JFCS had its 79th annual meeting on Tuesday evening, June 7th at The Jewish Center Princeton. Among the honorees were Levi Elias, Cynthia Millinger & family, and the Community Health Law Project. Several proclamations from local government officials honoring 18 years of service by executive director Linda F. Meisel made the evening a particularly poignant one as Linda prepares to turn the reins over to Michelle Napell on July 1. Visit our facebook page for more images from a wonderful evening!
Michelle Napell Selected as the Next Executive Director at JFCS
The Board of Directors of Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County (JFCS) announced that it has selected Michelle Napell to become the agency’s next Executive Director. Ms. Napell will succeed Linda Meisel, who announced earlier this year that she is stepping down on June 30th, after 18 years as Executive Director. Michelle Napell will take over the role on July 1, 2016.
Ms. Napell is currently the Executive Director at OneFamily. When she joined OneFamily, there was limited awareness of the organization in the US. Now, there is a strong Board of Directors and a broad base of support with a shared passion geared toward supporting the thousands of victims of terror living in Israel.
On behalf of the JFCS Board of Directors, President Audrey Wisotsky said, “The Board is delighted that Michelle has accepted our offer to lead the Agency into the next chapter of its history. She is a visionary leader who we are confident will strategically guide the Agency and advance and develop the critical programs we provide to the community. I want to thank the members of the search committee, chaired by Joyce Kalstein, for the many hours of conscientious work that they did leading to this excellent result.”
A graduate of Cardozo School of Law, Michelle practiced for 3 years before “retiring” to start her family. In January 2010 Michelle was hired by OneFamily, as the Coordinator of Programming and Special Events, she was promoted in June 2011 to Executive Director of US operations. Michelle lives in central New Jersey with her husband and two children.
In accepting the role of Executive Director, Michelle Napell said, “Being a part of JFCS will enable me to leverage my passion and experience to make an equally important difference – this time closer to home. I hope to build off the strong programming and base of support that already exists and engage new supporters throughout Mercer and Bucks Counties.”
JFCS is happy to announce that it has received a $180,000 grant from the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation of Owings Mills, MD. This grant is the largest award JFCS has received for its Fund The Future Capital Campaign, which began in 2014, in order for JFCS to expand and renovate its physical office space and enhance service delivery to JFCS’ current and prospective clients. This Capital Campaign is also supported by a mix of individual, corporate, government, and foundation donors committed to JFCS’ mission and valuable work in Greater Mercer County, NJ and Lower Bucks County, PA.
Through the Fund The Future Campaign, JFCS reconfigured and renovated its existing office space at 707 Alexander Road, Suite 102, Princeton, NJ and also was able to purchase and renovate a second office suite at this address, Suite 204.
An important outcome of this Capital Campaign is JFCS’ ability to expand our core Service Areas/Departments which are Senior Services, Clinical/Mental Health Counseling, Case Management, Community Programs & Services, and Volunteer Services. Another benefit is that JFCS can host more support groups, meetings, professional development, and trainings on-site.
“We are extremely grateful to the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation for their support of our Fund The Future Campaign and JFCS’ valuable work to sustain vulnerable members of the Greater Mercer County community. JFCS is also very pleased to establish this relationship with the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, a leading national foundation. With this significant funding award, JFCS is now able to bring our Fund the Future Campaign to a close,” said Linda Meisel, Executive Director of Jewish Family & Children’s Service.
“Thanks to the generous and impactful Weinberg Foundation grant and donations from all of our valued Fund the Future Campaign donors, JFCS is able to increase the number of clients we can serve and expand our scope of services to clients and members of the community. In addition, our new and renovated facilities will allow us to continue to be a premier social service agency in Central Jersey.” said Audrey D. Wisotsky, President of Jewish Family & Children’s Service’s Board of Directors.
JFCS Greater Mercer County partners with Sharsheret as part of the Sharsheret Supports Program.
