Jewish Family Services of Delaware is responsible for resettling refugees in our state and helping them integrate and build new lives in our communities. You can help by educating yourself about the lives of refugees in the United States and in Delaware.
1. Refugees are legal immigrants. They are the most vetted group of people allowed into the United States.
They go through fingerprinting, interviews with 5 government bureaus, health screenings, and multiple security checks – a thorough vetting process that takes an average of 2 years. If there is any doubt about who a refugee is, he or she will not be admitted to the United States. Refugees are legal immigrants who want what each of us wants – to live and raise their families in safety.
3. Welcoming refugees makes America safer and stronger.
Resettlement helps to stabilize some of our key strategic allies in countries and regions that are disproportionately affected by forced displacement. By increasing regional stability, resettling refugees helps the United States and our allies fight against the forces that wish to cause us harm. Finally, continuing to welcome refugees sends a strong message to groups sowing havoc and fear that the United States remains a leading force for stability and liberty in the world.
4. Once settled, refugees are eager to give back to the country and state that they now call home.
Most refugees quickly find jobs and become self-sufficient after settlement in America. They support their families, pay taxes, start businesses, and are employed in a wide range of sectors. They spend money that helps local economies and send their children to school with the intent that they become productive members of their new communities.
5. Last week, JFS had 6 refugee families, totaling 19 people, in our pipeline.
We are grateful that one family was safely settled on January 24th. The fates of the remaining five families, who have been thoroughly screened and approved for legal resettlement to the United States, are now uncertain. These families are from Syria, Iraq, and Pakistan – they include children as young as 6 months, and families who have been separated from loved ones who are currently legal residents of Delaware. They are engineers, medical and religious professionals, a hairdresser, a welder, a librarian, and a translator.
6. Refugees in Delaware are proud to call the First State home.
Many of JFS’ refugee clients who are living and settled in Delaware report feelings of anxiety and confusion in this political climate. But living in Delaware allows them to remain hopeful and confident. They are grateful for the compassion, solidarity, and welcoming spirit that Delawareans have shown towards them.
Jewish Family Services of Delaware is leading a coalition of 27 faith and community groups who are ready, willing, and wanting to support and welcome refugees to our state. Compelled by our shared American values, spiritual convictions, and responsibility to humanity, we stand together in order to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people raise their families in freedom and safety.
The Executive Order signed on Friday bans all refugees from entering this country and further restricts the travel of people born in seven Muslim majority countries.
JFS has a long and proud history of advocating for and assisting newcomers to America as they build new lives and raise their families in Delaware. We are dedicated to strengthening individuals and families in our community. We are committed to caring for people when they are vulnerable. And we will always treat our neighbors with respect and dignity.
Guided by our Jewish values and history, JFS shoulders the responsibility of caring for people who seek refuge in the First State. We remain committed to reuniting families that have been separated by war, mobilizing communities to welcome them with open hearts, and helping them to build a new home in Delaware.
While it does not specifically target the refugee population currently living in the United States, the Executive Order has impacted the lives of refugees living here. Many of JFS’ refugee clients report feeling anxious and confused. But despite their fear, they feel confident and privileged to call Delaware home. They consider Delaware safe because the people of our state have stood up and said, in no uncertain terms, “refugees are welcome here.”
On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we recalled that this nation shut its doors on refugees fleeing war, to deadly effect. At JFS, we believe that ‘never again’ means ‘never again for anyone.’ And we are resolved to continue providing services that support people of all races, religions, nationalities, and ethnic backgrounds during vulnerable times in their lives.
Basha Silverman
Chief Executive Officer
Jewish Family Services of Delaware
1. Share your story with HIAS so they can collect and share stories that illustrate the impact of this Executive Order. By filling out this form, you are granting your permission for these stories to be told publicly. These stories can include: Refugees who were expecting to come to the U.S.; U.S. residents who were expecting their family members to join them; Communities and congregations who were expecting to welcome refugees (i.e. furnishing apartments, collecting donations, etc.)
2. Spread facts, not fear. Read about Refugees in Delaware and share the information.
3. Show refugee families already living here that you stand with them. Write a card expressing a message of love, hope, and solidarity and drop it off at your local Jewish Family Services of Delaware office in Wilmington or Lewes >>.
4. Be compassionate. Be vocal. Be proud. As a JFS stakeholder, YOU make a difference. Every day, Jewish Family Services serves our neighbors during vulnerable times in their lives and acts on behalf of those who are disenfranchised. As a partner of our work, you too are a part of that service.
