our community.
   
• Mark Your Calendars! We look forward to seeing you back at the Kravis Center on Sunday, February 25, 2024, for our 20th Annual No Excuse for Abuse Evening. And our 15th Annual Chai Society Gathering is scheduled for Sunday, April 14, 2024. Look for further updates about these two signature events in the coming months

Congratulations to our 2023 Volunteer Award Recipients 

“Reb” Sol Freedman Award 
Ilene Lampert Goldstein

Linda White Award
Margie Feldman

Bernie Silbert Award
Joel Hart and David Naftaly

Bob Schweitzer Award
Judy Knopf

Award of Distinction
Scott Fuerst and David Weisman,
Greenspoon Marder, LLP