As an only child, Charles was the sole caregiver for his mother. He fondly reflected that caring for his mother was a privilege. Just after Charles retired from Atlanta Public Schools and was planning to begin the next phase of his life, his mother had a fall. She was recuperating in a rehabilitative center, and Charles reached out to JF&CS for assistance. Barbara Rosenberg, the Director of Older Adult Services, (now Aviv Older Adult Services), helped Charles and his mother determine the next steps for her long-term well-being.
Charles still remembers Barbara telling his mother “it’s much easier to make a change when you’re feeling better.” His mother agreed, replying that she "never again wanted to see that look on [her] son’s face when he first saw her after the fall” and cooperatively moved to an assisted living facility. Charles credits Barbara with helping his mother make better decisions. She lived another 11 years, with the last few spent in the William Breman Jewish Home.
As a lifelong educator and former school principal, Charles is a staunch believer in the power of education. Throughout his career, he always saw the potential in his students, pushing them to become the best versions of themselves. While visiting his mother at the Jewish Home, he observed JF&CS’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Program offering workshops and job training. He admires the program for “helping people become who they are” and hopes that his donation will help it continue for many years to come. He expressed confidence that JF&CS is a well-run organization and does so much for so many people.
After he finalized his will, Charles reported having “the best sleep of his life.” JF&CS is proud to provide services that make such an impact on people like Charles and his mother and strives to continue providing the same quality of services for many years to come.
If you are interested in participating in the Life & Legacy program by making a planned gift, please contact Stacy Fialkow at sfialkow@jfcsatl.org or 770.677.9357.