We can’t think of anyone who embodies the concept of Repairing the World better than Linda. All donations to this Fund will go to supporting and providing for local individuals and families in need. This Fund will make a difference in so many lives, the very same lives that Linda has taught us to care for with dignity, respect and loving kindness.
Your donation makes the difference between today and tomorrow! Click here to make a donation directly to the Linda F. Meisel Tikkun Olam Fund.
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!
JFCS is excited to announce a new giving opportunity! Your used car is a great tax deductible donation to JFCS, that can now be converted to program dollars through CARS, Inc. They will take your information, pick up your vehicle, and send you the tax receipts. Click here, or call 1-866-557-JFCS today!
JFCS Announces New Executive Director
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.
Dear Community Member,
At JFCS we were saddened to hear of the tragic events in Robbinsville on 4/19.
How do we cope with such terrible news? We are all filled with disbelief and each one of us will process and cope with the information in different ways. As a community service agency, it is our hope at JFCS that this message brings you some needed guidance and direction to help your family deal with the events of the day.
Adolescents and children cope with grief differently. We recommend:
- Talking to your children in order to minimize sensationalism or misinformation.
- Children should be given information appropriate to their developmental level.
- Limiting exposure of televised viewing of the details of this accident.
- Limit accessing information on social media, to avoid overstimulation.
- Sticking to regular routines as much as possible, to create a sense of normalcy.
- Most importantly, they need to know they are safe and loved.
Regardless of your age, we all need to take the time to process this loss and share our feelings with others. However as a community, we can help our students and colleagues affected by this loss by being patient, responsive and sensitive to their reactions.
Our Counseling team would like you to know that our services are available to anyone who feels the need to meet with a therapist. We can be reached at
609-987-8100 X 102.
Additional information regarding crisis counseling can be found on Robbinsville’s Board of Education website, http://www.robbinsville.k12.nj.us/.
In closing, from all of us at JFCS, our thoughts are with the Robbinsville Community.
With warm regards,
LInda F. Meisel, Executive DirectorAndrea LoPresti, Director of Clinical Services
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.
To learn more about JFCS breast and ovarian cancer programming, contact Linda Meisel at lindam@jfcsonline.org. For more information about the Sharsheret Supports Program, contact Director of National Outreach, Melissa Rosen, at 866.474.2774 or mrosen@sharsheret.org. Click here to visit the Sharsheret website.
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 Stories page.
For more information, visit the Jewish Community Youth Foundation page!
Join us for dinner, dancing, and more on March 5, 2016 at the Westin Princeton Forrestal Village for our 2016 Gala – An Enchanted Evening! We will be honoring our 14-year partnership with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Executive Director Linda Meisel for her 18 years of exceptional service.
All the details can be found on our gala website, where you can buy your tickets, peruse the silent auction, and read all about our amazing honorees.
Shop at Barnes & Noble in Market Fair Mall in Princeton on Sunday, November 22! Bookfair sales will benefit JFCS. If you can’t make it, please consider supporting us by purchasing online at bn.com/bookfairs from 11/22/15 through 11/27/15 and using Bookfair ID 1165572 at checkout.
For full details, see the program flyer!
