JFSA Connections -January

January 2012

JFSA IN THE NEWS

An Alternative To Cooking For Seniors

Adult Day Support Programs For Seniors

JFSA IN THE COMMUNITY

0.958904109589041 Shaker Heights senior Jonah Weinstein sang the national anthem before President Barack Obama's speech at Shaker Heights High School on Wednesday, January 4th. Jonah is a member of JFSA's Know Abuse teen dating violence prevention program.

Toby Bresky

Toby Bresky, Manager of JFSA's College Financial Aid Program will talk with parents and students about available college financial aid on Thursday, January 19, 2012 from 7:00 pm-8:30 pm at Siegal College. To register, email Toby.

SAVE THE DATE!

February Respect

To kick-off Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month in February, JFSA, The Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center and the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center are holding are a happy hour event on February 2, 2012 from 4:30 pm-7:30 pm at Great Lakes Brewing Company. For more information on tickets, click here.

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Stay up to date on JFSA news, events, programs and people and see our mission in action!

December Donors

JFSA

Anonymous (3)

Richard and Janet Aach

Joanne and Stephen Abel

Ian and Gloria Abrams

Trish and Mark Adler

Cindy and Jerald Aizen

Tatyana Andreev

Craig Appell

Ariella Rose Levine Foundation

The Bach Family Foundation

Lori Bagley

Scott Bash

Lawrence and Nancy Bell

Laura and Douglas Bell

Ernest and Eunice Benchell

Daniel and Mary Berick

Betty and Nathan Berliner

Lynne and Irv Berliner

Stanley Bernath

Susan Berneike

Gary and Janice Bilchik

Irena Bitenbinder

Robert and Eileen Blattner

Wendy Blattner and Tom Inck

B'nai Jeshurun Congregation

Martin and Eva Bohm

Robert Bologa

Tanya Borshov

Toby and Norman Bresky

C & M Field Services, Inc.

Gerald and Beatrice Camiener

Elaine Chaplin

Barry and Lynn Chesler

Hillel Chiel and Elizabeth Dreben

William and Mary Chilcote

Jeffrey and Carin Christie

Phyllis and Sidney Cohen

Robin and Lawrence Collins

Catherine Connell

Thomas and Sondra Cristal

Jermaine Cross

Anthony DeMauro

Elizabeth Dery

Mary Meredith Dobyns

Dory Doyle

Millicent Driver

Morton and Natalie Epstein

Robert and Marcia Fein

Midori and Claudio Fiocchi

Eric Fox

Sherman and Shirley Frankel

Elisha and Anna Fredman

Ann and Marc Freimuth

Harold and Nancy Friedman

Sheldon and Barbara Fromson

Ruth Galan

Ginny and Gadi Galili

Herbert Geduld

Boris Gliner

Delores and Martin Goldfarb

Pearl Goldstein

GoodSearch.com

Joyce Gordon

Susie and Marc Gordon

Jeffrey and Jodi Gottlieb

Louis and Roseann Gottlober

Micki and Larry Grano

Lottie Gray

Alvin Gray

Robert and Sally Gries

Rebecca Griffith

Henry Hall

Cheryl and Thomas Hanger

Seth Harris

G. Kent and Jerrye Hayes
Robert and Liedrith Heid

Deborah and Ronald Heller

Ruth and Lester Heltzer

David and Janet Hlavac

Martin Hoke

Maggie Hollman

Carolyn Holt

Leo and Florine Hornik

The Horowitz Ratner Family

Foundation

Robert Immerman

Patricia M. Inglis

Issi's Place, Inc.

