When Olga and Serge arrived in Buffalo from Odessa, Russia in 1987, their daughter Sonia was 12. The family was filled with hope for the future, something they never had in Russia.

They faced a myriad of challenges, including learning English, finding a home and securing employment.

When I recently met Sonia at a fund raising event for another organization, she hugged me
when she realized I worked for Jewish Family Service. She thanked me for the assistance JFS provided her family so they could come to Buffalo.

At 12, Sonia had said: “There is no way I am going to Buffalo!” Now at 35, Sonia is glad
she came. She has two children and she and her America-born husband teach in the Amherst school district.