July 2011 8487 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236 www.jfscinti.org

familytiesthe power of one...13-year-old Ethan Kahn was excited every time he opened an envelope showing money was sent in honor of his Bar Mitzvah…especially because the money was NOT for him. Unlike most boys celebrating their Bar Mitzvah, he specifically requested that his guests donate to Jewish Family Service Food Pantry in lieu of a gift.

Jewish Family Service Food Pantry is dear to Ethan. After he delivered food for the Dr. Samuel S. Rockwern Passover Delivery of Jewish Family Service project, Ethan wanted to get more involved with feeding families in need.

Ethan now volunteers regularly by doing Jewish Family Service Food Pantry home deliveries with his mother Jessica. They deliver to clients who are unable to come to the food pantry because the clients have no transportation or money for gas, or they have physical disabilities that make it impossible for them to navigate the stairs of the pantry located in the lower level of space donated by Golf Manor Synagogue.

With each delivered box filled with kosher food and personal care items,

Ethan has been able to see firsthand the benefits of his Bar Mitzvah fundraising.

“We have visited families with mental illness. We have also visited several elderly women, and he saw the link between poverty and age...that struck him,” says Ethan’s mother.

As he makes his deliveries, Ethan says he feels that each family or friend who donated to Jewish Family Service Food Pantry in honor of his Bar Mitzvah is sharing in the experience.

He also believes that by having family and friends donate to the pantry, it took the focus off of him, saying, “It made my Bar Mitzvah a lot of people’s day. It wasn’t just my day, it was benefiting everyone.”

When asked if requesting donations in lieu of gifts set an example for his classmates, Ethan humbly didn’t want to take credit for anyone else, but asserts, “Once you realize it, you know it’s the right thing to do.”

Ethan did not stop at fundraising or personally delivering food. He also decorated his Bar Mitzvah party’s tables with Jewish Family Service’s Centerpiece for Tzedakah baskets, with the rental fees directly supporting the food pantry. A Centerpiece for Tzedakah is an attractive basket filled with kosher food packages and other sundries, custom-decorated to match the party colors.

“Everything we did helps increase awareness…and before you know it, it is a ripple,” says this young man, wise beyond his years.

See page 5 to learn more about the pantry and a client’s personal story.

While writing her report for the Jewish Family Service Annual Meeting, Executive Director Beth Schwartz asked her 6-year- old daughter what she thinks about JFS. “JFS Rocks!” was her daughter’s reply, followed by “because JFS helps people.” “Yes, JFS Rocks. But it doesn’t Roll,” said Beth in her report. “We are a small but mighty agency. We have the will, the ability, and motivation but not enough capacity to Roll. How much more could we Rock if we had more to Roll with?”

That was the focus of the annual meeting held at Rockdale Temple, Thursday, June 23, 2011. Beth thanked the Board for providing direction and strategy, a clear mission, scope, and a voice to others in the community. And she thanked the staff that continues to amaze her. “In 2010, Jewish Family Service strengthened 3,954 individual lives. Those are unduplicated numbers. Clients may have been helped

Michael Schwartz, Andrea Lerner Levenson

2011 annual meeting...

continued on page 2Ethan Kahn, volunteer and fundraiser

From Strength To Strength... A Circle of Donors

Created to recognize with gratitude, the heartfelt commitment and support of special Friends of Jewish Family Service.

Thank you to the following 2010 supporters:

Visionary $5,400+Bernard and Pamela Barbash Family Foundation

Jeff and Susan Harris

Lynne and Robert Kanter

Andrea Lerner Levenson & Family

Hyman & Bessie Passman Family Charitable Foundation

Patron $3,600 - $5,399AnonymousJacqueline Mervis Mack Philanthropic FundLeah and Dr. Gary Smith Family Foundation

Benefactor $1,800 - $3,599Anonymous (3)Bruce and Kitzi Baker and FamilyGary and Linda GreenbergMary and Peter LevinSteve and Beatrice RosedaleWood-Byer Foundation

Sustainer $1,000 - $1,799Anonymous William and Patricia AronsteinMarcie and Nathan Bachrach and FamilyNorman and Hilda BlattAdrianne and Richard FreibergLouis and Beth GuttmanPaul HeimanRobert & Charlotte Lanzi Philanthropic FundThe Lockspeiser Philanthropic FundBarbara and Philip LichtensteinSusan Marcus and William GoldbergHank and Jeannette MautnerCarl MorgensternMichael Schwartz and Maria PalermoBeth Schwartz and Gene SmileyThe Richard M. and Joanne M. Schwartz Charitable TrustGilker Shoupe Family Charitable TrustDebra and Michael SteinbuchSusan Shorr and Denny MitmanJonathan and Elizabeth WolfJohn and Abbie YoukilisMarilyn and Thomas Zemboch

annual meeting continued...

