As Board Chair of JF&CS for these past two years, I have had the opportunity and privilege to see the remarkable work this agency performs. Sometimes joyous — sometimes heartbreaking, being in the Chair at JF&CS was humbling as I observed our 200+ member team deliver world class services to those in need in our community. JF&CS has become a ‘front line responder’ for the Jewish community and the greater Atlanta community. This strategic change has meant change for the agency as well.
Those who serve as Board Chair have a unique perspective. They are not management, yet are advisor; they are not CFO, yet are fiduciary. All to say, I have been able to experience and see the agency’s work at a granular level. What I have learned is that, without exception, our team — from top to bottom — shows up to accomplish the mission every single day. Whether the team delivers mental health counseling or assessment, assists families with aging parents or the aging parent themselves, cares for and fulfills an intellectually- or developmentally-disabled client, fixes someone’s smile, brings meals to Holocaust survivors, or helps a family get to financial stability, each provider does so with love, care, and respect with our mission and values in mind.
The most amazing thing is how flexible and innovative the team is. I wrote earlier about how quickly JF&CS responded to the October 7th tragedy by providing support and care locally AND in Israel in less than 24 hours. Recently, with tragedy again in our community, the team provided immediate counseling after a death by suicide. The agency continues to innovate in all its areas when the need arises, including planning for world class I/DD services for those in our community who need more support, and rapidly developing new case management tools for our older adult services.
But there is a cost — human and financial — to this flexibility. Standing up, or showing up, with new services doesn’t mean instant funding, but does require investment. Sometimes the rapid change of delivery also affects the team members but, with typical resilience, the team adjusts, refocus, and delivers world class services.
In writing this, I hope you realize that this is just a glimpse of the results of a dedicated, hardworking staff, but only a fraction of the amount of work that goes into helping our community. From planning to marketing to finance to development to our various program directors and end caregivers, JF&CS is a complex organization that requires a tremendous amount of support FROM our community to continue providing this world-class support TO our community.
Our donors and supporters have always been generous. For that, I am thankful in ways words would fail to describe. As we enter uncertain times in the economy and funding, my belief is that JF&CS provides a superior return on that generosity — transforming lives and allowing everyone in our community to live to their full potential.
Please join me in committing to the continual success of this agency. I beseech you to consider supporting JF&CS through donations, volunteering, or offering your leadership experience and expertise in an advisory capacity. The agency offers various Ways to Give and Ways to Get Involved.
Sincerely,
Jon Amsler
Board Chair, Jewish Family & Career Services