- Stories & Testimonials
- Financial Assistance
As small business owners who have seen their own enterprises grow over the years, Vlad and Sandra Shmunis have a particular affection for budding entrepreneurs who are trying to get a good start in life. That’s why they have invested in JFCS’ Financial Aid Center, which offers assistance to young, promising upstarts in the Bay Area.
“We’re big believers in helping those who are helping themselves,” says Sandra, “and we wanted to invest in a program that is already well established so that we didn’t need to reinvent the wheel. In addition, we have a great deal of respect for JFCS—it’s one of the top-run organizations in the Bay Area—and we believe in supporting the Jewish community.”
Originally from Odessa, Vlad and Sandra are grateful for JFCS and other Jewish family service organizations that helped bring them, their parents, grandparents, and other close relatives and friends to the United States from the former Soviet Union. They hope that their gift to JFCS’ Small Business and Professional Loan Program will reap dividends in a number of ways: inspiring others in the community to contribute to it and seeing the businesses that are helped grow and fuel our local economy by hiring more workers.
“We are deeply grateful to Vlad and Sandra and their family for their support of the Jewish community. This vital program is inspiring bright, young people to be successful and give back the way the Shmunis family is,” says Dr. Anita Friedman, JFCS’ Executive Director. “At the same time, the Shmunis’ gift is also inspiring other thoughtful friends to come forward to make gifts to the Small Business and Professional Loan Program. We appreciate their generosity.”
If you would like to make a donation, please contact Barbara Farber at [email protected], 415-449-3858, or click here to give online.
Learn more about Vlad Shmunis >
Read about some of the small businesses that have been helped:
Inna Jam >
Sour Flour >
Marlo’s Bakeshop >