The Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services
(JBFCS) celebrated its Annual Spring Benefit honoring
Manhattan Borough President Candidate Julie Menin,
Chairperson of Community Board 1, Joyce B. Cowin,
JBFCS Trustee, and Fran Levy, JBFCS Trustee;
with Master of Ceremonies, Melissa Russo, News
Anchor WNBC. JBFCS hosted a record-breaking 500 guests
and raised an astounding $2.2 million for the agency.
The event was held at New York City’s Plaza Hotel and
featured a cocktail reception plus seated dinner with
proceeds benefiting JBFCS’ 175 community-based programs,
residential facilities, and day-treatment centers that
annually serve more than 55,000 New Yorkers-in-need of all
faiths, races, and cultures.
JBFCS has been a trailblazer in treating social problems for
more than a century. Today, the organization is one of the
nation’s largest and most respected nonprofit mental health
and social service agencies—every night, more than 1,000
individuals call a JBFCS residence home. The work of JBFCS
is built upon a network of more than 2,200 professionals,
including social workers, licensed psychologists, and
psychiatrists, as well as a cadre of clinical support
personnel in continuing day treatment and residential
treatment centers, and a corps of more than 800 dedicated
volunteers.
The evening began with an introduction by master of
ceremonies Melissa Russo who introduced President of the
Board of Trustees Tony Mann. Mr. Mann delivered the
record-breaking news of the over 500 person attendance and
the $2.2 million dollars raised. Paul Levine, Executive
Vice President of JBFCS then spoke about the great
lengths that JBFCS goes to, to strengthen the New York City
area. He mentioned how JBFCS will continue to service as,
“there’s no end to what JBFCS can do in this city, because
there’s no end of suffering.” Honoree Fran Levy was then
introduced and delivered a touching speech about a family
with a special needs child who gained strength and optimism
through JBFCS’ programs. She mentioned how families are
drawn to JBFCS programs because of the safe and nurturing
environment the agency prioritizes. Julie Menin, the second
honoree of the night spoke about how JBFCS “gives hope by
providing a roadmap for recovery.” Ms. Menin spoke of a
young man who faced severe depression and did not leave his
home for over a year, with JBFCS’ help, the man received the
right medication and cognitive therapy he needed to become a
successful college student. Joyce B. Cowin was the last
honoree of the night to address the room. Ms. Cowin raised
over half of the $2.2 million dollars raised for the night
and has been a JBFCS trustee for nearly 50 years. She spoke
of a woman she met in Riverdale who lost her mother to
cancer and fell into a deep depression. The woman turned to
drugs and alcohol and attempted to end her own life; she
then sought counseling with JBFCS and told Ms. Cowin that
JBFCS saved her life
N
ATTENDANCE:
Julie Menin,
Chairperson of Community Board 1, Honoree
Joyce B. Cowin,
JBFCS Trustee, Honoree
Fran Levy,
JBFCS Trustee, Honoree
Tony Mann,
JBFCS Board President
Alice Tisch,
JBFCS Vice President
Tommy Tisch,
Brown University Chancellor, NYU Medical Center Trustee
Carol Davidson,
JBFCS Associated Executive Director for External Affairs
Paul Levine,
JBFCS Executive Vice President & CEO
Melissa Russo,
Master of Ceremonies, WNBC News Anchor
Jean Shafiroff,
Philanthropist, JBFCS Board Member
Jack Levy,
Co-Chairman of Goldman Sachs Mergers & Acquisitions
Lloyd Williams,
Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce President/CEO
Senator Roy Goodman,
Former New York City State Senate
David Gellman,
FdG Associates Managing Director
G. Oliver Koppell,
NY City Council Member, District 11
Blaine
(Fin) Fogg, Council, Skadden
John Finley,
JBFCS Trustee, The Blackstone Group Chief Legal Officer
Lynn Korda Kroll,
JBFCS Trustee
Jules Kroll,
K2 Global Consulting Chairman & Co-Founder; Kroll Bond
Ratings, Inc Chairman & CEO
About JBFCS
JBFCS provides a comprehensive network of mental health and
social services to promote well-being, resilience, and
self-sufficiency for individuals and families in need in the
New York metropolitan area. As leaders in the field of human
services, JBFCS’ mission is clear— 175 social service
programs. 1 mission. To get help to those who need it.
For further information, please visit
www.jbfcs.org.