How We Make a Difference
Goodman JFS is dedicated to serving the Broward County community by empowering individuals and protecting the vulnerable. Read the many ways our innovative social services have impacted lives.
“I’m a married mother of five children, ages 5-14. Our family recently moved to South Florida. Adjusting to life in Florida was exciting, yet financially we were getting crushed. I discovered The Dorit & Ben J. Genet Cupboard through the Posnack JCC, and I have been visiting for nearly six months. It has been a tremendous help for my family, providing us with staple foods that adds up for a family of seven.
Vicky and the staff are so professional, and I never felt embarrassed or ashamed to visit. Everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Each time I visit I am amazed by the generosity of this organization and its donors. I am used to helping others. Now I’m on the receiving end, and as much as I wish I weren’t, G!d willing one day I will be privileged to join this special organization as a donor.
It is said that the highest level of sharing is when neither the giver nor the receiver, know each other. What a blessing that the Jewish community such an organization full of unsung heroes, quietly doing their holy work of caring for others with no desire for accolades.”
-Anonymous Dorit & Ben J. Genet Cupboard client
On behalf of our students, thank you so much for delivering your session on Healthy Romantic Relationships at this year’s Broward County Public School’s Fall Gay Student Alliance Summit! Your session was a smash hit with students as demonstrated by the positive feedback on the surveys and the number who attended. Your session was the highest ranked breakout session with almost everyone who attended noting that it exceeded expectation or was great. This subject was something that students asked for and we’re so grateful that you two came together to make such a great presentation that they found useful and informative. This was our biggest and, some would say, best Summit yet and we wouldn’t have been able to pull this off without your help.
-Tiffany Richards, South Florida Safe and Healthy Schools Coordinator
We recently received the following note from a family in which the mother, the main bead winner suffered a massive stroke. The Financial Assistance Program has been helping with the mortgage and car payment:
“There are no words to express how thankful we are for the assistance you gave us. Not sure how we would be managing without it. Life has sent us a curve ball and we are trying to navigate it. We appreciate the help, it’s very important that after all I’ve been through at least our lives are not completely shattered. Every day is a battle to be strong and push forward.
Thank you for making it possible for semblance of normalcy.
May hashem bless you for helping others. May we all have health and happiness.”
-Financial Assistance Care Manager
Just a quick note that say thanks a million!!! The client picked up his glasses yesterday and he is absolutely over the moon and can’t stop talking about it! He can finally see and read again. He was surprised to find out how clear his picture on is TV is. With that said, he is trying to figure out what to do for you guys. He’s an awesome baker, and wants to know if you like banana bread or pumpkin bread, or both. Let me know when you get a second and I will relay the message back to him.
Thanks again for all you do!!! You guys are invaluable to a lot of people in Broward.
-Tanja, Program Officer, Community Impact, United Way of Broward County
Please accept our heartfelt gratitude for accepting K.W. into the Joshua’s Path BOOST Program at Goodman Jewish Family Services. This has been a wonderful experience for K.W., who was very depressed prior to her participating in BOOST. We were searching for a program for her that would help her develop her social skills, build employment skills, and enhance her independence.
She absolutely loves attending BOOST. The Program Director, Samantha, has developed an outstanding curriculum; one that is sorely lacking in the community. There is a huge gap in services for young adults with IDD over the age of 22. The curriculum was educational and empowering. Lessons were organized and comprehensive. K.W., who is normally distant, opened up to her class and to the coaching staff and developed wonderful new relationships. She learned proper behaviors and how to communicate better with her peers.
The work experiences were her favorite section of the BOOST program. She looked forward to working hard every day and learned skills that have given her confidence to be part of a family. We are confident that K.W. will be able to maintain purposeful employment and will be a contributing member of the community.
