Paul Povinelli has a special place in his heart – and business – for new Americans. The Povinelli family emigrated from Italy in the 1890s seeking a better life in the U. S. Four generations ago, Paul's great grandfather and great uncles founded the knife sharpening business he has inherited.

Now under his watch, Povinelli Cutlery in Cheektowaga, NY has more than 2000 accounts and employs 28 people. Six of those workers – from Burma, Somalia, Nepal and Bhutan – have been hired through the Jewish Family Service (JFS) Refugee Resettlement Program.

“I have a feel for their situations. I can't believe some of their stories,” Povinelli says of the international contingent of his staff. “They're here all the time and they work. They're reliable and they appreciate America.”

Darwin Newkirk appreciates Povinelli's support. At JFS, his job is to find work for the new Americans who are resettled through JFS – a charge that is often daunting because of language barriers.

“Every time he had a position available, he would call me and ask, ‘does Jewish Family Service have anybody available? I'm willing to work with you,’ ” Newkirk says.

When asked how he and his staff handle the challenge of multi-lingual communication, Povinelli responds graciously. “We smile a lot,” he laughs.