Sharsheret, a national not-for-profit organization supporting young women and their families, of all Jewish backgrounds, facing breast cancer and ovarian cancer, is proud to announce Jewish Family & Children Service of Greater Mercer County of Princeton, NJ as a new Sharsheret Supports Partner.
The Sharsheret Supports program assists communities in developing and maintaining local, free breast and ovarian cancer programs and support groups. Sharsheret Supports combines local cancer resources with Sharsheret’s vast national expertise, and culturally-sensitive resource materials to enhance the support available to women and families facing cancer.
Through the Sharsheret Supports program, we will work with JFCS of Greater Mercer County to develop education and support programs tailored to the needs of the Princeton community and connect JFCS of Greater Mercer County with dozens of other Sharsheret Supports partners across the country.
“Since the launch of Sharsheret Supports in 2007, we have partnered with more than 60 Jewish organizations and cancer organizations across the country to develop and maintain local, culturally- relevant breast and ovarian cancer support and education,” said Director of National Outreach Melissa K. Rosen, “We are excited to add JFCS of Greater Mercer County to this list, and work closely with them to increase breast and ovarian cancer awareness within the greater Princeton area.” Together we will improve the quality of life for all Jewish women and families facing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
Over 650 people joined the Jewish Community Youth Foundation’s (JCYF) annual Philanthropy Fair and Check Presentation Ceremony, held February 21 at Robbinsville High School. Over $61,000 was distributed to 27 programs by 170 area teens representing 18 Synagogues, 11 Middle Schools and 21 High Schools.
Highlights from the evening included a Bar Mitzvah celebration honoring those that have contributed to the success of JCYF during a special candle lighting ceremony. Greenwood House: Robert and Natalie Marcus Home for the Jewish Aged was the recipient of the No Small Change grant, an initiative where spare change is collected at each meeting and the pooled money goes to an organization selected by senior class representatives.
Stephanie Blitzer of East Windsor, a junior at American University and a 2013 JCYF graduate, won the sixth annual JCYF Distinguished Alumni Award for her participation in many philanthropic and community service activities. She received a $360 award which she will donate toward HIAS, an organization that protects and advocates for the most vulnerable refugees, helping them build new lives and reuniting them with their families in safety and freedom. Stephanie told the current JCYF participants: “Don’t wait until you graduate from JCYF to fully understand and appreciate the skills you developed. It is a privilege to participate in such an amazing organization.”
To see a special Bar Mitzvah video highlighting 13 years of JCYF, and message from alumni award winner Stephanie Blitzer, visit our Storiespage.
JFCS is happy to announce that it has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation President’s Grant fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation!
In the spring of 2015, JFCS undertook expansion of its offices including the physical space of the Kosher food pantry. The funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation President’s Grant fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation will be used to purchase healthy and fresh food items (e.g. fruits, vegetables, eggs and dairy products) which cannot be collected through traditional community food drives.
Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County has received a grant from the Novo Nordisk Community Health Collaborative to benefit the expanded Ohel Avraham Kosher Food Pantry.
The grant will allow for a Nutrition Education and Wellness initiative with the consultation of a Registered Dietician.
Novo Nordisk has donated Eating Well cookbooks and portion control plates to the food pantry.
This Letter to the Editor appeared on NJ.com on 3/30/2015.
On behalf of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County, I offer my gratitude for the overwhelming community support of the 2015 Illumination Ball, which took place Feb. 28, at the Westin Princeton Forrestal Village. The sponsors, guests, auction donors and committee members truly… Click here to read the whole letter!
On February 28th, 2015, JFCS hosted 550 members of our community at the Illumination Ball. Everyone came together to honor our local Holocaust survivors and celebrate their courage and strength. We wanted to share their stories with you.
Please click on the video link below and hear the stories of strength and courage.
JFCS provides critical services to the Holocaust survivors and other vulnerable community members. Only with your contributions can we help them – we ask you to care about these neighbors, friends whose lives are difficult and to be generous. Please make your donation today!