July 2011 jewish family service page 2

Tzipi DahanBruce EnteGail FriedmanSuzy Marcus GoldbergSteve HalperJeff HarrisSteve HolmanLarry JuranElaine Kaplan

Leslie MillerAmy PescovitzBonnie RabinLauren ScharfSusan ShorrScott SlovinGary SmithMax Yamson John Youkilis

Michael Schwartz - PresidentDanny Lipson - Vice PresidentAndrea Lerner Levenson - Vice PresidentMark Miller - Co-TreasurerPam Sacherman - Co-TreasurerBruce Baker - Immediate Past President

2010-2011 board of directors...

more than one time and by more than one part of the agency, but we only count them once no matter how many staff hours were required to meet their needs,” she said. More than 75% of the almost 4,000 lives touched by Jewish Family Service receive on-going and intense services.

Beth joked that she recently heard the Dean of a School of Social Work share that when she tells people about the social work profession others often comment, “I don’t think I could do that kind of work,” and then they ask, “you don’t make very much, do you?” “I’ll tell you what our staff makes,” said Beth, turning directly to the staff.

“You make families through adoption where there once was no hope for children. You make women who were battered and abused strong and safe. You make older people independent and self-determined. You make kids who fear the bully feel empowered and knowledgeable about what to do. You make sure people who are on the verge of homelessness have a roof over their heads. You make struggling families feel safe and secure with medicine in their hands and food in their bellies. You make broken people whole. You make the community a

better place for all to live. You make JFS what it is.”

Beth concluded with, “We Rock. With the right infusion of resources in our infrastructure, we could do so much more. We could transform our community. We could Rock AND Roll.” Also at the meeting, Andrea Lerner Levenson was presented with the Miriam Dettelbach Award, which is given in honor of the first executive director of Jewish Family Service as recognition of exceptional volunteer service to the agency. Two staff members received Longevity Awards; Linda Kean for 10 years and Natalie Hurley for 5 years.

Exec. Dir. of ARSP for the US Magdalena Scharf, ARSP Volunteer Mathias Hankel, Director of JFS’s Center for Holocaust Survivors Gail Ziegler, 2010-2011 JFS ARSP Volunteer Christian Cramer

For 6 years Jewish Family Service has been a part of the international program Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP), hosting young German volunteers who work with our Holocaust survivor community for one year.

welcoming german volunteers...

ARSP is a German peace and volunteer organization founded in the aftermath of World War II. It is committed to combating racism and anti-Semitism, and supporting peace.

Magdalena Scharf, executive director of ARSP for the US, and Mathias Hankel, 24, a volunteer with ARSP, recently visited from Philadelphia to conduct a site visit and evaluation of the Jewish Family Service program.

In Honor of: Emily Bachrach’s 90th birthday Anonymous Jane Friedman Amy and Scot Perlman Evelyn SeltzerAnn Brenner’s birthday Susan Brenner and Steve MombachSteve Coppel’s birthday Barbara and OJ Cohen Micki and Ron CoppelAvi Dave’s Bar Mitzvah Sara and Richard BehrmanSusan Donnett’s Masters of Education Anonymous Susan and Barry Austern Linda and Thomas Chambers Ada and Jeffrey WerwaRoger Feldman’s birthday Joan FeldmanMelissa Goodman’s Bat Mitzvah Julie and Marc SilvermanEthan Kahn’s Bar Mitzvah Anonymous Sara and Richard Behrman Barbara Block Christine and Brian Bonner Paula Braverman Cullen O’Brien Emily Robles Wendy Rolland Evelyn and Andrew Rosemore Francis WolfsonAnn Pappenheimer Alfred CohenSue Richard’s recovery Suzan WarmAllen Rosen’s significant birthday Suzan Warm

