JFS Perspectives

Our JFS Executive Luncheon billboard on Colorado Blvd. and Cherry Creek Dr. South


Unfortunately, there will be no Crown Royal at our "Happyness Hour." :)


Kari, JFS graphic designer, showing off her beautiful work!

There are only a few seats remaining for the JFS Executive Luncheon on Tuesday, May 8 featuring Christopher Gardner! Be there or be square...get your tickets before they're gone!

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department

Honorees Harvey and Sue Allon, JFS President & CEO Yana Vishnitsky, and Honorees Ken and Rebecca Gart

As we promised in last week's blog post, here is the update about Reel Hope you've all been waiting for...

On December 8, Jewish Family Service supporters headed downtown to the fabulous Ellie Caulkins Opera House for Reel Hope 2011, the agency’s annual film benefit. More than 500 attendees celebrated with honorees Harvey and Sue Allon and Ken and Rebecca Gart and enjoyed the U.S premiere of the spy thriller, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

Attendees sipped on “Vodka Reels,” the signature cocktail for the event, before enjoying a delicious boxed dinner prepared by Kevin Taylor, popcorn, and candy.

Thank you to event co-chairs Debra Duke and Kerry Shelanski, event advisor Carla Bartell, and emcee Lisa Belkov-Snyder for their roles in making the event a success! Thanks to the hard work of our outstanding co-chairs, committee, honorees, and staff, the event was a huge success! A big thank you to an anonymous donor who generously provided a $25,000 match, allowing us to raise additional funds during the event. In the end, Reel Hope grossed $435,000. Our heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful community-minded individuals and organizations that support the agency through this event - check out the list of sponsors!


Board Chair Alan Mayer addresses the crowd and shows the electronic tribute journal

Check out more event photos by Chris Schneider! View the heartfelt video, The Chain Reaction of Good, which was shown at the event. You can also take a peek at the electronic tribute journal and see all the wonderful accolades our well-deserving honorees received.

If you attended Reel Hope, thank you for your support. We'd love to hear your feedback! Please leave comments below.

Please save the date for our next fundraiser, the JFS Executive Luncheon on May 8!

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department

Thank you everyone who took a few moments out of their day on May 17th to join us at the seventh annual JFS Executive Luncheon! For those of you who missed it or if you were there, here is a recap of some of the event and links to photos, the video we showed, and articles written after the luncheon...

Featured speaker and football legend Mike Ditka entertained the sold-out crowd of 650 business and professional leaders and the event raised a record $310,000 to support JFS programs in four key areas: 1) mental health counseling, 2) senior and adult care management and in-home services, 3) disability and employment services, and 4) family safety net services!

Going into the luncheon, JFS had exceeded its fundraising goal of $200,000. More than $55,000 additional was raised at the event, doubled by a dollar-for-dollar match offered by an anonymous donor, bringing the total for the event to more than $310,000.



Mike Ditka, who is currently a commentator for ESPN's NFL Live and Sunday NFL Countdown, and CBS Radio-Westwood One's Monday Night Football pregame show, said, “I’m not an expert on anything, just a guy going through life.” His speech included stories about his football career, and his philosophies on life and success. “You need three characteristics to succeed: attitude, character, and enthusiasm. When you are happy with the person you are and you treat people right, you will have a great life.” The crowd responded to the coach’s speech with resounding applause.



Jim Benemann, Chicago native and news anchor for Denver’s CBS4, returned this year as the Luncheon emcee. Rabbi Eliot Baskin, JFS community chaplain, gave the opening benediction. JFS Board Chair Steve Kris acknowledged and thanked the many sponsors and event contributors. Because the event’s theme was “defining moments,” President & CEO Yana Vishnitsky shared her defining moment of stepping off the plane in Denver 33 years ago to start her new life in America after leaving the former Soviet Union.



JFS supporter Pete Bruno spoke about his son’s boxing accident in college that left him with permanent brain damage. They went from being JFS donors to recipients of its services. Pete said, “Sometimes life takes you to very unexpected places. However, more good than bad came from the accident.” Pete’s son, Tony has worked in JFS’s SHALOM Denver workshop for the past eight years and said, “The purpose of life is to matter, to count.”



A new agency video told Marie Cardin’s story of growing up homeless and how she broke the cycle of poverty. She is now a JFS volunteer and donor. Marie spoke briefly on stage at the luncheon and asked guests to use this moment to contribute to JFS and double the impact of their gift through the dollar-for-dollar match.

Thank you to our event chairs: Gareth Heyman, Jamie Sarche, and Debbie Silversmith for all they did to ensure the success of the Executive Luncheon.

Check out more photos from the event!

Read Joanne Davidson's article in the May 25th Denver Post.

Read Glory Weisberg's article in the May 26th Villager.

Thank you to Howard Lutz for taking the event photos! Thank you again to everyone who helped make the luncheon what it was - not only a record-breaking fundraiser, but an inspirational event!

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department

Thank you to everyone who came to Reel Hope-Take 15 last night to honor Dean Prina, M.D. and Charlie Gwirtsman! It was a great success and we hope you enjoyed all the new touches to this year's event. We'd love your feedback - please leave us comments on the event if you were there!

Now that da movie event is over, we are preparing for da Executive Luncheon featuring da coach of da Bears, Mike Ditka! We are proud to welcome the legendary NFL player and coach as the speaker for our seventh annual JFS Executive Luncheon and fundraiser on May 17, 2011 at the Grand Hyatt Denver at 1750 Welton St. Tickets are $150 and sponsorship packages start at $1,500. For more information or for tickets, contact JFS at (303) 597-5000 or buy them online.

It was great to see everybody out supporting JFS last night and we hope you'll join us for the JFS Executive Luncheon!

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department