Jewish Family & Children’s Service

Changing lives is the core of what Jewish Family & Children’s Service is all about — and its 5th Annual Brighter Tomorrow Luncheon “is a chance for us to give a story or two about what JFCS has been doing in the community,” says Frank Jacobson, VP of marketing and development, who organizes the event. One spotlight story, shared as a video presentation, is that of an eight-year-old boy who had been with Child Protective Services and went through JFCS’s behavioral health program, turned his life around, and has been adopted. The headline speaker will be Eldridge Broussard, whose motivational story of how he went from ward of the State of Oregon to its juvenile justice system to become, eventually, a respected community and business leader reflects the goals of JFCS. 

“Jewish Family & Children’s Service is a non-sectarian, community-based organization that strives to restore hope to those in desperate circumstances; ensure a future where families are strong, children are safe, and elders can live with dignity,” says Michael R. Zent, Ph.D., president and CEO of JFCS. “Our dedication to this mission is strengthened by our commitment to core Jewish values that honor community and the continuity of the generations.”

Snapshot

• JFCS expects 400-500 people at its 5th Annual Brighter Tomorrow Luncheon, which will be held Feb. 7 at the Arizona Biltmore. Last year’s event raised nearly $230,000.
• Serving a diverse population from children to older adults that includes Hispanics, Native Americans and African Americans, JFCS touches the lives of about 36,000 people through its programs for individuals and families.
• Programs include behavioral health and social services. JFCS is one of the largest providers of services to Arizona’s Child Protective Services, helping with family preservation, reunification of family and parenting skills. Its child crisis team is called in to hospitals to help children and their family who have suffered terrible trauma.
• Four hundred child welfare, behavioral health and other professionals are assisted by about 100 volunteers in four programmatic divisions: behavioral health, child welfare, older adult and Jewish community.