Jack L. Rappoport Foundation

Kris Jaenicke

Elizabeth Jangiti

Jerusalem Grill, LLC

Sharon Jones

Pamela and Craig Kahn

Judith Kalman

Irving and Wally Kaplan

Gary Kaplan and Roberta Karsh

Kaplan

Linda Kelly

Jayna Kennedy

Henrietta Kirschenbaum

Joanne Klein and Marshall

Nurenberg

Irene and Roger Knipper

N. Herschel and Maxine Koblenz

Anita Koblitz

Randall and Jennifer Korach

Sue Ellen and Jeffrey Korach

Bertram Kramer

Keith and Kristen Kraus

Lader Family Foundation

Mitchell and Theresa Lapin

Dexter Lark

Tom and Jane Lassar

Sherelynn Lehman

L. Douglas and Jeannette Lenkoski

Terry Lester

Stephen and Lyn Levin

Sandra Lipman

Hank Long

Louis, Celia and Joseph L. Abrams

Memorial Fund

Irwin Lowenstein and Heather Ross-

Lowenstein

Marilyn Lowitt

Sandra Lusher-Waterhouse and

Bruce Waterhouse

Wendy Maayan

Martin and Lois Marcus

Richard and Margaret Margolis

Martha Meeker

Kimberley Meshanko

Donald and Sara Messinger

Irina Mikhalev

Christy Milicevic

Miller Good Family Charitable

Foundation

Bruce Millman

Patricia and Charles Mintz

Robert and Diane Mintz

Harriet and Mel Morris

Harriet Morse

Sheilah Moshogianes

Milton and Esther Moss

Rita Nagusky

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Judith and Ronald Neuger

Ann and Charles Newman

Nina and Norm Wain

Family Foundation

James and Audrey O'Donnell

Victoria Pajestka

Ashley Palm

David and Barbara Partington

Nancy and Allan Pearl

Erica Perkins

Edith Peskin

Kim and Paul Pesses

Robert and Mary Hellen Peters

Thomas and Karen Petersen

Brandy Pishner

Keith Poynter

Leonard and Heddy Rabe

Thomas Rappa

Veronica Richman Bellay

Thierry and Wendy Riek

Rabbi Daniel Roberts and Elaine

Rembrandt

Barbara Robinson

Michael and Jodi Rogoff

Joseph and Nechama Rosenbaum

Charles and Carole Rosenblatt

Alan and Barbara Rosskamm

Jennifer Roth

The Roth Pharmacy Group

Jackie and Fred Rothstein

Sababa Cuisine Inc.

Mark Sack

Bernard and Victoria Schmelzer

Harvey and Diane Scholnick

Stephan and Patricia Schwartz

Robert and Sandy Schwartz

Senkfor Family Foundation

Michael Shapiro

Roma and Dick Shapiro

Eric Shaw

Robert and Patricia Shiels

Michael and Paula Sieger

Leo and Paula Silberman

Silver, Cooper & Co., Inc.