Basha Silverman took the helm of Jewish Family Services of Delaware as CEO in December, succeeding JFS’ long-time CEO Dory Zatuchni when she retired at the end of the year.
A native Delawarean, Basha has deep personal and professional connections in the First State and a passion for Jewish social services. Prior to joining JFS, she was responsible for driving program development and visions for growth at the nearby Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Philadelphia.
My parents ran a small business selling baby furniture in Wilmington called Closic’s Furniture. I grew up in that store selling furniture on weekends all through high school and college. With each potential sale, I got caught up talking to the couple about their family and their baby. Their social interactions, the family dynamics were far more compelling to me than which style of crib would work best for them. Looking back, it’s clear to me that it was always the people that I cared about – more than the furniture or the profit margins.
While I was in college, I also started volunteering at an agency that provided social services. I soon realized that the business savvy that I gained working in the store could be valuable in reaching my goal to help people. After that, I was committed to the social service world. I went on to earn my Master’s degree in Social Work. And I have never looked back. I feel so grateful that I have found a career path that allows me to follow my passion.
Everything I’ve done professionally in Delaware and in Philly prepared me for this position. I feel almost like its tailor-made for my background, my passions, and my career experience.
I wouldn’t have come back to Delaware to run just any nonprofit. I fell in love with the JFS mission in Philly – how the organization is inspired by the Jewish principles of welcoming the stranger, repairing the world, honoring truth and integrity. The way we operate as consummate professionals ethically guided by our values makes me proud to be in a leadership position at any JFS. So to come back to my home state of Delaware, to utilize those Jewish principles and values, and to make a real, positive impact on the lives of others, well, that’s just a win, win, win to me! I am truly honored and privileged to serve in this position.
Right now, I am still in the process of getting to know the JFS the team, understanding how far we’ve come, and learning about opportunities that are yet to be taken advantage of. This organization is remarkable, and that is a testament to what my predecessor Dory built here, and the JFS team. I feel a deep responsibility to understand the enormous efforts that it took to get us this far before I map out our next steps. My broadest goal is to sustain that success and build upon it.
We set the groundwork for JFS’ refugee resettlement program in 2016. The first refugee family will arrive at the end of January, with three more arriving in the weeks to follow. These families – who are vetted for up to two years before they get to this country – want the freedom to live without fear and to raise their children in safety. The same things you and I want.
JFS’ work with refugees settling and living in Delaware is not new – but the level of community engagement in the program today is. JFS is mobilizing a grassroots network of volunteers to support this work. More than 20 faith communities and volunteer groups have already joined us. They are ready to help furnish the apartments, to help them learn English, and to show them around their new neighborhoods. It is humbling and exhilarating to lead the effort that is pulling people together. We are making sure that when refugee families arrive, they feel welcome, and when they step through the door of their apartment, they step into a home.
For a nonprofit, especially a small nonprofit, I am deeply impressed by how sophisticated our operations are and how cutting edge we are in the way we make use of available technologies.
This is a wonderful surprise. I think that people who don’t work in this sector may not realize that this is the exception rather than the rule. We have implemented technological solutions and invested in technological advancements that make it possible to do our jobs with more efficiency and better results. We are not a high-tech business, but I think we can proudly say that we are current with how our society functions today. And that is a huge leg up for a nonprofit organization.
It’s important to me that the community understand the role of JFS. I want them to know that our services are not limited to the vulnerable. JFS is here to serve all members of the community—Jewish or not – during vulnerable times in their life. That could mean a divorce, or a loss, a financial challenge, or mental health issues. I want the community to know how to call on us, when to call on us, and that we have the best talent in the field.
JFS does this work – we are inspired and committed to strengthening others – because that’s an integral part of who we are as Jewish people.
Written by: Meredith Stuart, Marketing & Development Specialist
At first, Joshua Stull didn’t want to go to a stranger’s house to pull weeds or take out the recycling. “I didn’t see a valuable point in doing it,” he admits. But when he and his mom Christina Renzette started volunteering with Brandywine Village Network (BVN) two years ago, he began to change his mind.
Brandywine Village Network, a program of Jewish Family Services of Delaware, mobilizes nearly 200 volunteers to help older adults live independently in their homes. Joshua, then 11 years old, and his mom were matched with Gordon Gee. Regular assistance from volunteers is a lifeline for Gordon, who suffered a stroke several years ago that left him with restricted mobility.
