Many corporations talk about giving back to the community but Deloitte puts those words into action.

On Friday, June 15, Deloitte volunteers went to Mishkon, our Brooklyn residence for people with developmental disabilities, to help replant the garden and spruce up the outdoors space with fresh paint. Needless to say, our consumers were quite taken with the attention and many were happy to help these helpers. So a big shout-out to Deloitte for including us in your annual Impact Day.

Another winner is Morgan Stanley, which sent about 20 volunteers on June 20 to plant an organic garden at our Hawthorne Cedar Knolls campus. The volunteer built planters, mulched soil, and put a great variety of vegetables in the ground. We look forward to harvesting some tasty treats over the coming summer months and hope you’ll be back to taste the fruits of your labor.

See pictures....

Ever Thought of Becoming a BIG?

Big Brother Marc is a lawyer living in NYC. His Little Brother Michael is 13 years old, and they have been matched for 2.5 years. They have a very special relationship and truly enjoy spending time together. Below is what Michael had to say about Marc.

“I love hanging out with Marc every other week because we do things that my mom would not do with me. We go to the movies, play basketball, he helps me with video games and we talk and a lot more. Marc is helpful, fun to be with, and awesome. It's great to have another guy to talk to. I love that Marc came to my bar mitzvah. Marc made me feel happy when he was there. I wanted him to carry the Torah. He texted me the night before my bar mitzvah to see how I was doing and how nervous I was. Marc is really like the big brother that I never had.”

Think you have what it takes? The JBFCS Big Brother Big Sister program is always looking for people who want to make a difference in a youngster’s life. Contact Dana Mindlin at 212-632-4687 or dmindlin@jbfcs.org. Learn more at BBBS.

A Special Blanket

Sanctuary Stitchers (212-632-4515) is a JBFCS program that distributes blankets made by knitting groups, synagogues, churches, and more to youth living in one of our residential programs or domestic violence shelters. We recently sent about 50 new creations to our shelters and hope the love that these blankets were created with help to warm the hearts and souls of these disaffected young people.

One blanket we received came with a note that warmed our hearts. To celebrate Syd Musikar’s 91st birthday, four generations of her family gathered to stitch together the 192 squares she had knitted (enough for three blankets). We wish Mrs. Musikar a happy, happy birthday with many more to come. And we look forward to receiving even more blankets from the Musikar family.

The next Sanctuary Stitchers meeting takes place June 28.

Scholarship Winners

Doug Kroll was a senior social worker at YCL from 1995 to 2001. A graduate of both University of Michigan (BA) and Fordham University (MSW), Doug worked closely with adolescents and believed that through education, people could transform their lives. Doug found his passion in helping others. He saw the best in everyone and worked tirelessly to help his clients achieve their full potential.

After he died in 2002, his family established the Doug Kroll Memorial Scholarship, which grants money to college-bound students who are also clients of YCL. On June 27, we have the honor of bestowing this year’s scholarships on 13 worthy individuals. We are proud to be part of this annual event and look forward to greeting Doug’s family and the 13 new recipients.

To give help or to get it, visit http://www.jbfcs.org

LET'S BE FRIENDS!

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JBFCS has been ranked among the top Jewish Service Agencies in the country for our integration of LGBTQ cultural competency. As the former head of our LGBT task force and Director of Home Again Caroline Peacock said: “It strikes me that this sort of initiative is in the same spirit that the original JBFCS agency was founded on: meeting the needs and recognizing the value of the marginalized in society. What a privilege it is to be on the right side of history yet again.”

Finish reading over at Paul's Corner.

Rabbi Simkha Weintraub Writes Book Foreword

Broken Fragments: Jewish Experiences of Alzheimer’s Disease through Diagnosis, Adaptation, and Moving On is being released this month.

JBFCS’ own Rabbi Weintraub has written the introduction to this sensitive look at the lives of those affected by Alzheimer’s. Edited by Rabbi Douglas Kohn, the book presents essays by physicians, Jewish clergy, social workers, and family members of people with Alzheimer’s disease and intersperses them with Jewish texts.

Order it from URJ Books and Music.

The Fifteenth Annual Westchester Communal Professional Reception given by the Westchester Jewish Council honored Herbert Bracey, Milieu Counselor at Linden Hill, one of our residential treatment facilities. Herbert has worked for JBFCS since December 2006 and has consistently demonstrated his willingness to help others in need. He takes the time to develop a real connection with the young adults he works with. He’s willing to try new methods to break through their shells. JBFCS is honored to have Herbert working with us and is proud of all his accomplishments.

The election results are in, and Pride of Judea’s Heath Bloch has been elected to the Executive Committee of the New York Coalition for Asian American Mental Health (NYCAAMH). Founded in 1989, the NYCAAMH is an organization that strives to improve the quality of mental health care services available to Asian American communities in the New York City metropolitan area. JBFCS says kudos to Heath for extending the reach of Pride of Judea and reaching out to the community around him. It’s an honor that such outreach has been so well received and we are proud of Heath’s accomplishments.

Then join our 4th Annual Hudson Valley Bike Ride. Once again, we will be tackling the hills (gentle slopes?) of Westchester County as we bond and burn those calories. The ride begins and ends at our campus in Hawthorne Cedar Knolls. Riders pick up sponsors and that money helps defray the costs of all JBFCS does to help New Yorkers in need. There are 10-, 25-, and 62-mile routes. On campus, there will be music, food, and massage therapy for riders of all ages. So bring the kids and get peddling.

On June 4, 5, and 6, the Rabbinic Cabinet of the Jewish Federations of North America met in NYC. Part of the program included an afternoon at the World Trade Center site. JBFCS’ Rabbi Simkha Weintraub was on hand to discuss his nearly 10 years of leading the Support Group for Jews for Lost Relatives on 9/11/01. The Commissioner of the NYC Fire Department led a discussion in what clergy can do to further both remembrance and a commitment to a less violent and hateful world. Following this moving exchange at the Tribute Center, the group joined Michael Arad, architect of the 9/11 Memorial for a tour and discussion of the site, which culminated in the afternoon minchah service, and a chanting of the El Maleh memorial prayer next to the “Survivor Tree” on the plaza.