Crystal Sloan

Richard and Barbara Speer

James and Myrna Spira

Eleanor Steigman

Mark and Fran Steinbock

Stephanie and Jared Miller Fund

David and Penny Strauss

Rosalyn and William Sukenik

Will and Jan Sukenik

Sukenik Family Foundation

Tibor and Hannah Szabo

Barbara Tate

Nicole Thomas

Karen Thompson

Maggie Tuggle

Chuck Varkala

Vendors Exchange

Michael and Peggy Wager

Marie Walzer

Judith and Bryon Wasserman

Maurice Weidenthal

Thomas and Doris Weil

The Adolf Weinberger Foundation

Leo Weiss

George and Josephine Weisz

Judy and Dale West

Harvey and Carol West

James and Eileen Wilkoff

Timothy Williams

Clifford and Linda Wolf

Emily Woods

Daniel and Ellen Worthington

Edward Wortzman

William Wortzman

Jay and Marshalla Yadav

Darrell and Andria Young

Gerald Zahler

Hebrew Shelter Home

David and Hedy Adler

Barbara Appel

Ruth Baker

Richard and Jacqueline Brooks

Scott and Carol Burg

Barry and Lynn Chesler

Rebecca Chesler

Jeffrey and Carin Christie

Jeffrey and Arielle Cohen

Stacia Dearmin

Dory Doyle

Alfred and Harriet Fader

Elisha and Anna Fredman

Jacqueline Freedman

Ann and Marc Freimuth

Gary Kaplan and Roberta Karsh

Kaplan

Karen and Steven Katz

Reed Kleinman

N. Herschel and Maxine Koblenz

Robert and Elayne Kwait

Betsy Mahlke

Joseph Mendes & Mollie Mendes

Family Charitable Fund

Rita Nagusky

Leonard and Rhoda Robuck

Anita and David Rosenbaum

Sukenik Family Foundation

Stephen and Naomi Weiss

David and Tamara Wilkof

William Wortzman

Darrell and Andria Young

Alex and Ruth Zelczer

PLAN

Anonymous

Barbara Appel

Lawrence and Nancy Bell

Donald and Therese Cairns

Gerald and Beatrice Camiener

Gerald Conway

Morton and Carol Frankel

Robin Herrington-Bowen

Robert and Adele Himler

Florence and Joseph Hrusch

The Maltz Family Foundation

The Milton and Tamar Maltz Family

Foundation

Sylvia and Victor Matthews

Homer and Jean McDaniel

Claudia Metz

The Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation

Helen and David Nagusky

Robert and Peggy Ratcheson

Nancy and Christopher Roy

Jeffrey and Mary Sopko

Michael Talty and Helen Talty

Charitable Trust

Raymond and Donna Timko

AND......

Very Special Thanks to Legacy Village for selecting JFSA as a recipient for the Holiday Giving Tree last month. JFSA clients enjoyed using donated gift cards at local stores.

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Services

2012 Annual MLK Celebration Concert

YouthAbility Receives Community Recognition

Brian, a YouthAbility participant receives the award with Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson. Yvonne Conwell, Cuyahoga County District 7 Councilwoman and Kevin Conwell, Ward 9 Cleveland City Councilman in background.

We are thrilled to announce that the Horvitz YouthAbility program received the 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award during the 32nd Annual MLK Celebration Concert by the Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall on January 15th.

The award is presented by The Cleveland Orchestra and the Greater Cleveland Partnership, in cooperation with the City of Cleveland to an individual, business or organization and youth who have positively impacted the community in the spirit of the teachings and example of Dr. King.

Congratulations to our amazing YouthAbility participants!

JFSA Lifeline

Independent & Safe at Home

Edith Ordman is like many other older adults who enjoy their independence and take pride in being able to live safely at home. However, the importance of staying safe while living alone took on a sharper meaning for both Edith and her daughter Maureen Ordman-Fike recently when Edith took a fall and was unable to pick herself up. Fortunately, Edith had just had JFSA's Lifeline installed in her home. Detecting that Edith had fallen, the AutoAlert pendant automatically placed a call for help.

"Within 24 hours of having the device installed, my mother fell and had to use it," Maureen said. "She doesn't have a lot of strength and it is hard for her to get up on her own."

JFSA's Lifeline provides an important measure of comfort and relief for family members, like Maureen, but also for users themselves. Edith doesn't always have to ask her children for help, her daughter said. "That is a big deal for her," Maureen said. "She doesn't have to rely on us as much as she used to. She sees JFSA Lifeline as a tool for independence, not dependence."

Now through January 31, 2012, get a free installation (a $40 value) and first month of service free. For details and to schedule a free in-home demonstration, call Maxine Margolis at 216-378-3439.

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Families at Risk

Local Stylists Learn to Know Abuse

Lavish Salon stylists learn about domestic abuse from JFSA staff.

Tracy Watts-Cirino, owner of

Lavish Color Salon in Warrensville Heights, is always looking to find a way to support the community.

On January 9th, Tracy and her staff took part in JFSA's Know Abuse Family Violence Services domestic violence training. By learning the different signs of abuse and how to help a client who may be in an abusive situation, Tracy hopes the salon is doing a service to the community. "Any way we can have a watchful eye to save a life, we will do so," Tracy says.

Stylists Briana Biello and Stephen Manes are former JFSA Expect Respect members.

The training took on a deeper meaning for one stylist, who shared her story of being in an abusive relationship. Two stylists have a personal connection to JFSA- they are past members of the teen dating outreach program Expect Respect (now Know Abuse).

Lavish stylists received two free Continuing Education Credits for taking part in the training. The CEUs are made possible through a partnership with JFSA and the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

If you would like to bring this brand new program to your salon, call Ginny at 216.378.3420.

