News & Impact

JFCS changes lives in ways that are both big and small. Whether finding support in a moment of need, strengthening connections to Jewish peoplehood, or discovering a community that feels like home, JFCS makes meaningful impact for families and individuals at every stage of life.  For Tali Feinberg’s family, Jewish Baby Network provided friendships, confidence, and a meaningful way to celebrate their Judaism. Tali Feinberg, Jewish Baby Network Alum: “I came late to the Jewish Baby Network; my daughter was already two years old when we moved from the East Bay, where no such resource existed. What a difference it… Read More

High school junior Marley Freyman has always been passionate about leadership, an interest she nurtured through her involvement in the many opportunities offered by JFCS’ YouthFirst programming. Her first experience was as a YouthFirst Impact Year Leader. As her service project for that program, she collaborated with JFCS’ Shupin Social Club and the Gary Shupin Independent Living Community for adults with developmental disabilities. She organized the Shupin volunteers in an effort to clean up walking paths in San Francisco’s Presidio district. “We took a lot of time walking in pairs through nature, picking up trash and forming bonds between groups… Read More

When a raging wildfire swept through the Bowyer’s house in Northern California last fall, it destroyed more than just their property—it took their home and years of cherished memories. This devastating loss came at an already overwhelming time, as the family was grappling with serious health challenges and the recent loss of a beloved family member. The holidays loomed ahead, promising none of their usual warmth and joy. “It challenged us to stay strong and lean on each other,” the family said about their feelings of initial hopelessness, “The wildfire was our rock bottom.”  Lost and devastated, the family turned… Read More

For decades, JFCS’ Adoption Connection has been a national leader in domestic open adoption. With the upcoming launch of our new surrogacy program, JFCS will be a unique family building center, providing education, expertise, and compassionate support for two popular paths to parenthood. Below, read the heartwarming first-hand experiences of new families Adoption Connection has helped grow. Mischa and Lillie “We’re so grateful to Adoption Connection for being there for us! Their encouragement to keep showing up led us to life with Felix, which we wouldn’t trade for anything.” We knew we wanted to adopt, and got started in the… Read More

When Nina Klein introduces herself, she often says “I am the daughter of Holocaust survivors.” From a young age, she was encouraged to discuss the Holocaust and her parents’ experiences. While it wasn’t always easy for Nina to hear or share these stories, she believes this openness was valuable in her upbringing and a major inspiration for becoming a volunteer at the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles—an organization dedicated to Holocaust research and remembrance.   Nina’s volunteer journey in the Jewish community would eventually lead her to JFCS, where she is a dynamic presence in numerous roles across the agency.… Read More

This spring, JFCS’ Financial Aid Center received record numbers of scholarship applications from outstanding local youth eager to pursue their college dreams. Thanks to the generosity of donors to JFCS’ scholarship fund, many young people received the life-changing news of financial help. Among the happy students were the four recipients of the Vivienne S. Camp Scholarship, which was established more than three decades ago through the visionary commitment of Mrs. Camp. This year’s Vivienne S. Camp Scholarship recipients have an array of aspirations—from astrophysics to the arts. What they share is a strong connection to their Jewish identity, a commitment… Read More