Friends, supporters, agency partners, and community leaders joined Jewish Family & Career Services (JFCS) recently for a heartfelt celebration of another remarkable year of growth and accomplishments at its 2025 Annual Meeting.
JFCS CEO Dr. David Finke marked many milestones for the agency including continued expansion across all five of its core pillars: Clinical Services, Klein Older Adult Services, Family Stability, Career & Economic Opportunities, and the new pillar specifically for Immigrant & Refugee Services that we excitingly launched this past year.
This new pillar, Finke said, comes thanks to a continued partnership with the Jewish Heritage Fund, Jewish Community of Louisville, and other community stakeholders. It reflects years of growth in refugee support. The program offers services such as professional recredentialing assistance, workforce integration, and JFCS’s Match Savings Program, which helps empower families to save toward education, housing, and small business goals.
Finke shared that the agency’s budget has grown 65% over the past three years, and government grant support has more than doubled — a reflection of strategic investments in meeting urgent community needs, he said.
JFCS’s clinical team, the Sonny & Janet Meyer Food Pantry, and the Klein Older Adult Program all expanded capacity over the past year. New providers were added to each program to meet the changing needs of the community.
Highlighting the growing demand for accessible, inclusive mental health care, Finke said that JFCS expanded its support for caregivers, survivors of trauma, youth, and individuals with complex family or cultural needs.
Finke pointed out that JFCS’ Klein Older Adult program piloted a transportation to Shabbat services at local synagogues, and that it continued to lead efforts to address older adult isolation through volunteer-based telephone reassurance calls as well as growing the number of assisted living facilities that have a Shabbos Friends volunteer. JFCS has also been working with the JCRC on a special yearlong project and has been working with some local synagogues on bringing new and unique volunteer opportunities to Louisville.
While touting the agency’s achievements, Finke reinforced JFCS’s ongoing commitment to the Jewish community by reasserting what he told the sold-out crowd at the recent JFCS MOSAIC Awards: that JFCS has worked hard this year to dispel the ongoing myth that JFCS only serves Jews, while also reaffirming its commitment to serving Louisville’s Jewish community.
“The truth is: we serve both — we always have, and we always will!” Finke explained. “JFCS is a safe space where Jewish individuals can access services knowing that their Jewish Identity will be respected, valued, and incorporated into the very programs that meet their needs.”
Utilizing The Brandeis Study of Jewish Louisville, conducted in 2021, Finke highlighted the statistics showing that many individuals and families face hunger, poverty, mental health needs, and substance misuse, and face deficiencies in critical life needs.
That commitment to Jewish identity was also affirmed with the unveiling of the Frank and Barbara Weisberg Family Fund for Jewish Oral History and the inaugural exhibit highlighting 22 interviews that explore Jewish identity in Louisville. This exhibit is now on permanent display at JFCS’ offices on Klempner Way. Finke made a point of letting attendees know that volunteers and storytellers are still being recruited for the next phase of this effort.
Along with agency accolades, JFCS also uses its Annual Meeting to celebrate the achievements for community members and staff highlights with several awards.
Among those honored was Dana Dugatkin, a volunteer with JFCS Shabbos Friends who was named Volunteer of the Year. Congregation Adath Jeshurun was given the JFCS Community Collaborator Award, and the JFCS Homecare Team was given the Bob Tiell/Dave Dobson Program Innovation Award.
The most poignant moment of the evening, however, was Finke announcing the upcoming retirement of Senior Director of Programs Mauri Malka, who has been a steadfast leader at JFCS for over 34 years. Mauri’s legacy will continue to shine through at JFCS, even after her retirement.
Finke announced, in her honor, that JFCS has established the Mauri Malka Fund for Independent Aging, an endowed fund ensuring continued support for seniors to age with dignity and independence in Mauri’s honor. Malka received a heartfelt ovation from those in attendance, and it was a fitting tribute to someone who has worked so hard, for so long, in the service of others. Donations can be made to Mauri’s fund on JFCS’ website.
In closing his remarks, Finke highlighted the need for the community’s continued support of JFCS to ensure its continued mission in the face of uncertain federal grants that fund programs many JFCS clients rely on.
“We are writing the next chapter of JFCS’s story — a story rooted in Jewish values, but written for the whole community,” Dr. Finke concluded. “There may be uncertainty ahead, but one thing I know for sure is that this community cares about its neighbors.”
To learn more about JFCS services, to make a gift to the Mauri Malka Fund for Independent Aging, or to get involved, visit www.jfcslouisville.org or call (502) 452-6341.
JFCS and the Jewish Community: The Ties That Bind
With the 2025 JFCS MOSAIC Awards behind us, Jewish Family & Career Services now turns its attention preparing for our Annual Meeting, on June 24, at 5 p.m. We’re not only hoping to see many members of the community there to help us celebrate, but we’re specifically urging members of Louisville’s Jewish community to come and hear about all the great work – past and present – going on at JFCS.