Joshua helps with the yardwork and chores around the house. Christina goes grocery shopping for him, and picks up his prescriptions. They take him out to lunch. “We like Gordon,” Joshua says. “He’s like us in many ways. He has a good sense of humor and likes to joke around. He’s like family now.”
Gordon lives alone. His wife passed away shortly after Joshua and Christina met him. Christina feels like it was meant to be that they were there for Gordon during that time. “He’s like family now,” she says. “It doesn’t even feel like volunteering anymore. When I log my hours it feels like cheating. It’s like hanging out with an uncle for me – or a grandfather for Joshua.”
“I love Gordon,” Joshua adds. “He’s my buddy. He has amazing stories to tell about his life. And he’s interested in what I tell him too.”
For Christina, volunteering with her son was an opportunity to teach him to be giving, selfless, and appreciative. “I’m a single mom and I want to make sure our time counts and to teach him everything I can while he’s with me,” she says. “I felt like he was at a pivotal time to instill those values. We couldn’t have picked a better first place to volunteer.”
They chose to volunteer with BVN because it fit easily into their lives.
“BVN was one of the few places in Delaware where you could be his age and volunteer with a parent,” Christina explains. “Once we met with Maggie and found out all about what BVN does, I knew this was exactly what we need to do. It’s something that easily fits into our schedule.”
Now 13, Joshua fully believes in the value of volunteering. “I feel like I have progressed and become more selfless,” he says. “I learned to see past me and to focus on Gordon when we volunteer because Gordon is our priority.”
“I think he’s doing a good job,” Christina beams. “I’m proud of who he’s becoming. He’s not your typical little 13 year old. Can’t hid it, I’m very proud of him.”
When she started babysitting last summer, Amy Feldman started thinking about how she could make a difference. “Babies are really hard to take care of and baby products are expensive,” she explains. “So I wanted to be able to help.”
At the end of that summer, Amy took half of her babysitting money and used it to buy baby food items. She also handstitched and sold pillows in order to buy more baby supplies with the profits. Amy’s brother had volunteered with Jewish Family Services of Delaware a few years before for his Bar Mitzvah project, so when she found out that JFS runs a food pantry for agency clients, Amy hoped it would be a good match for her project as well.
For her first donation, Amy brought four large boxes of baby food and supplies to stock JFS’ food pantry.
“If someone had a baby, they could come here for some supplies and could spend the money on other things,” she said hopefully.
When the sixth grade class at her Hebrew school ran a bake sale for the international childhood cancer foundation Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Amy was again inspired. “I thought ‘well I should do one for Jewish Family Services.’”
Amy spent three full days baking 100 chocolate chip cookies, 100 sugar cookies, 100 brownies, and 50 cupcakes, which she sold at her synagogue during Hebrew school.
It was a huge success. “I made $197 in the end!” Amy smiled.
This time, Amy used the money to buy toiletry items as well as nonperishable food like beans, nuts, and pasta. “I learned that you can’t buy bathroom items with food stamps, so a lot of people have trouble buying those things for themselves,” she said, explaining how she decided which items to donate to the JFS Pantry.
“It is commendable that Amy took the time to educate herself about what items are most needed by our food pantry,” says Maggie Ratnayake, JFS’ Director of Older Adult Services and Volunteer Coordinator. “We can’t thank her enough!”
According to Amy, many of her friends and classmates want to save the environment or protect animals. And while she agrees that those causes are important, she has a different take. “If we don’t help other people,” she says, “then the other things aren’t going to happen either.”
Following her passion for helping people, Amy started volunteering with JFS’ Brandywine Village Network on a regular basis in the spring. BVN volunteers help older adults live independently in their own homes by assisting with tasks that become challenging as they age.
“I volunteer to do the vacuuming for two older ladies who are part of the Village,” Amy says. “One uses a walker, so it’s hard for her to vacuum. The other has bad hips, so it’s helpful for her too.”
Amy is one of nearly 200 volunteers who gave in excess of 3,400 hours of their time and talent to support older adult members of Brandywine Village Network. Basic household assistance like the kind Amy provides accounts for nearly a quarter of volunteer activity. Other volunteers drive BVN members to appointments, help with grocery shopping, or assist with technology.
“Our volunteers are incredible,” says Maggie. “Whether they volunteer once a week, once a month, or every once in a while, they are making our community a better place to live.”
According to Amy, there are benefits for the volunteers as well. “Volunteering makes me feel really good, like I’ve made a difference,” she says. “I think all people should try it.”