Horvitz YouthAbility

New Mini-Foundation Teaches Valuable Life Skills

Horvitz YouthAbility coordinator Heidi Solomon and members talk about the mini-foundation.

Philanthropy comes in a new form for members of the Horvitz YouthAbility program. Recently, the group decided to donate tips earned from their popular lunch delivery and challah delivery programs to different local organizations in need.

To begin the process, members first discussed what causes they wanted to support and decided on: Hunger, Medical Needs, Education, Animals and Disabled Populations, explained Heidi Solomon, YouthAbility coordinator.

"We asked questions of one another such as 'What happens if you are hungry?' and based on that discussion, decided which organizations we wanted to support," she says. In total, YouthAbility donated $650 dollars to 10 organizations, including Autism Speaks, an organization that means a lot to Evan Burg, a YouthAbility member. "There are other people who have challenges just like me," Evan said. "It's a great thing to give back to this organization."

Shari Goldberg is the Northeast Ohio Chapter President for Autism Speaks and the parent of a YouthAbility participant. In a thank you note to the group, she wrote "Your hearts are so big and your kindness is so evident in all that you do to help our community. It is community members like you that help make our society a better place."

YouthAbility members also learned some important life skills in the development of their new foundation. They opened a bank account in which to deposit their tip money from their lunch program. They filled out deposit slips and wrote checks and letters to the various recipient organizations.

Now they are getting ready to choose the next set of organizations to help. "Philanthropy can be giving of time, talent and treasure," said Heidi. "This is another way the kids can give back." For a list of organizations that received support, click here.

March 1, 2012 Application Deadline
Planning to attend college in 2012?

JFSA is accepting applications for the Jack W. and Shirley J. Berger Scholarship for the 2012-2013 academic year and the Yoda Newton Scholarship. There are no restrictions in regard to race, ethnic origin or religion for either scholarship. The deadline for both scholarships is March 1, 2012. For more information, contact Toby Bresky, Manager of College Financial Aid Program at tbresky@jfsa-cleveland.org. Information is also available in local high school guidance offices. Here's what some of our scholarship recipients have to say about JFSA's College Financial Aid Program:

"Toby Bresky really pushed me to apply for scholarships I didn't think I was qualified for. Toby helped me realize any money helps."

-Avital Lugasy

2011 Raskind Family Scholarship Recipient

"JFSA helped me out a lot when it came to college financial aid and it also means a lot to know the agency is really committed to the community."

-Polina Vaynshtok

2011 Mrs. Bert Keller Award Recipient

"I don't have to worry as much about money

because of my JFSA scholarship."

-Liz Jones

2011 Jack W. and Shirley J. Berger Scholarship

For details about each scholarship's requirements and other available scholarships, click here.

JFSA Volunteer Profile

Delivering Meals & Smiles for 23 years

Since 1988, Sharon Hirsch has been delivering meals every week to JFSA clients. She says over the years, the logistics of picking up meals has changed, but what hasn't changed are the relationships.

"I can only spend about 10 minutes at each home, but you'd be surprised at the kind of bond you can form in such a short period of time," Sharon said. "I've had people call me their 'ray of sunshine' so I gain as much from this as they do."

She says delivering meals was a great way for her to volunteer and balance a family and a part-time job. "This (delivering meals) is part of my lifestyle every Tuesday morning," she said. "It really fits in well with my life."

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with JFSA, call Sandy Lusher-Waterhouse at 216-378-3475 or click here.

JFSA Food Pantry

Food Challenge Gives Pantry a Big Boost

Nan Cohen, Max and Nate Sheridan in the JFSA Food Pantry.

Recently, the staff at Creekside Financial Advisers, LLC in Cleveland held a food drive to help stock JFSA's Food Pantry. Employees donated food and dollars to help buy food for JFSA clients who cannot always afford to make purchases on their own.

Keren Copeland, JFSA Ascentia Administrator, provided the staff with a list of the most needed items, and with that, employees loaded up two cars full of diapers, spaghetti sauce, toilet paper, canned fruits, tuna, soup and vegetables and delivered everything on December 21, 2011 just in time for the holidays.