Bob Rubin’s speedy recovery Suzan WarmGary Smith The County Animal HospitalThe Stamler’s son’s Bar Mitzvah Tulane and Jack ChartockHal Wehling’s birthday Suzan WarmGail Ziegler Deborah and Marc Berkson

In Memory of: Judy Kohn Bacher Suzanne HouselMrs. Cohen’s brother Adrianne and Richard FreibergAlan Freid Anne and Ronald Roth Ronna and James WillisPat Goldberg Barbara and Arnold RabkinDoris Leiser Hall Gladys and Allan Berger Mary Jo and Larry Bratburd Lorene Eckert Regina Eisenberg Mia Evans Barbara and Charles Farber June and Marvin Jacobs Ruth and Ernst Kahn Joanne and Jerome Lebovitz Debi Pena Milretta StroheimJordan House’s Birthday Mary Lee and Louie SirkinHelen Kaplan Ann BurkeRichard Kaplan’s sister Leslie and Kenneth Miller

tributes january 1 - june 30, 2011...

July 2011 jewish family service page 3

Your gift to one strengthens the lives of many.

Are you looking for a meaningful way to: Recognize a special occasion? Honor a milestone? Acknowledge the memory of a loved one?

Send a Jewish Family Service tribute. When you make a tribute donation to Jewish Family Service, we send a personalized card to the person or family indicated acknowledging your gift to Jewish Family Service. And, of course, the donation amount is not revealed…just your thoughtfulness.

Thank you to the following tribute donations in the first half of 2011:

In Memory of cont’d: Ruth Kropveld Suzan WarmDiana Levine Suzan WarmMarjorie Loftspring Jacqueline M. Mack and Dr. Edward B. Silberstein Merrie and John StillpassEddie Paul’s father Leslie and Kenneth MillerMrs. Pavilack’s father Pamela and Simon NewmanDr. Aaron W. Perlman Anne HeldmanDr. Saul Polasky Sheila and Philip Barach Adrianne and Richard Freiberg Jacqueline M. Mack and Dr. Edward B. Silberstein Barbara and Arnold Rabkin Merrie and John Stillpass Suzan Warm William Richshafer Ronna and James WillisIrvin Simons Adrianne and Richard FreibergAlvin Stamler Anesthesia Associates Of Cincinnati, Inc. Sara and Richard Behrman Diann and Robert Blazer Rozlyn and Donald Bleznick Medical Staff Of The Christ Hospital Jodi and Daniel Feigelson Renee and Rusty Frankel The Gendell Family Foundation, Inc.

Rhoda Goldstein Candice and Stephen Hegman Lori Kozlove Grace Lehrer Beverly and Norman Polmar Joan and John Pottschmidt Marcia Kaplan and Michael Privitera Barbara and Arnold Rabkin Sandy and Ron Richards June and Donald Rohling Jewel and Michael Schaen Stacey and Neal Schneider Michelle and Robert Stephens Jan Tangi Fran and Larry Unger Ronna and James WillisPaul Steinberg Nancy and Raphael WarrenHarry Tobin Anita and Ed MarksSonny Zimmerman Molly and Robert KindlEdward Ziv Adrianne and Richard Freiberg Terry and Stuart Susskind

Miscellaneous:Thanking them for their expert advice and support - Dr. Richard & Cissy Freiberg Adam Moskowitz

In Appreciation for hosting Helen’s 90th birthday Beth and Neil Hammerman

tributes january 1 - june 30, 2011 continued...

July 2011 jewish family service page 4

Your gift to one strengthens the lives of many.

Send atributetoday...

Donate online at www.jfscinti.org or Send this form with payment to:Jewish Family Service, 8487 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236 or Call 513-766-3345

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Additional instructions?

The Family Ties Newsletter is published twice a year by Jewish Family Service of the Cincinnati area.Phone: (513) 469-1188 www.jfscinti.org

Address changes or to be removed from the mailing list: Carrie Krach 513-766-3345 or ckrach@jfscinti.org

Michael Schwartz, President of the Board Beth Schwartz, Executive DirectorSherry Kaplan, Marketing Director and newsletter editor

Social services for Nazi victims have been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. Aging and Caregiver Services receives funds administered by Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio.

supported in part by funds made available from

July 2011 jewish family service page 5

“lucky this place exists...”Barry Margulis, age 53, worked in insurance before his health took a turn for the worse, he lost his job, and needed assistance from Jewish Family Service Food Pantry.

