Jewish Family Service of NEPA Receives Grant Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania was one of the recent recipients of a grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation for the 2022 grant cycle. The grant in the amount of $10,000 will assist with General Operating Support for the organization. Grants from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation are administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. Pictured in photo from left to right: Sheila Nudelman Abdo, ACSW, LCSW, JFS Executive Director; Atty. Jack Nogi, Robert H. Spitz Foundation Trustee; Marguerite Bushwick, LCSW, NCG, JFS Social Worker. Established in 1915, Jewish Family Service is a human service organization, which reflects the Jewish tradition of caring and compassion for all people in need. Through professional counseling, advocacy, and educational programming, our services seek to enhance and strengthen the quality of individual, family, and community life. It is this agency’s mission that drives all services and activities of Jewish Family Service. The Scranton Area Community Foundation has been working to enhance the quality of life for people across the Northeastern Pennsylvania region over the past 66 years, serving the community as a steward, a grantmaker, a charitable resource, and a catalyst for change and growth. The Scranton Area Community Foundation is a public 501c3 community foundation with assets of more than $50 million and more than 215 charitable funds. More information about the Scranton Area Community Foundation can be found at www.safdn.org.
Jewish Family Service of NEPA Holds Annual Community Matters Event On June 1, 2023, Jewish Family Service held its 5th Annual Community Matters Event at the Scranton Cultural Center. This marked the first time since 2019 the event was held due to the Covid pandemic. Prior to Covid Natalie Gelb was selected as the next honoree. Although Natalie would have to wait three years to be honored it was well worth the wait! The event which was sponsored in part by Toyota Scranton was attended by over 140 people and raised $20,118 for JFS programs and services, both record amounts for the event. Sara E. Solfanelli was the guest speaker and spoke about her mother’s years of impact on our community. For over 100 years Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania has been helping individuals and families in our region achieve well-being, health, and stability. The Annual Community Matters community recognition event is our major event fundraiser each year. The event helps support JFS programs and services including Mental Health Services, Financial Assistance, Case Management, Guardianship of Person Service, and the Mae S. Gelb Kosher Food Pantry.
Jewish Family Services to Honor Natalie Gelb at Annual Community Matters Event This year JFS is celebrating our 5th Annual Community Matters event which honors outstanding leaders who have made a difference in our community. Past honorees include James and Susan Connors, Morey and Sondra Myers, Jane Oppenheim, and Louis and Barbara Nivert. We are proud to announce that we are honoring Natalie Gelb at this year’s event. This year’s event will be held on June 1st from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Scranton Cultural Center. Born and raised in Scranton, Natalie is a graduate of Scranton Central High School and the University of Maryland. She served as the Executive Director of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority (LHVA) from 2004 until her retirement in 2017 where she was instrumental in the development of the seventy-mile Lackawanna River Heritage Trail system. Natalie is also a founding member of Defenders of Democracy and currently serves on the Boards of Keystone College, Jewish Family Service, and the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania. For over 100 years Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania has been helping individuals and families in our region achieve well-being, health, and stability. The Annual Community Matters community recognition event is our major event fundraiser each year. The event helps support JFS programs and services including Mental Health Services, Financial Assistance, Case Management, Guardianship of Person Service, and the Mae S. Gelb Kosher Food Pantry.Tickets for the event are $100 and include full kosher dinner stations catered by Pocono Kosher as well as a cash bar. We will have entertainment by Doug Smith and will once again host our silent auction. A presentation will be held honoring Ms. Gelb with coffee and dessert afterward. Tickets are available for purchase online. Sponsorship and ad book opportunities can be reviewed online and purchased by calling JFS at 570-344-1186.
JFSNEPA Receives Grant from Robert H. Spitz Foundation Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania was one of the recent recipients of a grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation for the 2020 grant cycle. The grant in the amount of $15,000 will assist with General Operating Support for the organization. Grants from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation are administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. Pictured in photo from left to right:, Arthur E. Levandoski, JFS Marketing & Development; Sheila Nudelman Abdo, ACSW, LCSW, JFS Executive Director; Laura Ducceschi, MBA, MA, President / CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation and administrator of Robert H. Spitz Foundation; Cathy Fitzpatrick, Grants Administrator for Scranton Area Community Foundation; Frank Caputo, Scranton Area Community Foundation Grants and Communication Coordinator.
JFS Mae S. Gelb Food Pantry Receives Donation The Temple Israel of Scranton Donates $1,450 to the Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania Mae S. Gelb Food Pantry. The Temple Israel of Scranton Mitzvah Committee, consisting of Suzy and Rick Jacobson, Karen and Robby Pollock, Marian and Gary Beckhorn, Victoria Geyfman, Annie Monsky, Rabbi Miriam Spitzer, Paulette Okun and Geordee Pollock provided 85 Mishloach bags to area Congregants. Proceeds from the purchased bags were donated to the Mae S. Gelb Food Pantry at JFS!
