WELCOME OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Brian Prousky We are pleased to announce that as of January 4, 2016, JF&CS has a new Executive Director.  Brian Prousky returns to JF&CS after having worked here for five years, early in his career as a social worker. Since that time he has continued his work with children and families taking on progressively senior positions, leading to his most recent role as Director of Services with Durham Children’s Aid Society.   A passionate advocate of children and families, Brian brings a client-centred approach to his work that is collaborative and strategic. Brian completed his Masters of Social Work degree at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University. Throughout his career he has served on many inter-agency and provincial committees representing the needs of children and families, including a regional program for victims of domestic and intimate-partner violence. "It's an honour to return to JF&CS and to be given the opportunity to build upon the exemplary work of my predecessors in serving the diverse needs of the Jewish Community. While many of the faces have changed, the importance of the organization in the lives of families hasn't.  I look forward to working with the organization's talented group of staff, volunteers, donors and community partners to ensure that JF&CS remains a place of hope and inspiration for all those whose lives it touches."

 AN EXTREMELY GENEROUS DONATION

John and Myrna Daniels.   Photo Credit: New York Social Diary

We are humbled and pleased to announce that the John and Myrna Daniels Charitable Foundation has donated $250,000 to JF&CS.

John Daniels was born in Warsaw, Poland and arrived in Canada at the age of 11 scarcely knowing a word of English.  JF&CS helped him secure his first job and set him on the path to what would become a highly successful career. Following graduation from high school he enrolled in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Toronto.  As an architecture student, he and two fellow students purchased six building lots in north Toronto.  John designed the homes at night and oversaw their construction by day.  In 1953 he formed his own development company and quickly became an industry leader in the Toronto area.  Between 1961 and 1974, John and his partners at Cadillac Construction built thousands of new homes, offices and retail projects.  In 1974, the company merged with The Fairview Corporation to form The Cadillac Fairview Corporation.  In 1983, John founded The Daniels Corporation, which rapidly became one of Canada’s most prominent builder/developers.

The generous donation will be directed toward JF&CS' poverty reduction and employability services at the request of the Daniels family.  These funds will allow us to enhance our existing programs and to develop new and innovative partnerships and programming to serve the complex and diverse needs of our clients.  JF&CS extends its most sincere appreciation to the John and Myrna Daniels Charitable Foundation. 

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." -Winston Churchill

The Pearl Project is a new, grassroots initiative created to support and serve young people who graduate out of JF&CS' foster care system or otherwise live on the fringes of society, marginalized by poverty, loss or other circumstances beyond their control. 

For too long they’ve been told that when they turn 18 they are on their own. As a society, we cast them into independence with some modest financial benefits, but mostly they leave foster care or their group home with no backup plan and no one looking out for them. Then we ask them to walk the high-wire to adulthood essentially on their own.  To succeed they need to know someone has their back and that their personal success matters to us all.

JF&CS will be launching the Pearl Project to help balance their practical needs for skills and information with their need for community connections. We want them to know they matter to us  and using a combination of creative programming and community collaborations, it is our goal to reveal the precious pearl that is each of these young people - gems too long hidden away by their hard lives.  

If you would like to learn more about the Pearl Project's goals, provide ideas and insights, and learn how you can get involved, please visit www.jfandcs.com/pearlproject 

"Due to both health challenges and financial issues, I was in need of support from your agency. I have never previously asked for help from JF&CS, but you were there for me at a time in my life when I needed you the most. Due to the excellent level of services the agency provided me, I am now back on my feet and progressing well. My worker put in a hero’s effort to assist and empower me to overcome a highly challenging set of issues.  JF&CS assisted me in ways I could never have imagined. Including:

• The purchase of a brand new laptop for my use at home so I could continue to work on a freelance basis due to health issues.
• Payment of one month’s rent in full when I was unable to do so.
• Several monthly stipends when my income was either non-existent or very low.
• Several payments for necessary medications when I was unable to afford them.
• Counselling and advice on coping with the challenging issues facing me.

My worker kept in regular contact with me and always managed to remain kind and caring but professional. She was careful to understand that there were certain issues she could help me with, but others were mine to work out on my own. I have an excellent knowledge of what constitutes good service and JF&CS embodies this and more. It is my hope that when my financial situation continues to improve, I will be able to donate to JF&CS as gratitude for your support."