JFCS Takes Entrepreneurial Approach

National recognition
During Friedman's tenure at the JFCS, which provides services to 60,000 people of all religions annually, the organization has received national recognition for its programs, including: Parents Place, a resource center for new parents; Seniors-at-Home, an outreach and education system for the elderly; and more recently, the Early Childhood Mental Health Program, which aims to diagnose and treat children's mental health issues "before they become a larger problem," Friedman said. The program was recently studied by Yale University and recognized as a public policy model in children's services.

Given the economic decline of the past six months, Friedman said requests for services have increased 50 percent, an additional seven to 10 cases a day, and the institution has opened or expanded five food pantries.

Still, Friedman said JFCS will have the funds to support its expansion of services. "When you have really deep roots in the community, you find that there are hundreds of thousands of people who deeply care about quality of life and will continue to give even in difficult times," she said. "Because they understand now more than ever is the time to give."