"Nan Cohen (CEO) and Max and Nate Sheridan (sons of Creekside employee Laura Sheridan) did more than just donate food. They physically stocked our pantry shelves," Copeland said.

JFSA thanks Creekside Financial Advisors for your contribution to our food pantry! Keren says the pantry is always in need of canned goods. Drop-off hours are 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday at the Drost Family Center, 24075 Commerce Park Rd, Beachwood.

Contact Keren with questions at 216.378.3426.

Philanthropy at JFSA

Teaching the Next Generation

JFSA is so fortunate to have the support of many families, especially during the winter holiday season, when the needs of JFSA clients become especially important to meet. Among our many donors that contributed to this year's season of giving, we are pleased to tell you about three special families that made giving to JFSA a truly family effort.

The Cohen Family

Jacob, Natalie and Claire Cohen with their donations to the Hebrew Shelter Home.

JFSA Vice Chair Phil Cohen and his wife, Lynne, and their three children, along with their extended family decided to "adopt" three families living in the Hebrew Shelter Home for Chanukah. With the help of JFSA staff who provided Cohen family members with a comprehensive list of family needs as well as a profile of the children in each family, over 50 gifts were wrapped and delivered to JFSA.

For each mother in the shelter, Lynne purchased a robe, a spa package and a gift card so the women could go to a salon. In addition to the gifts, daughter Natalie brought some of her favorite gently used books to share. Ginny Galili, Executive Director for JFSA Families at Risk talked with the Cohen children about the shelter home and services JFSA provides.

The Good Family

JFSA Life Director Sally Good's mother, Ann Miller, was actively involved in JFSA for over 50 years, serving as board president from 1952-1956. During Chanukah, Sally brought her three grandchildren to JFSA so they could deliver gift cards to Hebrew Shelter Home families. They also donated books for the Families at Risk office waiting room and to the shelter home. Sally's grandchildren learned about their long-time family connection to the agency and how JFSA helps the community.

The Plax Family

JFSA Committee member Elisabeth Plax wanted her grandson, Sam, who lives in Medford, Oregon to experience what it feels like to give back to the community. She and Sam visited JFSA and donated a gift card to a Families at Risk client and some gently used books and clothing. Grandmother and grandson also spent time with Karen Leizman-Moses, Major Gifts Officer, so Sam could learn more about how donations are used to help JFSA clients.

If you would like to teach your children about the importance of giving back to the community, contact Karen Leizman-Moses at 216.504.6407.

Mini-Mission Highlights JFSA

Young Leaders Get Close Up Look at JFSA

YLD board member Nina Sundell with JFSA Ascentia clients Christopher Bucell and Joey Tells.

For two hours on a Sunday afternoon, members of Jewish Federation of Cleveland's Young Leadership Division got a first hand look at JFSA's largest division, Ascentia, when they made crafts with some of the residential clients. It was part of a YLD Mini-Mission to learn more about the programs and services offered through JFSA and a chance to meet the people we serve every day. JFSA is the largest recipient of the Federation's annual campaign.

JFSA President and CEO Susan Bichsel, PhD started the session with an agency overview. In addition to the craft projects, YLD members also learned about JFSA's Families at Risk division. Executive Director Ginny Galili talked about services to help the homeless and victims of domestic violence. Two members of JFSA's Know Abuse program talked about the teen dating violence prevention program and outreach to local schools. The mini-mission was definitely a learning experience for members. "I wasn't aware of the variety of services and programs or the widespread impact JFSA has on the community," said Andrew Zelman. "Being here today puts a face and a name to the dollars that go to JFSA," noted Margaret Richards Frankel.

JFSA Main Phone 216.292.3999

JFSA Care at Home 216.378.8660

Ascentia 216.292.3999

JFSA Families at Risk (Know Abuse, Family Violence Services) 216.292.3999

Hebrew Shelter Home 216.378.3420

Mesila Cleveland 216.378.3431

College Financial Aid 216.292.3999

PLAN of Northeast Ohio 216.321.3611