By Julie Loftis, JFS Marketing Specialist Jewish Family Services (JFS) is excited to introduce five new board members beginning terms in 2022 along with our new president, Jennifer Golynsky. Jennifer joined the JFS Board in 2016 and has been a longtime JFS supporter. “JFS provides a wide array of services to so many people. The span of offerings and numbers of people it touches is impressive. I am honored to be part of such a dynamic and engaged board and to offer my support to the talented professionals who live the organization’s mission, vision, and values by engaging, connecting, and healing our community.” As we begin 2022, we would like to thank our outgoing president, Louis Sinkoe, for his many contributions during his two-year term. Louis served on the board from 2011 to 2013, rejoined in 2015, and has served JFS for many years in a variety of capacities prior to joining the board. “What first drew me to get involved with JFS was the food pantry. I appreciate the necessary services that JFS provides to the community. JFS has a great board; people work together to solve issues to help the Jewish community be a better place.” A warm thank-you and best wishes to two of our outgoing board members. Jan Weiner joined the board in 2015 and served as president from 2018 to 2019. Over the past six years, she has served on the executive, finance, personnel, and board development committees. Adam Levy served on the board from 2019 to 2021 and was a major initiator for the Live, Laugh, Give event. Adam and his wife, Kim, have been the entertainment underwriter for all three years of this event. We would also like to acknowledge and thank Suzy Catenazzo, Jonathan Collman, Andrea Cronson, Julie Dermack, Rachel Friedman, Meredith Gartner, Marcia Lampert, Matt Luftglass, Gene Marx, Nina Rose, Louis Sinkoe, and Steve Teich who will continue to serve on the board this year. We appreciate all of the ongoing time and effort you give to support JFS. We are excited to welcome the following new board members: Andrew Bernstein, a Charlotte native and lifetime member of Temple Beth El, his family’s membership spans four generations. Since 1992, he has worked with Johnson Control Fire Protection as territory suppression leader. Andrew has long been involved in the Jewish community, including teaching at Hebrew High and Temple Beth El and working at Camp Mindy. Dan Coblenz has been a resident of Charlotte since 1965. He successfully operated a janitorial business for more than 50 years. He has volunteered with several of the agencies on campus, including the Butterfly Project, the Social Action Committee at Temple Israel, and JFS. In 1968 he married his wife, Nancy, in Temple Israel and is looking forward to celebrating his 54th wedding anniversary in 2022. Joni Deutsch is active within the media community, currently serving as vice president of podcast marketing and audience development at Podglomerate, overseeing audio strategy for clients, including PBS and NPR stations, Stanford University, and Expedia. Joni most recently was podcast manager for WFAE where she received several awards, including The Webby Awards (called “the Internet’s Highest Honor” by The New York Times). Jennifer Koss, a social worker, has diverse experience providing community-based services to a broad range of clients. She currently serves as social action co-chair and board member for Women of Temple Israel and volunteers with the Federation’s Annual Campaign, Shalom Green, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at Marvin Elementary, and in classrooms tutoring and as room parent for her daughter’s class. Adina Loewensteiner served as co-chair of Live, Laugh, Give last year and will co-chair again at the 2022 event. She has volunteered as secretary of the Temple Israel board, board member and PTO co-president at Charlotte Jewish Preschool, and at the JFS Food Pantry. She has taught her children the importance of the food pantry by collecting donations in lieu of birthday presents and letting her kids deliver donations to JFS and help stock the pantry shelves. Each member of the board is committed to the success of JFS’s full range of programming, counseling, and social service assistance. JFS helps those facing daily challenges, life’s transitions, new hardships, and unexpected crises. Programs provide education, engagement, counseling, food, care management, financial assistance, resources, and referrals. For more information, visit jfscharlotte.org.

BY JULIE LOFTIS JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES

(JFS) is thrilled to announce the first-ever honorees for Live, Laugh, Give 2022. “This year we have the esteemed pleasure of recognizing Kevin Levine and Louis Sinkoe for their many contributions to JFS, the Jewish community, and the Greater Charlotte community,” said Howard Olshansky, JFS executive director.

Kevin and Louis, both Charlotte natives, demonstrate their strong belief in giving back and leaving the world and community a better place through their many actions and financial support in the Jewish community. Levine and Sinkoe have served our community through leadership roles with Temple Israel, The Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community, The Foundation of Shalom Park, the Hebrew Cemetery Association, the Jewish Federation, and Jewish Family Services. Sinkoe stated, “In my role as president of Jewish Family Services, I have directly seen the impact JFS’s services have on meeting the needs of our community. Kevin and I are flattered to be the first honorees of Live, Laugh, Give and look forward to inspiring others to help support JFS and the event.”

The event will feature comedian and actor Elon Gold, who has starred in FOX’s “Stacked” and NBC’s “In-Laws.” His one -hour stand-up special on Netflix, “Elon Gold: Chosen & Taken,” received wide acclaim from audiences and peers alike. It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. He has made 10 appearances on “The Tonight Show” and had a recurring role on the FOX hit show “Bones.” Elon was a writer/performer on ABC’s “The Dana Carvey Show” and has guest starred on “Frasier,” “The Mentalist,” and “Chappelle’s Show,” among others. He recently had stellar appearances on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” and Comedy Central’s “This Week at the Comedy Cellar.” His routines have gone viral and are shared by millions around the globe. He is also currently featured in the Hulu movie “The Binge,” and in season three of HBO’s “Crashing,” he plays his most challenging role yet … himself. Elon can next be seen opposite Larry David in a recurring role on the upcoming 11th season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Live, Laugh, Give comedy night brings together supporters, donors, volunteers, and community members for “a night of laughter, a lifetime of healing.” It’s no coincidence that JFS chose a comedy night event to raise funds for the organization five years ago. Study after study has proven that laughter has many physical and mental health benefits. According to MayoClinic.org, short-term benefits of laughter can include stimulating many organs, activating and relieving your stress response, and soothing tension. Long term, laughter may improve your immune system, relieve pain, increase personal satisfaction, and improve your mood. “At the time, we were looking to develop an event that would bring people together in a fun, entertaining atmosphere,” said Susan Meyer, development manager and co-creator of Live, Laugh, Give.

All proceeds benefit JFS’s programs and services to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families in our community, including therapy, parenting support, financial and food assistance, domestic violence resources, senior engagement, case management, Holocaust survivor and family support services, and aging support, including home visits, housing transitions, and caregiver support groups. With expertise, compassion, and an emphasis on maintaining dignity, JFS staff are dedicated to working with clients to develop individualized plans. By uplifting, strengthening, and empowering individuals and families, JFS helps those in need when they need it the most. Save the date for our upcoming Live, Laugh, Give comedy night on Sunday, June 12, 2022 ,for “a night of laughter, a lifetime of healing.” For sponsorship opportunities, contact Susan Meyer at (704) 364-6594 or Susan.Meyer@jfscharlotte. org. To learn more about Jewish Family Services of Greater Charlotte, visit jfscharlotte.org, email info@jfscharlotte.org, or call (704) 364-6594.