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To learn more about volunteer opportunities at JFS, contact volunteers@jfsdelaware.org or 302-478-9411
Jewish Family Services of Delaware (JFS) is thrilled to announce that Basha Silverman has been named the agency’s new Chief Executive Officer. With an exemplary career of 15+ years in non-profit social services, her expertise in strategic planning and implementation, business development, operations, management, and process improvement will provide JFS with remarkable leadership and success.
JFS’ long-time CEO Dory Zatuchni, whose vision and leadership was responsible for the agency’s tremendous growth during her tenure, will retire at the end of the year.
“The Board is delighted to welcome Basha Silverman back home to Delaware. Basha’s warmth and professionalism are a natural fit for JFS,” said Regina Kerr Alonzo, President of the Board of Directors of Jewish Family Services. “We are so excited to benefit from her experience and passion for high quality social services in Delaware.”
Basha will start at JFS on December 5th. Prior to joining JFS, Basha was the Vice President of Strategic Expansion at Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Philadelphia where she was responsible for driving the Agency’s program development and visions for growth as well as generating revenue by leading a robust initiative.
A native Delawarean, Basha has deep personal and professional connections in the First State. She spent 12 years at Brandywine Counseling and Community Services, serving in many capacities. She is founder of Delaware’s first coalition aimed at designing a gender specific, health focused response to victims of trauma, and has developed programs for HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and mental health in Delaware and Pennsylvania. She sits on the Institutional Review Board of the University of Delaware, is a member of the Philadelphia Alliance, and was named 2013 Power Woman of the Year by Main Line Magazine.
Basha is a graduate of Brandywine High School, University of Delaware, and Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. She and her husband Jesse have two daughters, Noa and Mira.
After twenty years at the helm of Jewish Family Services of Delaware (JFS), Dory Zatuchni will retire from her position as Chief Executive Officer at the end of the year. After a nationwide search, the JFS Board of Directors has named Basha Silverman, a native Delawarean, as the agency’s new executive.
Over the course of her tenure, Dory took JFS from a six person staff working from the basement of Albert Einstein Academy to a staff of 38 with three (above ground) offices, and a statewide presence. She developed programs to meet the changing needs of Delaware’s families while guaranteeing a constant safety net of support for the community.
“The growth and wide array of services at Jewish Family Services of Delaware under Dory’s outstanding leadership has been extraordinary,” said Regina Kerr Alonzo, JFS Board President. “Her commitment to creating a positive and professional experience for clients is unparalleled. Dory has ensured that the staff and Board are ready for the future of JFS Delaware.”
Dory first joined JFS as a social worker for older adults living in subsidized housing in 1990. “The residents of B’nai B’rith House were thrilled with the idea that someone would help them access services,” she recalled. “I was thrilled with the opportunity to advocate for them.” In connecting with clients and helping them overcome challenges, Dory was in her element.
Throughout her career, Dory continued to prioritize the wellbeing of Delaware’s aging population. In 2005, she helped to found the Delaware Aging Network, and in 2012, JFS opened Delaware’s first Village Network to help older adults age safely and securely in their own homes. The Brandywine Village Networks of New Castle and Sussex Counties now mobilize more than 180 volunteers to support older adults living in their communities.
“For more than 20 years, Dory has been a strong community leader with an unwavering commitment to serving vulnerable populations,” said Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf. “She is a leader of the highest integrity and is dedicated to improving the lives of all that she and her agency touches.”
Dory transformed JFS into a true family services agency. In 2004, she won JFS’s first state contract to provide counseling to children and adolescents. Today, JFS’ therapists provide thousands of counseling sessions a year to help children, teens, adults, and seniors better manage their mental health. Additional partnerships with the state allows JFS to develop workplace readiness among youth, stabilize families, and connect refugees with employment opportunities.
“We’ve seen tremendous growth over the last twenty years,” said Dory, “but our values have always stayed constant: we care for older adults, we help youth become more self-sufficient, and we build the resiliency of families.”
A true collaborator, Dory brings people and organizations together to make change and protect vulnerable people. JFS has a long history of helping refugees integrate into American life, starting with Jewish refugees from Europe and the former Soviet Union. In her final year as CEO, Dory has established a framework for a faith-based coalition of synagogues, churches, mosques, and temples to support Delaware’s only resettlement program for refugees from around the world.