While our Annual Meeting (like all our services) is open to all, we’re hoping to reach a large number of the Jewish community this year to help dispel some myths we’ve heard in the peripherals recently: “is JFCS here for us?”
It’s a question that stings — not because it’s unreasonable to ask, but because it touches something deeply personal. JFCS was born more than a century ago from Jewish values of serving the entire community. Our agency’s foundation is rooted in Chesed (loving-kindness), Tzedakah (justice), and Kehillah (community) and those values still guide us today — perhaps more than ever.
Few realize that Jewish clients make up nearly 10% of the people we serve annually. From mental health counseling to food assistance, job coaching to elder care, we remain a vital support system for Louisville’s Jewish community.
Our Sonny & Janet Meyer Food Pantry, for example remains the only food pantry in the area offering both kosher and Halal food items, ensuring Jewish families and individuals facing food insecurity don’t have to compromise their values to nourish themselves. Two years ago, we took that a step further and opened a satellite kosher pantry at Shalom Towers, so homebound seniors could keep kosher without needing to travel.
Over the past year, we’ve worked hand-in-hand with synagogues and Jewish leaders to provide emotional and mental health support during incredibly trying times. When the conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated last fall, JFCS sprang into action by offering community members help in processing fear, grief, and confusion through guided discussions and trauma-informed care.
We’ve hosted “Friday Night Talks” at Temple Shalom, Keneseth Israel, The Temple, Adath Jeshurun, and others. These open conversations have created space for learning, and collective healing.
And as antisemitic threats continue to impact Jewish preschools and institutions nationwide, we’ve facilitated sessions for staff and parents at local synagogues — offering tools to handle anxiety, foster resilience, and protect our youngest community members’ sense of safety.
We’ve also doubled down on our Volunteer program and others like Pledge 13 and Shabbos Friends, helping Jewish adults, and especially teens, stay connected to their roots through volunteerism and mentorship. These aren’t just programs — they’re lifelines of opportunities to help facilitate others living out their Jewish values.
It’s not just locally where JFCS’ influence and expertise has been utilized. Earlier this year, CEO, Dr. David Finke, was asked to co-chair the Network of Jewish Human Services Agencies’ (NJHSA) national conference.
Dr. Finke has also teamed up with Rabbi Chottiner to support Jewish youth grappling with antisemitism and identity struggles. And in the coming year, we plan more conversations, more safe spaces, and more dedicated outreach to Jewish youth around issues like substance misuse, anxiety, and peer pressure.
Oftentimes dispelling the myth of JFCS’ outreach to Jews in Louisville comes from the larger myth of “Jewish Invincibility.” In his remarks at the recent MOSAIC Awards, Dr. Finke spoke of his own childhood experience growing up under the myth of being “well off” simply because he was Jewish, when the reality of being a child of a working-class single mother couldn’t have been further from the truth. This long-standing myth is often dangerous as sometimes the biggest barrier to help for the Jewish community is the idea that we’re not supposed to need it at all.
Data from the 2021–22 Brandeis University study of Jewish life in Louisville tells a different story:
- 18% of Jewish adults are the primary caregivers for relatives outside of routine childcare.
- 31% of Jewish households have at least one person limited by a disability or health issue.
- 36% of Jewish adults say they have only a few people they can count on, and 2% say they have no one at all.
JFCS exists because our Jewish values compel us to serve. We don’t assume who is or isn’t in need. We show up, regardless – for Jews, for our neighbors, for anyone who walks through our doors. It’s what we were founded on back in 1908 and what we’ve been doing since. It’s also what we’ve set our sights on continuing into the future.
We invite you to join us on June 24 at 5 p.m. at JFCS for our Annual Meeting as we celebrate the “wins” of the past year, including our work with Jewish families, youth, and seniors — and unveil our exciting vision for the future.
JFCS continues to serve ALL people of Louisville — Jews and non-Jews, of every race, orientation, identity, and background. Not in spite of our Jewish identity, but because of it!
Because to us, Jewish values are not a label—they’re a calling. And we’re answering that call.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. While this special observance dates back to 1949, the stigma around mental health keeps many facing challenges struggling in silence even to this day.
Accepting and supporting mental health is essential to creating a community where individuals feel safe, seen, and empowered to seek help. At JFCS, we aim for Mental Health Awareness Month to shed light on the importance of mental well-being. We feel that it’s important to highlight the resources available at JFCS that support our friends and neighbors in times of need.
JFCS is here for all! Our team of caring, professional therapists takes a holistic approach and works collaboratively with individuals, couples, and entire families. Our innovative trauma-informed care model recognizes the unique experiences of each client and guides the development of personalized goals that respect cultural and spiritual beliefs. JFCS also has a psychiatric nurse practitioner who can work collaboratively with therapists to address client’s psychiatric medication needs. We offer specialization for substance abuse prevention and perinatal care to meet clients where they are.
