Bridging Barriers. Building Connections.

Damp weather did nothing to darken spirts of attendees inside the Mayerson JCC’s Amberley Room, as they smiled and mingled prior to Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati’s (JFS) Annual Meeting on April 4. The atmosphere was one of celebration and the room was full as the community convened to learn of agency accomplishments and challenges, honor individual achievements, accomplish board business, and tout JFS’s theme for the upcoming year: Bridging Barriers. Building Connections.

JFS Board President Joanne Grossman called the meeting to order and thanked JFS donors, lay leaders, and volunteers for providing their steadfast stewardship. Grossman noted that the organization will double in its size and capacity during the five-years from 2020 to 2025. Rabbi Yair Walton offered an inspiring invocation that encouraged the community to “recognize the divine spark within each individual, irrespective of age, background, or life journey.” 

After October 7: “We Got Right to Work.”

Grossman spoke of the attack of October 7, and noted how important JFS’s response was: “It goes without saying that JFS never aspires to be an agency offering a grieving community comfort,” she said, “or hostages and their families temporary aid, or Holocaust survivors peace of mind, but, clearly, it is good that we are here, and can provide all that when needed.”

Returning to the evening’s theme, Grossman introduced the video, “Bridging Barriers. Building Connections.” It told the stories of three individuals—each confronted by a barrier of their own. For Chuck Albers and his wife, Melisa, the barrier was her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and their hope to find a place where she could “just be herself” for a few hours, spending time with others dealing with cognitive challenges. JFS Adult Day Services—a program made possible by Jewish Home of Cincinnati that opened last November—was the ideal solution for them. For Ilana Nadel, anxiety had become a troubling barrier for her young daughter. After Nadel and her husband contacted JFS Youth Mental Health Services, counselors helped their daughter with tools that have given her lasting confidence.

On Top of Life’s Challenges, a Setback

For Philip Moore, who has been living with cerebral palsy his whole life, a barrier surfaced in 2022. That’s when his father—who lived with Moore and helped him with housekeeping and transportation—suffered a heart attack and needed to move into assisted living. At this point, Moore realized he needed to be proactive, so he contacted StarPoint Home Care—a division of JFS—and was introduced to Diamond Johnson, a StarPoint Home Care caregiver. The two have now been working together for more than a year and Moore is thrilled with the connection they’ve made: “We make a good team.” Moore and Johnson attended the meeting and the audience responded enthusiastically to their presence.

“Just Make the Call.”

Mashayla Colwell spoke next, and it was a highlight. Introducing herself as “the Marketing Director for Jewish Family Service,” Colwell then stated, “I’m also a JFS client.” In clear-eyed testimony, Colwell explained how, in early 2023, her mother had fallen and broken her neck. Adding insult to injury, Colwell’s mother would next fall into a bureaucratic quagmire; she needed three months of intensive hospital care, but—having no Medicaid—would only be able to pay for two weeks (via insurance). As an educated professional, Colwell felt confident that she’d be able to cut through the red tape, but she was wrong. Reaching a breaking point that got the attention of JFS coworkers, Colwell was urged to “call AgeWell Cincinnati,” which in turn opened doors to JFS social workers. Before two weeks had passed, Colwell’s mother had Medicaid coverage that was portable and permanent. The problem was resolved, thanks to JFS.

“It goes without saying that JFS never aspires to be an agency offering a grieving community comfort, or hostages and their families temporary aid, or Holocaust survivors peace of mind, but, clearly, it is good that we are here, and can provide all that when needed.”

—Joanne Grossman, JFS Board President

Complex Problems Don’t Discriminate

JFS CEO Liz Vogel brought home the message that “JFS is here for everyone” by flipping the script on the typical annual meeting format; instead of only sharing successes, she told of a complaint she had received. A community member, whom Vogel greatly admired, told her that she’d been struggling for years with a serious family matter. “This person had shared her problem with friends, searched everywhere for resources, and aggressively sought advice,” Vogel recalled. “When she finally decided to call JFS, our Barbash Family Vital Support Center staff was able to address the highly complex situation in no time.” In other words, the experience of this educated, well-connected Cincinnatian mirrored Colwell’s. 

Vogel said the meeting theme—Bridging Barriers; Building Connections—flowed directly out of this person’s complaint. “She told me that, for her, the barrier was misunderstanding,” Vogel said. “She wished she’d called JFS sooner, but she lacked understanding of what a modern JFS does.” Asking the audience for help, Vogel suggested that folks “lead by example” to reframe the way the community thinks about our agency. “Show people that complex problems don’t discriminate,” she said. “They can arrive on the doorstep for all of us.”

Vogel also announced a new, five-year partnership gift from The Rockwern Charitable Foundation. This gift honors the close relationship Samuel Rockwern had with his niece, and—in his final years—his caregiver, Stephanie Amlung. The generous gift will allow JFS to hire another full-time counselor, which should reduce wait times for clients. 

Building A Living Legacy

Another highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the "Building a Living Legacy" naming rights campaign—aimed at growing JFS's endowment to ensure its mission endures for generations to come. In a video, community leaders Leah and Gary Smith shared their naming-rights story. Leah told how she was drawn to mental health issues because of her father, who likely had PTSD from being in World War II. Gary said that JFS’s robust growth in recent years had fueled a passion in both, and that they wanted to enjoy the fruits of their labor by giving back to JFS while still alive. Specifically, the financial support they gave JFS is evidenced by the JFS Counseling Center Waiting Room, which is now named after them. The Smiths, who were also in attendance, stood to acknowledge the crowd’s warm reception.

The contributions of dedicated JFS volunteers and staff were also noted during the meeting. JFS Chief Operating Officer Linda Kean, and JFS Chief Services Officer Ann Sutton Burke honored long-serving team members for their unwavering dedication to JFS's values, vision, and mission. Board President Grossman then returned to the podium to announce this year’s recipient of the prestigious Miriam Dettelbach Award: Dr. Ellen Feld. This award is given to honor exceptional volunteer service and Dr. Feld was saluted for her many accomplishments, her commitment, and unwavering enthusiasm. 

Into the Night, Energized and Optimistic

As the night ended, Grossman thanked attendees for their support and encouraged continued engagement with JFS's mission. The 2024 Annual Meeting of Jewish Family Service was more than a gathering—it had been a testament to the power of a community’s collective action in effecting positive, lasting change.