Always striving to deliver the highest standard of care, Dory is proud of the multiple state and national awards that JFS has achieved over her tenure. Honors like the Community Impact Award, the Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award, Top Workplace in Delaware, and Superstar in Business recognize the agency’s programs, staff, and volunteers for their high quality of service and professionalism.
Good happens when leaders have empathy for others; change happens when leaders serve their communities. At the helm of Jewish Family Services of Delaware, Dory does both – and her impact extends well beyond JFS. She has served on the national board of the Association for Jewish Family and Children Agencies, represented Delaware’s Jewish community on FEMA’s Emergency Food & Shelter committee, and participated in numerous state advisory councils, and taskforces dedicated to building healthier communities and serving vulnerable populations.
“It has been my great honor and privilege to serve an agency that is so deeply committed to the values of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and tzedakah (justice). JFS has a talented and compassionate staff who work every day to build a healthier, stronger Delaware,” said Dory. “In Basha, the Board has chosen a leader who embraces our values and will take JFS to new heights.”
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Strengthening Our Neighbors
In 1996, six JFS staff worked out of the basement of Albert Einstein Academy.
Today, JFS has offices in Wilmington, Newark, and Lewes, and staff deliver services in schools, centers, and homes across the state – creating a statewide footprint of Jewish health and human services.
Welcoming the Stranger
In 1998, JFS received its first state contract to provide job placement and transitional services to refugees.
Today, JFS has established Delaware’s only refugee resettlement program, in partnership with the refugee protection agency HIAS.
Creating Community Spaces
In 1999, JFS opened the Kimmel-Spiller Jewish Healing Center.
Today, the Dory Zatuchni Village Garden is a place of respite and relaxation for older adults, clients, and volunteers.
Repairing the World
In 2000, twenty-five volunteers formed the agency’s first Jewish Volunteer Network.
Today, a corps of 180+ volunteers contribute a combined 3,474 hours of service to assist older adults and stock the Bag Hunger Food Pantry.
Developing Self-Sufficiency
In 2001, JFS developed the Media Matters program to teach technological skills and promote prevention topics among youth and young adults.
Today, JFS has expanded its youth workforce development and Media Matters programs into alternative schools throughout the state.
Building Resiliency
In 2004, JFS was awarded its first state contract to provide counseling to children and adolescents.
Today, JFS provides thousands of counseling sessions to help children, adults, and families better manage their mental health.
Forming a Safety Net of Support
In 2005, JFS was selected as administrator of FEMA’s Emergency Food & Shelter Program.
Today, JFS continues to represent the Jewish community to the program and serve as administrator.
Caring for Our Elders
In 2005, JFS became the lead agency of the Delaware Aging Network, a consortium of agencies serving older adults.
Today, JFS operates the Brandywine Village Networks of New Castle and Sussex Counties to assist older adults age safely in their homes.
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National Board of the Association for Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies
Advisory Council for the Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health
Advisory Council for the Division of Family Services
Advisory Council for the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services
Delaware Education Taskforce
Founder of Delaware Aging Network
Peer Reviewer for the Council on Accreditation
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National Leadership Award from Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Services (2012)
Women in Business Feature by Delaware Today (2016)
On October 19, JFS’s Brandywine Village Network volunteers were awarded the 2016 Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award recognizing an exceptional volunteer group.
Last year, 183 volunteers provided 3,116 hours of assistance to help 112 older adults age in place. This service included 2,226 one way rides totaling 12,525 miles.
“We’re so glad we have your help,” one BVN member said about the volunteers. “We don’t feel isolated because of you. You all are wonderful. You have been a blessing.”
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For information about volunteer opportunities, contact volunteers@jfsdelaware.org or (302) 478-9411.
Written by: Meredith Stuart, Marketing & Development Specialist
“Youth learn best from their peers.” This truth drives Alice Stevens’ work as a credentialed Prevention Specialist at Jewish Family Services of Delaware. It is the reason why she wanted to start a Peer Leader program at JFS.
Inspired by Jewish values of justice, community, and caring for others, JFS has provided counseling and support services in Delaware and the Brandywine Valley for nearly 120 years.
“If you go back to Maimonides’ levels of charity, the highest form of charity is acting to strengthen others so that they become self-sufficient,” says CEO ,Dory Zatuchni. “Peer Leaders takes it one step further – as they will be passing it on and strengthening their peers.”
JFS’ inaugural class of Peer Leaders includes 10 young men and women, ages 13 to 18, attending different schools throughout New Castle County. After training, planning, and team building over the summer, they will be implementing unique prevention programming in their schools during the year. “Instead of adults going out and telling them that things need to change,” Alice explains, “we want the Peer Leaders to be in charge of making those changes.”
