Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Northern New Jersey (JFCS) has been providing support to those in need in the community for over 60 years. In 2019, facing ever-increasing demands from people looking for help with issues such as depression, anxiety, food scarcity, aging loved ones and unemployment, JFCS realized that it needed additional staff and resources to help its neighbors.

Thanks to the generosity of the Preside Grant to expand capacity, JFCS is excited to welcome Michele Wellikoff, LCSW, as the new director of development. Michele previously worked at JFS Clifton for 15 years, most recently in the role of director of business development.

In her new role as director of development at JFCS, Michele plans to implement many of the prototypes successfully executed at JFS Clifton, making it one of the largest chesed organizations in the Passaic-Clifton community. Her mission is to expand on the excellent fundamentals of JFCS and establish goals and fundraising events that will carry the agency to a new level of excellence. With enthusiasm and extensive experience in the non-profit sector, Michele looks to incorporate her expertise with the incredible staff, to position JFCS as a leading social service agency in its catchment area throughout Bergen, Hudson, and portions of Passaic County.

JFCS provides a full range of integrated social services including mental health counseling, senior case management, kosher food pantries in Teaneck and Fair Lawn, information and referrals, career services and group support programs. Michele wants people to be aware of available services.

“We want JFCS to be a household name, known for providing the highest caliber of care to those in our community,” she said.

The growth and expansion of programs within the agency has been tremendous. That said, it has become a priority to maximize the agency’s ability to raise gifts. “Many of the necessary services are not funded, and we don’t want to have to turn anyone away,” explained Michele.

In this new position, she hopes to gain a better understanding of the community’s needs and make sure there is funding available to meet those needs. Fundraising is her primary responsibility and she is eager to meet with existing donors to learn what motivates them to support the agency and what new programs they would like to help create. She also looks forward to engaging new donors and community members in expanding the impact and reach of JFCS to meet the increasing needs of the community.

Michele, part of the Orthodox community, lives in Passaic with her husband and four children. When asked what drew her to this position, she said, “The larger the area the greater the need. The potential to help more people was alluring,” she confided.

Michele looks forward to meeting the community this Sunday, June 23, at the ninth annual Ride to Fight Hunger. She is eager to connect with community members by phone at 201-837-9090 or via email [email protected]. For more information about the Ride to Fight Hunger, check out www.ridetofighthunger.com.� To learn more about JFCS programs and services, please visit www.JFCSNNJ.org.

By Andrea Nissel