(Courtesy of JFCS) On June 22, Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Northern New Jersey (JFCS) held a virtual annual meeting to mark the end of its fiscal year. Due to COVID-19, JFCS board members, staff and volunteers met online to celebrate the achievements of the past year and to discuss future agency plans. JFCS CEO Susan Greenbaum emceed the meeting and applauded her staff and thanked them for their continued dedication, especially during the current crisis. “Our annual meeting is an opportunity for me to publicly praise and thank the staff and leadership of JFCS for their unwavering and tireless dedication to our community. I am so very proud,” said Greenbaum.
In a bittersweet moment, outgoing president Debbie Harris spoke about her tenure as leader of the board and her sense of fulfillment in the agency’s accomplishments. “A virtual annual meeting surely is not the warm, embracing evening that we normally look forward to, but it is more important than ever to reflect on the incredible impact we’ve had, to acknowledge the accomplishments of staff and volunteers and to go from strength to strength by ushering in our new leadership,” said Harris. “It has been such an honor and privilege to serve as president of JFCS and I am so proud and impressed that the dedication, strategic planning and generosity of all of you has ensured that the agency continues to fully serve the community, even in the face of such a challenging time.” Harris also thanked the outgoing board members for their years of dedication to JFCS and welcomed new board members to the team.
Greenbaum introduced and welcomed the new JFCS board president, Rachel Scheff, who spoke about her excitement for leading an organization that serves the local community with such purposefulness. “JFCS is a remarkable agency. As it always has, and especially through these challenging months, the agency has provided essential services with compassion and expertise to our friends, neighbors and community. I am grateful for the opportunity to step into this new role as president to represent the dedicated board of directors and support the meaningful work of the JFCS professionals,” said Scheffl. Scheff thanked her family for instilling her with Jewish values and said a shehechiyanu blessing at the end of her speech to mark the beginning of a new phase.
The Volunteer of the Year award, which recognizes an exceptional and committed JFCS volunteer, was presented to Dr. Joey Silverman, who has volunteered for Kosher Meals on Wheels (KMOW) since 2016. “If I call him last minute and ask if he can add a delivery to his route, or whether he can sub for another driver, he always tries to find a way,” said Francine Cuff, the KMOW program coordinator. “In my time working with Joey I have come to value him greatly as a volunteer and I’m honored to call him my friend.”
Greenbaum also highlighted this year’s bnei mitzvah, Maddie Brooks of Norwood, Avigayil Geyer of Teaneck and Gregory Michaels of Tenafly, who celebrated this milestone with JFCS by volunteering and doing good deeds for the Northern New Jersey community. When asked why other kids should consider volunteering with JFCS for their bar/bat mitzvah, Gregory replied, “They should volunteer for JFCS because the people to whom we deliver food are so appreciative.”
For more information visit�www.jfcsnnj.org� or call 201-837-9090.
