One
Community Thriving One Person at a Time
A Letter from Our CEO
Dear Mission Partners,
Together, we had an amazing year. Thanks to your partnership, we served more people than ever before. With your help, the mother of a bouncy toddler filled her grocery cart in the Barbash Family Vital Support Center’s Heldman Family Food Pantry. That’s our goal: one community thriving, one person at a time. This commitment is part of our DNA.
This report is part of that commitment. We are responsible to you. And our partnership results in immense impact for our community.
Three accomplishments this year especially highlight our efficiency as an organization, in alignment with our values:
• We have doubled the number of volunteers, offering our clients and participants more chances for one-on-one connection, and extending our reach while stewarding a tight budget.
• We are rated a 4-star charity—the highest possible—on Charity Navigator, which speaks to our financial responsibility.
• We have received strong, sustained support from you, our community, in response to the nationwide budget cuts that threaten our clients who face hunger, eviction, or inability to get health insurance. This support is vital. Thank you.
We continue to meet our community’s emerging needs. Youth Mental Health Services is thriving. In response to demand, Adult Day Services is adding capacity. And we are committed to continuing to offer a multitude of ways to connect with, and to belong to, our Jewish community.
At JFS, before anything else, we see the human being first. Please reach out to me personally (lvogel@jfscinti.org) if I can be of service.
Warmly,
Liz Vogel CEO Jewish Family Service
You Helped Niki Find Her Judaism Again
At 86, Niki Eschen’s apartment overflowed with books, art, and memories—but she missed the Jewish traditions and cultural liveliness of her childhood. Through Jewish Family Service she found it all again: Shabbat services, Hebrew lessons, friendships, and even hospital visits when she needed them. She says, “Jewish Family Service gave me back my Jewish life.”
You Saved Hannah From Eviction
When “Hannah” lost her Section 8 voucher, her rent jumped to $1,180—far beyond what she could manage on $12 an hour while raising her daughter and caring for her brother. Eviction loomed. Jewish Family Service stepped in with one month’s rent, food support, and guidance. That breathing room helped her secure affordable housing— and find steady ground again.
You Helped Kenny Keep Dad Home
For nearly four years, Kenny Tessel cared for his father as his dementia deepened. When it became overwhelming, Kenny benefited from Jewish Family Service’s caregivers support group and weekly one-on-one check-ins with a care manager. “Emily was there for me,” Kenny said. “I was the primary caregiver, 24-7. But I would do it all over again.”
Our community responded with compassion to our clients’ and participants’ increased needs this year. As a result, our number of volunteers doubled exactly when they were especially needed. Last year, for example, our volunteers packed and delivered Passover food to 615 community members. Our volunteers change lives.
Our Impact
3,488
894
106,139 275 255
In my 30 years of practice, I talked with a lot of patients. Everybody’s got stuff; it’s our trials and tribulations. It hits every socioeconomic class. What JFS does is help people with those trials and tribulations. It’s a wonderful organization.
—Ellen W. Feld, MD President of the Board
Clients served (17% increase)
Individuals received food
Home care hours provided for Holocaust survivors
Programs offered at the Russian Jewish Cultural Center
Clients counseled (15% increase)
President of the Board
Ellen W. Feld, MD
Vice President, President Elect
John Acklen Jr.
Board of Directors
Treasurer
Lev Orlov
Secretary Cathy Bowers
Immediate Past President
Joanne Grossman
Executive Committee Members-At-Large
Suzette Fisher
Seth Schwartz
At-Large Members
Marsha Barsman
Jeff Epstein, PhD
David Frankel
Aaron Guttman
Jamie Heldman
Blair Kamrass
Landon Krantz, MD
Heshel Mangel
Julie Payton
Edward Rivin
Michael Samet
Kristin Shrimplin
Gary Smith, DVM
Stuart Solomon
Nancy Steinberg Warren
Marc Weinstein, PhD
Ben Yudin
Jorin Zola
Our mission is to strengthen lives and enhance our diverse community by providing exceptional and transformational human services. To view the 2025 Jewish Family Service financials online please
• Member agency of the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
Visit: jfscinti.org/annual meeting
Scan:
• Aging Life Care Association® professional membership
• National Association of Social Workers professional membership
• Partner agency with Freestore Foodbank
• Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association affiliate
Social services for Jewish Nazi victims have been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. Some services of the Aging and Caregiver Services program are administered by Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio.
Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care