Message from the Executive Director

On December 2, 2012, JFS will be Celebrating Sixty: 60 years of people helping people. There is much to celebrate as we have grown from a small effort within the Jewish Welfare Council to an independent organization with an annual budget of $2,300,000 helping more than 3,000 people and delivering more than 24,000 meals each year.

We have a chane now to think strategically about the future of JFS and examine buisness opertunities to better serve our constituents. Where do we see the burgeoning needs? How do we see the most vulnerable while staying financially secure? And how do we keep our identity strong while living in an increasingly diverse community? Accomplishing these goals requires change, and change is always a challenge for those in its midst. Yet it is the very fact of change that keeps us vibrant and relevant. Our successful Second Annual Wheels for Meals: A Ride to Fight Hunger illustrates how important it is to add new events to our repertoire.

At my son’s recent graduation, the commencement speaker noted: “There is no avant-garde; only people who are late.” If we want to be relevant in 2020, we have to plan today. Technology must be embedded in all of our services. Whether it be TeleCare Connection, telementa health counseling or electronic health records and billing, our tools must increase our efficiency and transcend geographic boundaries.

One of the greatest privileges of my job is to be able to work with our many teen volunteers. Thank you for the energy and inspiration you bring to me, to JFS and to our future. I hope that we will live up to your trust.

We have dealt with our financial challenges creatively and continue to build strong families, confident children, healthy elders and vital communities. We are able to do so because of the guidance of our dedicated Trustees; the commitment of our staff; and our 200 plus terrific volunteers. I am honored to work with each of you.

Our community partners make it possiblet o expand our roots dep into the community. Thank you to the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey and the Russell Berrie Foundation for your belief in the work we do. And thank you to our individual donors who are generous with their time and money throughout the year.

I am particularly grateful to have had the support and guidance of Ilene S Gelman these last three years. As the President of JFS she has led us through very challenging times. Because of her wisdom and her humor, we have emerged a stronger JFS.

Volunteers, donors, clients and staff weave the fabric of JFS and have helped make us the dynamic organization that we are today. I thank you and I celebrate you. Please join us in the celebration on December 2, 2012.

Respectfully,

Lisa Fedder, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., L.C.A.D.C.

Executive Director