Lonny Darwin z’l – October 29, 1912 – January 11, 2013 Just as Lonny Darwin shaped the Bay Area Jewish community, many people, places, and passions shaped Lonny.  Our entire community has benefited from her work—whether it be youth who can learn about the Holocaust or the elderly who can enjoy a cultural performance. Lonny was a community leader, a true philanthropist, and a dear friend.  Living for more than 100 years gave her ample opportunity to learn important life lessons from people, passions, travels, and experiences.  Lonny was who she was because of these multiple influences, and none more… Read More

“David and I direct tax-free distributions from our IRAs to the Gita and Henry Baigelman Holocaust Education Fund we established at JFCS.  By doing so we perpetually honor the memory of my parents, Holocaust survivors, while teaching today’s students about the necessity of standing up against discrimination and intolerance.”—Riva Berelson… Read More

May his memory be for a blessing. A former administrator with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services, at which he oversaw western states’ implementation of the National School Lunch Program and other programs to help families and children, Jim took an early interest in JFCS’ Food Programs to help clients at risk of hunger.  This led to his creation of a JFCS named endowment fund, the Let Them Eat Bread Fund.  “My main charitable activities have involved feeding people,” he said. Over time, though, Jim’s philanthropic interests and involvement with JFCS have broadened.  He redid his… Read More

A Philanthropic Legacy—Past, Present, and Planned “We are interested in providing this legacy because of the great work JFCS does in providing for the wide range of needs within our community—youth, parents, adults, and seniors.” With these words Board member Alex Ingersoll and his husband, Martin Tannenbaum, a strategic planning, business, and training consultant to the agency, notified Jewish Family and Children’s Services that we are one of three major beneficiaries of their estate plan. Their significant commitment has been shaped by each man’s life-long exposure to, and belief in, the importance of philanthropy. Alex, who grew up on a… Read More

William and Renėe Rothmann and Bill’s siblings, John Rothmann and Susan Rothmann Seeley, were honorees at the 2nd Annual Fammy Awards Gala in 1986, the year the event officially became a tradition. “We are huge Gala goers,” Bill says of the JFCS annual fundraiser. “The Fammy’s are my wife’s favorite. I don’t know that we’ve ever missed one.” Bill has always recognized the importance of family and when it was suggested that he be honored for his leadership he said yes, as long as his family was included too. One of the JFCS areas of service that speaks most to… Read More

Nancy Livingston z’l and Fred Levin sat for this interview in 2018. May her memory be for a blessing. The dynamic husband-and-wife duo, Fred Levin and Nancy Livingston, honor a family legacy to support the Jewish community. Well-loved patrons of the Bay Area’s arts scene and married nearly four decades, they are the type of couple who regularly complete each other’s sentences. Fred and Nancy have been steadfast and passionate supporters of JFCS for over fifteen years, having served on JFCS’ Special Events Committee and worked on the Annual Campaign. Nancy says, “The scope of JFCS’ work is truly amazing.”… Read More