Ke’Anna Williams, who became a Peer Leader in June, puts it this way: “When you become a Peer Leader, you go out in the community and in your school to teach people how to do the right things, how to make the right choices, and how to help other people.”
“JFS takes pride in training youth,” says Director of Youth and Family Support Sophie Namugenyi. Peer Leaders, she explains, is an extension of prevention and workforce development programming that focuses on building skills and helping youth become assets to their communities and future employers.
Ke’Anna is a 10th grader at St. George’s Technical High School in Middletown. In many ways she is a typical teenager. She talks a lot about her friends – the influence that they have on her, and the influence that she has on them. She was nervous at the beginning of the interview, but when she started speaking about becoming a Peer Leader, her demeanor changed.
“Where we live, there’s not a lot of positive things going on,” she said, leaning forward, her voice strong and passionate. “I wanted to be a part of the program because I want to be a person to change it. I want to show there is positivity in the world and help other people build up positivity.”
Ke’Anna first got involved with JFS in 2014 through the agency’s Prevention Program. Through the class, she helped write, star in, and shoot a PSA encouraging her peers to “choose their own image” instead of letting others define them.
“I was really shy,” Ke’Anna remembers. “I didn’t want to be on camera, I didn’t want to do it.” But after getting to know the group, and being encouraged by her peers and instructors, she became more comfortable in the spotlight.
“Ms. Alice brought me out of my shell,” she says. “She made me do a lot of things that I wasn’t comfortable doing, but now I can do them. Like going out in public and talking to people.”
“Many times as parents or community members, we allow the students to stay in their comfort zones,” Alice says. “One of the ways we are succeeding is in pushing them outside their comfort zones, because that’s the way that they are going to find their voices and grow.”
Peer Leaders start with a three day training in how to handle difficult situations. “The first day,” explains Alice, “is about getting to know themselves because in order to be a Peer Leader, you need to know your strengths and weaknesses.” Day two focuses on conflict resolution and mediation, and day three teaches the students how to lead sessions with their peers.
Ke’Anna learned a lot from acting out different scenarios ranging from helping cheer up a peer with positive reinforcement to supporting a friend who is being abused. “We got taught how to take care of that person – not to just go tell the teacher by yourself,” Ke’Anna said. “You can’t take the power away from that person, you have to let them speak out for themselves.”
Now, back at school, the Peer Leaders will each be implementing the program in their own way, in line with their own interests. One Peer Leader wants to offer tutoring to help with homework, another wants to tackle bullying.
As for Ke’Anna, she plans to create a group where students are comfortable sharing their feelings and they can work together with their peers resolve their problems. “It’s an opportunity to get everything out,” she said, “because holding things in doesn’t have a good outcome.”
On Wednesday, June 1, 2016, Jewish Family Services of Delaware (JFS) will celebrate the long and distinguished tenure of CEO Dory Zatuchni and the grand opening of the new Village Garden dedicated to her. The celebration will take place at 6:00 pm in the garden outside of JFS’s Wilmington office.
Dory’s 20 years of devoted leadership of JFS is the capstone of a lifetime of service to the community and advocacy for vulnerable populations.
In 1990, Dory joined JFS as a social worker for older adults. She was elevated to CEO in 1996 and has since steered the agency through changes and challenges while always providing the highest quality services to our community. She is a recognized leader on mental health, aging in place, and domestic violence issues.
“Dory and her staff have created an agency that meets the needs of the broadest populations of our community, not only the Jewish community,” said Rabbi Peter Grumbacher, a local community leader and a friend of Dory. “Her focus is on creativity and relevance.”
The event – a classic garden cocktail party – will honor Dory’s years of service and celebrate the opening of the Village Garden. Guests will have the opportunity to place bids at the garden themed auction, enjoy a tour of the garden, and socialize with other members of the JFS community: friends, family, volunteers, staff, and supporters.
A fulfillment of Dory’s dream to create a pleasing outdoor space that can be used by people of any age and ability, the garden is designed to fit the specific needs of older adults and provide people of all ages with connection, community, and comfort.
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Our deepest thanks to Garden Committee Chair Marci Aerenson, Event Co-Chairs Lisa Driban and Rachel Harad, and the dynamic group of creative and passionate women on the Village Garden Committee for ensuring that this dream becomes a reality.