JFCS 2026 Annual Meeting: Celebrating Community Impact

Join us for an evening of reflection, recognition, and community at the 2026 JFCS Annual Meeting!

The meeting will take place on June 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the JFCS. Each year, this gathering allows us to reflect on the impact we’ve made together over the past fiscal year, celebrate the volunteers, donors, staff, and partners who make our work possible, and share our vision for the year ahead.

In addition to organizational updates, we’ll also present our annual awards recognizing individuals and partners whose dedication strengthens JFCS and the broader Louisville community. This year, we are honored to present the JFCS Volunteer of the Year Award, the JFCS Community Collaborator Award, and the Mary Gunther Program Innovation Award.

2026 JFCS Volunteer of the Year Award – Madeline Abramsom

For decades, Madeline Abramson has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to service and strengthening the Louisville community. This year, Jewish Family & Career Services is proud to recognize Madeline as our 2026 Volunteer of the Year for her longstanding dedication to JFCS, including her leadership on the Community Advisory Council, her advocacy for JFCS throughout the community, and her remarkable 20 years of service on the JFCS MOSAIC Awards Committee. Through her commitment and leadership, Madeline has helped the JFCS MOSAIC Awards grow into one of Louisville’s most meaningful and successful celebrations of Louisville’s immigrant community. Throughout the year, Madeline also participates in JFCS Family Mitzvah Days and has volunteered through the Telephone Reassurance program, offering connection and support to older adults in our community.

Through her decades of service, Madeline has helped strengthen JFCS as an organization while demonstrating the lasting impact of volunteer leadership in our community. By passing the Jewish value of volunteerism from generation to generation, she continues to inspire others to give back in meaningful ways, lead with integrity, and invest in building a stronger Louisville for everyone!

2026 JFCS Community Collaborator Award – Neighborhood House

The JFCS Community Collaborator Award honors an organization that has partnered with JFCS to serve the community in thoughtful, collaborative, and impactful ways. This year’s award will be presented to Neighborhood House, a longstanding Louisville organization serving individuals and families across generations in the West End. Over the past year, our partnership with Neighborhood House has continued to grow through collaborations supporting older adults, youth career development, and access to mental health and community resources. We are grateful for their partnership and shared commitment to strengthening Louisville through holistic, community-centered care.

2026 Mary Gunther Program Innovation Award – Project Em: Employing our Community led by Cindy Key

This year, Jewish Family & Career Services is proud to present the Mary Gunther Program Innovation Award to Project EM, a national workforce initiative helping individuals navigate career transitions with personalized support, coaching, and connection to resources. Through a collaborative, national program through the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA), Project EM has helped job seekers build confidence, pursue new opportunities, and find greater stability for themselves and their families. Last year, the program also responded to emerging workforce needs by offering workshops and support for individuals transitioning from government sector roles into private sector careers.

At JFCS, Project EM has been led by Cindy Key, who has been at JFCS for over six years. Cindy’s thoughtful approach has made a meaningful difference for job seekers across Louisville and beyond. Through her leadership, Project EM has become a trusted resource for job seekers during times of change and uncertainty.

Special Recognition in memory of Linda Goodman and her passion for the Sonny & Janet Meyer Food Pantry

We will also take time during the evening to honor the memory of Linda Goodman, whose dedication to JFCS and the Sonny & Janet Meyer Food Pantry left a lasting impact on our organization and community. Linda’s compassion, generosity, and unwavering commitment to serving others embodied the values of JFCS, and we are grateful for the many ways she strengthened our work over the years. May her memory be a blessing.

As part of this year’s meeting, we will also share important organizational updates, including the presentation of the incoming Board of Directors slate, recognition of outgoing board members, and updates to the Executive Committee. We are grateful for the leadership, guidance, and generosity of our board members whose service helps advance the mission of JFCS each year.

Incoming JFCS Board Director Slate (to be voted on June 23rd)
Chandra Coles
Diana Duran
Margie Kommor
Jessica Loving
Marcia Roth

JFCS Board Directors who have completed their service

Corey Buckman
Michael Fine
Dr. Julia Richerson
Corey Shapiro

Renewing Board Directors

Dr. Josh Abecassis
Jose Neil Donis
Dr. Avi Hahn
Chan Kemper

JFCS Executive Committee Slate

Judge Joan Byer – Incoming Board Chair
David Kohn – Immediate Past President
Mark Roth – Vice President
Grace Greenwell – Vice President
Jeff Jasnoff – President Elect
Brent Shuman – Treasurer
Dr. Avi Hahn – At-Large Member
Dr. Faye Jones – At-Large Member

We hope you will join us as we celebrate another year of impact made possible through the support, volunteerism, and partnership of our incredible community.