The definition of community is many faceted. Some parts focus on geography – a group of people who are living in a particular place. Others define community as an area of common life. Still other definitions say “community” is belief in a common good or a shared vision based on solidarity, commitment, mutuality and trust; or sharing values or interests linked together by factors such as religious belief, age, sexual orientation, occupation or ethnic origin.

During my three years as chairman of the board of Jewish Family Service of Buffalo & Erie County, I observed its leadership and staff work diligently to develop, support and improve the quality of life for the individuals and families who fall into every definition of community.

JFS unconditionally supports the resettlement of immigrants and refugees not just from the former Soviet Union, but all over the world – Somalia, Burma, Thailand, Iraq, Ethiopia, Sudan and other countries. Immigrants and refugees legally enter the United States dreaming of a better life. A common goal of economic self-sufficiency is realized through hard work and the collaboration of “their” community and “our” community – and by sharing values that are appreciated, respected and cherished by all communities.

The JFS Heads-Up program facilitates social enrichment and increased independence for adults living with severe brain damage as the result of a traumatic brain injury. This wonderful day program helps these clients not only to reintegrate into their own communities, but to develop a sense of community of their own.

JFS also spearheads the Jewish Healing Project. This initiative brings together many Jewish communities – including members of Congregation Havurnah, Temple Beth Zion, the Jewish Discovery Center, Kehillat Ohr Zion, Temple Beth Am, Temple Beth El (Niagara Falls) Temple Beth Tzedek and Temple Sinai – to define a comprehensive and coordinated network of support for Jews of every religious denomination.

The Talmud tells a story of three men in a boat. One man began to drill a hole under his seat. When his companions pleaded with him to stop, he asked: What are you worrying about? I'm only drilling under my seat.”

The moral drawn by the ancient Rabbis has been repeated many, many times over: “we're all in the same boat”. This has been the JFS mantra for many years passed and will be for many years to come.

Thank you for your support.

For 148 years, Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Erie County has been “family” to hundreds of people seeking life-sustaining assistance and greater personal fulfillment.

We have been family to refugees and immigrants, to young families and families in financial distress; to children and older adults, people in need of employment, and individuals with physical and mental health challenges. And each of the people we serve at JFS has a story. Every person, in fact, has a story that unfolds over a life time. But the people who come through our doors most often have life-altering stories of challenge and change – of pain and suffering balanced poignantly by the love and beauty of a triumphant human spirit.

At JFS we help families and individuals who come to us decide how their life stories define who they are, where they want to go and how they can move forward.

It doesn’t matter whether or not they can afford our services, or what their religion, sexualorientation or social status is. While writing our own stories, the JFS staff will continue to be honored to listen to the stories of those in need and to help them write and rewrite their scripts.

JFS is a place where everyone of any race, ethnic group, religious belief, age, gender, economic status and mental state will find a compassionate connection to new hope. Jewish Family Service is truly a “lifeline for all” living within the city of Buffalo and broader Erie County.

For the past year, our JFS has served as a mentor to the emerging Somali-Bantu Neighborhood Coalition, whose critical mission is to help “new Americans” from Somalia identify community and individual resources that will improve their individual and communal quality of life.

The JFS commitment to provide help where help is needed is demonstrated also in the Jewish Healing Project. This collaborative endeavor between our agency and other Jewish religious and community-based entities in Buffalo and Erie County. The Jewish Healing Project provides all levels of human and social support to the diverse people of the Jewish faith for whom this agency was founded.

JFS has come a long way in the provision of human services since we began more than 100 years ago. We will continue to build on this strong foundation of service where and to whom is it most needed as we move into the future. Foremost on the path ahead is the quest to enhance our use of technology in case management, service delivery, client outreach and donor base cultivation.

This database process will improve coordination and communication across the many agencies with which JFS partners. Our ultimate goal is to provide our clients with a more seamless system of support and interconnection to the lifeline of resources they need.

Strategic use of social media potentially also will help JFS to improve service to clients by keeping them connected between counseling visits. Exploring the use of this resource also will improve public awareness of the scope and accessibility of JFS services, help the general population overcome stigma related to mental illness, and keep agency friends and funders informed of programmatic changes, staff accomplishments and sterling supporters.

Finally, as we move into a new era in the delivery of U.S. health care, I envision this agency in a critical leadership role. Our goal through effective, targeted engagement and education will be to prevent individuals and families from slipping through any loophole that may cause a gap in services they already receive, or prevent them from connecting to services they need.

Each of these objectives flow from the work we have already done – and the mission we were founded to uphold. With the support of a dynamic board of standing and new JFS trustees, a talented and dedicated administration and staff – and the continued support of the

clients and community we serve – I have every confidence that we will accomplish these goals.

I have all faith that very soon, when people in Buffalo and Erie County are faced with a life change or personal challenge too big to handle alone, they will turn first and foremost to Jewish Family Service for a lifeline of new hope.

Thank you.