History

Dr. Stanley and Pearl Goodman Jewish Family Service Inc. of Broward County first opened its doors in 1962 to meet the counseling and support needs of the growing Jewish population in Broward County. The agency was first incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit social service agency in 1963.

As home to the second largest population of seniors in the country and a rapidly growing destination for families, JFS of Broward County expanded to meet the increasing social service needs of the growing South Florida population. In the years that followed, the agency created programs addressing everything from Russian Jewish emigration to the rising needs of a frail aging population with declining means.

JFS added case management for seniors and the disabled, information and referral services, emergency financial assistance, kosher food delivery, bereavement, and caregiving support, and volunteer programs to helping thousands of individuals and families who had nowhere else to turn.

For the last 25 years, JFS has been the primary provider of support to aging Holocaust survivors. At one time, Broward was home to 10,000 – 15,000 survivors. As their needs grew, so did the JFS Holocaust Survivors Assistance Program. Thanks to a generous grant from the Conference on Material Claims Against Germany, JFS is able to provide a wide array of services, including home care, cleaning, reparations assistance, emergency financial assistance, and socialization to an increasingly frail and elderly survivor population. Currently caring for an average of 600 Holocaust survivor clients at a time, JFS Broward is one of the largest programs of its kind in the U.S.

Ever responsive to the needs of the community, in recent years JFS added programs to support survivors of domestic abuse, as well as life planning support services for families of disabled adults.

For more than 60 years, JFS has continued to expand, helping thousands of people each year who face life’s hardest challenges and providing support to people of all ages, regardless of race, religion, ethnic background or sexual orientation.

The values expressed through caring, individual dignity and social justice for all, are rooted in Jewish heritage. The essence of our mission is to support those who face daily challenges, whether they are the normal transitions of life, new and unexpected hardships or immediate crises.

Our programs provide personal growth opportunities for people of all ages, counseling for families and individuals, support for the most vulnerable in our community and volunteer opportunities for those who want to give something back. Our programs are designed to improve and strengthen the quality of life for all.

In 2014, Dr. Stanley and Pearl Goodman made a generous endowment to JFS. In appreciation for creating this outstanding legacy, the agency officially changed its name to Dr. Stanley and Pearl Goodman Jewish Family Services, Inc. of Broward County, aka Goodman JFS of Broward.

Goodman JFS is primarily funded by the Jewish Federation of Broward County, the Conference on Material Claims Against Germany, the United Way of Broward County, charitable foundations and private contributions.

Ways to Help

Make a Donation

Make a Donation

Volunteer

Volunteer

Attend an Event

Attend an Event

Monthly Donor

Become a Monthly Donor

Corporate Partnership

Corporate Partnership

Join Our Growing Community

Affiliated Agencies

Jewish Federation
United Way of Broward County
Claims Conference
Federal Ministry of Finance on the basis of a decision of the Bundestag
Jewish Family Homecare