News & Impact

As a dedicated Board member, Joe “Yossi” Alouf is a longtime friend and heartfelt advocate of JFCS. His warmth and enthusiasm for helping others is always palpable, and he never misses JFCS’ Fammy Awards Gala and Emigre Community Gala. Currently a partner at Eaglepoint Advisors, Yossi advises corporate clients on business model scaling, reinvention, and operational or financial restructuring. He brings his extraordinary expertise and talent to his work on JFCS’ Finance Committee. He also serves on the Special Events Subcommittee. For him, “JFCS is such a generous and impressive organization and I’m honored to help make sure it will… Read More

Robert Blum credits his father, a Holocaust survivor, for his focus on the Jewish value of tikkun olam in his business and personal endeavors. A biopharmaceutical business leader, Robert is President and Chief Executive Officer of Cytokinetics, and he is a highly respected community member and passionate advocate for JFCS. As a member of the JFCS Board of Directors, Robert serves on the Major Gifts and Special Events Subcommittees, and sits on the JFCS Holocaust Center Advisory Council. He and his wife, Dana, also co-chaired this year’s wildly successful Fammy Awards Gala. He says, “JFCS is authentic in its Jewish… Read More

When Manny Kagan and his family stepped off the plane to start their new life in the United States, he knew from his first day in San Francisco that he was in a town like no other. In the years that have followed Manny has become a successful businessman, a well-loved philanthropist, and a talented photographer. A long-time member of JFCS’ Emigre Committee, Manny has been an instrumental supporter and voice for the thousands of immigrants from the former Soviet Union who were helped by JFCS to start new lives in California over the past forty years. A Life Purpose… Read More

Michael Rolnick is putting his business expertise to work for JFCS along with his enthusiasm to spread the word about the impact the agency has in our community. As a well-respected and successful venture capital investor and entrepreneur, his career in media and technology has spanned nearly two decades. He and his family have been energetic JFCS community members for years and Michael recently joined the Board of Directors. He also sits on JFCS’ Program and Planning and Peninsula Major Gifts Committees, and he and his wife, Linda Himelstein, are this year’s North Peninsula Fammy Gala Co-Chairs. Michael says, “JFCS… Read More

For generations Deborah Hoffman’s family has contributed to the growth of JFCS, and now she is taking her turn. Always energetic and extremely generous with her time, Debbie is making an impact on the JFCS Board of Directors and is also a committed member of the Loans and Grants, Program and Planning, North Peninsula Development, Fammy Gala, and Endowment Committees. With such a strong family legacy of giving coupled with a willingness to dive in to any new project, Debbie says, “I think of philanthropy like breathing; you just do it naturally.” Tell us a bit about the community where… Read More

Miriam Sparrow brings the natural charm of a southerner to her many roles at JFCS, along with her commitment and drive. A JFCS Board member for two years, she is also the Sonoma County Co-Chair of JFCS’ Public Issues Committee and a member of the Sonoma County Leadership Team.  She also serves on the JFCS-wide Program and Planning Committee, the Public Issues Committee, and the By-Laws Review Committee. In her relatively short time on the JFCS Board Miriam is already known for her expertise, dedication, and role as an effective and respected ambassador on behalf of JFCS and those who… Read More