Last year Jewish Family Service Food Pantry fed 208 people living in 36 different zip codes across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Many of whom, such as Margulis, thought they would never need to ask for help meeting basic needs.

“I’ve got an autoimmune disorder along with some muscle wasting and bone loss. Before I got this really bad disorder I was running ten miles a day, weighed about 250 pounds, and had a 30 inch waist. I was really healthy, into weight-lifting and all that, so I really got depressed after I got sick.

“Well I’m disabled right now and I’m on food stamps, so it’s a big need because food stamps don’t help out enough,” explains Margulis.

Margulis has been going to Jewish Family Service Food Pantry off and on since 2007. There, clients who are experiencing financial difficulties are able to choose from a variety of free personal care items and kosher food including meat; fresh fruits and vegetables; and canned and packaged goods.

Barry Margulis selecting fresh fruit at Jewish Family Service Food Pantry.

“There’s more quality with kosher,” Margulis says. Being Jewish, he appreciates working with a Jewish organization, and feels “safe in this environment.”

For Margulis and others who use the food pantry, the challenges they face often go beyond their need for food. Jewish Family Service provides them with case management, supportive guidance, and counseling to improve their situation and support their efforts toward self-sufficiency.

“I go to Fran at JFS for counseling and that’s a big help,” he says. He explains that Jewish Family Service social workers “help you explore

other opportunities to help you reach your potential.

“I’m lucky that this place exists because if it wasn’t for this place I’d be out on the street.

“I’m trying to get my health back so hopefully I can be giving money instead of taking money from the organization.”

Margulis’s story is indicative of what most of the clients who come to the pantry experience every day explains Fran Gafvert, Director of Vital Services at Jewish Family Service.

“Most people have a preconception of what a person who relies on a food pantry is like,” says Gafvert.

“What they often don’t realize is that an illness, disability, job loss or any misfortune can change anybody’s life in such a profound way. Jewish Family Service is their safety net. With support from the community, JFS can give them hope for a better future.”

A video of Barry sharing his story is available on the Jewish Family Service website at www.jfscinti.org.

Jewish Family Service Food Pantry receives a portion of its funding from the Jewish

Federation of Cincinnati and Mazon: The Jewish Response to Hunger. It is located in lower level space donated by Golf Manor Synagogue.

For assistance, or to donate food, money or time, contact Jewish Family Service at 513.469.1188.

Scan QR Code with your phone to see Barry’s video

“If it wasn’t

for this place

I’d be out on

the street.”

8487 Ridge Road Cincinnati, OH 45236

NonProfit Org.U.S. Postage PAIDCincinnati, OHPermit No. 1404

Strengthening Lives in Times of Need...

Sunday, November 6, 20111-3 pm

Colerain Bowl

Title Sponsor: The Jewish Hospital

Family-Frie

ndly

Fun for All Ages

easy ways to help JFS strengthen lives...

1. Get a Jewish Family Service Kroger Gift Card. Shop as usual for Kroger groceries, pharmacy and at the gas pump, and 4% of all monies paid will come back to JFS.

2. Donate your used vehicle (car, boat, RV). All you need is a clean title and we'll do the rest including free pick-up anywhere in the US.

3. Send a Jewish Family Service tribute to acknowledge a special occasion, wish a speedy recovery, offer condolences, or recognize a milestone.

Visit www.jfscinti.org for details

Save the date for an afternoon of family-friendly fun for all ages.

The first annual Festi-Bowl for Jewish Family Service will have a variety of entertaining activities from bowling to face painting 1-3 pm, Sunday, November 6 at Colerain Bowl, just about a mile north of the Ronald Reagan Highway exit at 9189 Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45351. The Jewish Hospital is the Title Sponsor for this party that will benefit the many Jewish Family Service programs that strengthen lives in times of need. “Even if you don’t bowl, you are certain to have a great time. Festi-Bowl activities are planned for young children to the young-at-heart grandparents,” says Andrea Lerner Levenson, Jewish Family Service committee chair. The other committee members are Marcie Bachrach, Sandee Golden, Sherry Kaplan, Beth Schwartz, Susan Shorr, and Gary Smith. For more information about sponsorships or tickets: Sandee at 513.766.3352 or sgolden@jfscinti.org

save the date for festi-bowl...

supporting services that strengthen lives...