JFCS recognizes the power of shared experiences in healing. Our array of support groups caters to clients with various needs, including individuals dealing with grief and loss; older adults and caregivers; and parents of transgender youth. These groups provide safe spaces for individuals to share, learn, and support one another.
For example, our support group for parents and caregivers of transgender youth addresses the unique opportunities faced by these families. By offering education and mutual support, JFCS helps provide affirming environments for parents and caregivers, which is crucial for the mental health and well-being of transgender youth. Our support group for caregivers gives space to individuals who are caring for an aging loved one and allows them to feel community during an isolating time.
What makes JFCS unique in our program array, including career services, older adult services, family stability, and immigrant services, is the wraparound approach to our services. Any client who is accessing one service is able to access any of the other services at JFCS. If a client using our food pantry feels like they could benefit from mental health services, we are able to connect them to a therapist at JFCS. A career client who is overwhelmed with the stress of finding a new job is able to access our individual therapy services. The ability to do that without having to leave the JFCS building is powerful.
Mental Health Awareness Month serves as a reminder that seeking help is a sign of strength. JFCS invites anyone facing mental health challenges to reach out and explore the support available. By embracing mental wellness and supporting one another, we can build a healthier, more compassionate community.
When we normalize conversations around mental health — just as we do physical health — we break down barriers to care, encourage early intervention, and foster environments for healing and growth. Removing the stigma around mental health not only supports those in need but strengthens the overall well-being of families, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Only by acknowledging the reality and complexity of mental health can we begin to offer the compassion and resources necessary to address it fully.
JFCS is here to help! For more information, email services@jfcslouisville.org, or call (502) 452-6341.
By Valecia Quinn, Director of JFCS Navigate, JFCS DEI+TIC Chair
Over the past few years, I’ve found myself in different cities, taking bus tours to learn about the Black History that represents the core fabric of each city and neighboring towns. I can remember sitting on the bus in Montgomery to Selma, AL, stopping at places that had significant meaning and impact on what is happening today. Then, there was the Jacksonville and St. Augustine, FL trip that had many landmarks and living folks who shared stories that will not only open your eyes, but will bring tears as you envision the pain, the suffering, and yes, the progress! Even my hometown of Boley, OK carries significant meaning and serves as a place for the young generation to visualize how their ancestors fought for a better life that we are enjoying today.
Louisville, KY is no different. It has a lot of Black History that makes the fabric of this community that we love. I’m excited to take a bus tour with my colleagues on Thursday, February 20 as one part of our Black History Month initiative, in which we will tour part of our downtown and West Louisville area. Did I mention that we will have several members of our board of directors join us as well? Tom Owen will be our storyteller (tour guide) for this bus tour. Tom Owen, among other notables, is a well-known historian in Louisville, who also has deep and rich knowledge and grew up in West Louisville.
Without giving too much information (keeping some element of surprise), we will hear about Lucie and Thornton Blackburn, the significance of the Western Branch Library, Martin Luther King’s impact in Louisville and ties to the community, the first black public school in Kentucky, and a few other significant pieces over the course of the 1 ½ hour bus tour. As Tom is “storytelling,” colleagues will have the opportunity to ask questions, and we just might be able to get off the bus for one of the stops!!
After the tour, we’ll return to the office and then celebrate Black History through some delicious food, catered by one of Louisville’s popular black-owned restaurants, Blak Koffee. Tom Owen will also join us for this food celebration and will probably enjoy answering any remaining questions or providing some additional insight.
Last year, we learned about the connection and importance of Black History through Kentucky’s lens and ties to the Jewish Culture from Chaka Cummings. This year, we’ll spend time learning more about Louisville’s Black History, hearing the stories and using our eyes to visualize the impact during our mobile journey.
In closing, Black History is American History and this month, which should be every month, is about celebrating diversity in our country. 2025 appears to be one of our challenges to keep this at the forefront of what we do each day, both personally and professionally. I’m depending on each of you to continue to show appreciation and support for everyone, regardless of differences and similarities.
A final THANK YOU to all my ancestors, my mentors, and numerous individuals who have endured hardships and challenges to make tomorrow a better day than yesterday.
About the Author
Valecia Quinn, has nearly 35 years of expertise in developing for-profit business and marketing programs in various markets throughout the US. As the Director of JFCS Navigate, Valecia leads and manages the microenterprise program, providing full-service business planning and microlending opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners, with an emphasis on under-served communities. Valecia collaborates with various community partners in Louisville’s thriving ecosystem to help clients achieve their business dreams and goals.
Along with being Director of JFCS Navigate, Valecia also chairs JFCS’ DEI+TIC efforts.