Giving & Volunteering · June 04, 2026

On April 20, Jewish Family Service learned that it had earned a three-year accreditation from CARF International. “CARF International accreditation is the gold standard of approval for organizations like ours,” said Liz Vogel, JFS’s CEO. CARF, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, is an internationally recognized nonprofit organization that provides accreditation for health and human services....

Giving & Volunteering · May 28, 2026

Some good can come from even deep loss. In March of this year, Cindy Jarnicki coordinated with her sons and grandsons to deliver Passover meals and items for the seder together, as part of Jewish Family Service’s Passover Delivery Project. The Project’s volunteers deliver meals and seder items to those homebound or unable to afford the special foods needed to celebrate Passover.

Giving & Volunteering · April 16, 2026

This year was all about the volunteers. Jewish Family Service’s 2026 Annual Meeting was held on March 24, 2026 at the Mayerson JCC, to a full house and, for the first time, captions in Russian as well as English. It featured Jewish Family Service CEO Liz Vogel and Board President Ellen Feld, MD. But at its core, Jewish Family Service went out of its way to appreciate its donors and its volunteers...

Giving & Volunteering · February 25, 2026

Asked recently why he gave a legacy gift to JFS, Henry Fenichel, member of our Center for Holocaust Survivors, said, "Well, you know something about my background; the only reason I'm around and alive is because support of organizations such as this one. It started way back in the Holy Land, Palestine, before the state was established there, and when we came to the United States, as new immigrants. And so I appreciate what organizations like that do....

Giving & Volunteering · October 21, 2024

Update: Len Mitzman z"l, passed December 17, 2024, two months after this article was published. May his memory be a blessing. Ken Germain is not yet retired, but he recently realized he wanted to devote more time to the Jewish community. World events also played a role. “When war broke out in Israel after the October 7, 2023 massacre, I felt a strong need to do even more for the Jewish People,” Ken said. “My wife, who had a more traditional Jewish background than I did...."

Giving & Volunteering · July 15, 2024

There are at least three subjects that stir an appreciable passion in Leah and Gary Smith. The first is mental health. The second is giving back to the community. And the third is Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati (JFS). So it was only fitting when the Smiths chose to make a significant donation to JFS—providing them with naming rights for the agency’s counseling center waiting room. This waiting room serves a full spectrum of JFS’s mental health clients, from youth and teens to older adults.

Giving & Volunteering · November 30, 2023

In some ways, 13-year-old Elon Katz is a typical Cincinnati youth. As an eighth grader at The Seven Hills School, Elon is perfectly capable of enjoying an after-school chill-out session with his video games. He also likes to draw. And, well, that’s about it for the ordinary stuff. Elon, you see, is anything but typical. He likes to code video games for fun. He is a serious student of classical piano, and enjoys the weekly lessons his grandmother kindly offers him.

Giving & Volunteering · February 09, 2023

If it were possible to tell this story without referencing Miriam Cohen, that would likely please her. It’s not that Miriam is overly modest; it’s that the story she wants to share with the world is about Dorothy Fine Paris and Isidore Paris—her loving and devoted parents. Still, there are compelling reasons to include Miriam in this tale. First, as Dorothy and Isidore’s daughter, she is an important part of their story. Second, she is the storyteller here, the authoritative source.

Giving & Volunteering · January 05, 2023

Sadie was happily making her seventh-birthday party plans with her family when a compassionate little switch flipped in her mind. Yes, birthday invitations had already been sent out a few weeks prior. And, yes, parental expectations were solidifying around fun ideas that were age-appropriate, child-focused, and celebratory. But that didn’t stop Sadie from abruptly turning to her parents and announcing with resolve, “I don't need any birthday presents. I need to do a mitzvah!"

Giving & Volunteering · August 08, 2022

Jim Ellis and Howard Goldwasser don’t know each other, but they share a private compulsion: they are serial volunteers. At the moment, they also share a common benefactor: Jewish Family Service Heldman Family Food Pantry. The men, both retired, have been independently donating their time to the food pantry in a variety of ways, whether it’s helping people shop; gathering and packing up orders; or making deliveries directly to homes.