A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS
Dear Friends,
Thank you for all that you made possible in 2025. Because of your generosity, JFCS East Bay served thousands of individuals and families — more than 2,500 — with critical support. Your gifts allowed us to provide immigration legal assistance and employment support to refugees and newcomers, food and homecare assistance to families and older adults, and trauma-informed counseling and financial services to Holocaust survivors.
These are transformative services that help members of our community rebuild stable lives. Because of your support, JFCS East Bay helped *Javier, a refugee from Mexico who was seeking LGBTQ+ asylum, regain his freedom after he was unlawfully imprisoned. Your gifts helped *Eva, a woman in her 70s living alone, afford food and transportation.
At this time in our community, your support through volunteering, advocating, and donating provides individuals and families a direct path to a new life. Your gift is an offer of compassion, connection, and understanding. Thank you for helping us to build a community where everyone can flourish with dignity.
*Clients’ names changed to protect identity.
2024 – 2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jeff Ilfeld, President
Sam Alcabes, Vice President
Rachel K. Leff-Kich, Secretary
Micah Trilling, Treasurer
Elizabeth Friedman Branoff
Janis Burger
Rena Davis
Stewart Florsheim
Suzan Kotch
Eric Leve
Aliza Metzner
Harris Mojadedi
Marjorie Stamper-Kurn
Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan
Robin Mencher, Chief Executive Officer
STORIES OF IMPACT
IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES supported an estimated 600 clients, which includes services to 386 affirmative benefit applications before USCIS and 120 in removal proceedings. In total, we provided 250 pro bono legal consultations with individuals from around the globe. Clients come from Afghanistan, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Ukraine, Mexico, and Guatemala. Read John’s Story
REFUGEE SERVICES provided support to 826 clients across multiple programs, delivering comprehensive, coordinated support, including public benefits enrollment, housing navigation, employment assistance, and connections to critical community resources.
Refugee Services also expanded delivery beyond new arrivals, intentionally including longer-term clients facing persistent systemic barriers, and improving outcomes through strong cross-program coordination that ensures seamless, holistic support rather than fragmented services. Watch Sergo’s Story
OLDER ADULTS & AGING SERVICES supported 780 clients through core programs within Jewish Community Care, including Holocaust Survivor Services, delivering coordinated, person-centered support that promotes safety, dignity, and independence. Services addressed a wide range of needs, including care coordination, home care support, benefits navigation, and family caregiver assistance.
In response to a growing demand for home care services and caregiver support, Adult Services strengthened and adapted service delivery to better support clients aging in place and caregivers managing increasingly complex care needs. Programs intentionally shifted and pivoted to meet evolving community needs, ensuring timely, flexible, and holistic support. This approach allowed Adult Services to reduce service gaps, respond to increasing acuity, and improve stability and quality of life for clients and their families through the lens of social determinants of health. Read Rosa’s Story
CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES helped to uplift over 200 children, youth, and their family members with comprehensive mental health and social services — alleviating some of the highest stress and emotional suffering for highly impacted communities. Clinicians and family partner wrap their clients and families with care, resources, safety planning, crisis intervention and advocacy. Their clients are receiving community-based specialty services addressing complex traumas and racial inequities affecting school, relationships, housing, community violence, exploitation, and many other risks.
Jewish children and families are served with culturally relevant services during the increased concerns surrounding community’s sense of safety. Additionally, Headstart preschools with highest needs in Oakland are receiving early childcare mental health consultations provided by our Bilingual Clinician and Doctoral Trainees. Watch Marie & Joe’s Story
During this period, 75 Holocaust survivors received home care and housekeeping assistance totaling $2,387,963.00. Food assistance was provided to 32 survivors in the amount of $51,035.00. Additionally, 104 survivors received medical assistance, including coverage for glasses and dental care, totaling $135,857.00. Housing assistance was provided to 56 survivors in the amount of $203,837.00. The total amount of direct financial assistance provided during this period was $2,778,692.00. We also hosted a variety of social events and group gatherings designed to reduce isolation and foster a strong sense of community among our HS clients. These activities encourage meaningful social interaction, promote emotional well-being, and help participants stay engaged, connected, and supported in a welcoming environment. Read Ilse’s Story
Please note that client names have been changed for client confidentiality.
Watch our 2024 Art of Living video to see how your support transforms lives.
FINANCIALS
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS
THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS
Alameda County Department of Workforce & Benefit Administration
Alameda County Community Food Bank
Alameda County Health
Bill Graham Supporting Foundation
California Community Foundation
California Department of Public Health
California Department of Social Services
Contra Costa County Employment & Human Services
Contra Costa Department of Health Services
Contra Costa County Office of The Public Defender
Contra Costa Jewish Community Center
Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation
East Bay Community Foundation
Firedoll Foundation
Frederick J. Isaac Philanthropic Fund
Heffernan Foundation
HIAS
Kaiser Permanente East Bay
Milton and Sophie Meyer Fund
ProLiteracy
Public Health Institute
Remick Family Foundation
Rossmoor Fund
Schwab Charitable Fund
Stand Together Contra Costa
State of California Department of Social Services
State of California Department of Public Health
Sunlight Giving
The Moca Foundation
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Zellerbach Family Foundation
Funded on the basis of a decision made of the Bundestag.
