THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ATTENDED THE JFS 2024 ANNUAL MEETING!
Framingham, MA – June 10, 2024 – Jewish Family Service (JFS) of Metrowest, a non-profit, community-based organization that provides vital social, health, and community services to alleviate suffering, enhance lives, and support people in need held their 46th Annual Meeting at Temple Beth Shalom (TBS) in Needham, during which volunteers and staff were recognized for their dedication to the work of the agency and business was conducted, including the installation of two new board members.
To start the meeting, Board President Allison Kates took to the podium and called the meeting to order. She provided welcoming remarks then introduced Rabbi Elyse Pincus Abrahams from TBS who spoke briefly about the resettlement work JFS and TBS are doing together then offered a blessing.
Ms. Kates resumed the podium and introduced guest speaker Dr. Jill Bloom, PhD who, as part of the Chester and Diane Black Lecture Series on Volunteerism and Civic Engagement, offered thoughts about promoting a trauma-informed workplace and supporting a trauma-informed culture.
When Dr. Bloom completed her comments, Mr. Covarrubias joined her at the podium and presented her with a small token of thanks and appreciation.
Next on the agenda was the volunteer and staff awards.
Mr. Covarrubias acknowledged the following volunteers with the CEO’s Roll Up the Sleeves Award:
Rob Andrews, Daniel Gilfix, Carol and George Hengerle, Lauren Marks and Sabina Rosenfeld.
(Lauren and Sabina were unable to attend the meeting.)
Mr. Covarrubias then invited Senior Director of Philanthropy Jayne Lampert to the podium who spoke about the good works of Levi Lasser, recipient of the Ellen Bloch Youth Leadership Award. Levi was unable to attend the meeting.
Mr. Covarrubias again stepped to the podium and invited Immigrant Services team member Sarah Leacu to say a few words and present the Community Humanitarian Award to owners Jennifer and Vivo Moshe who accepted the award on behalf of their team at Carmel Movers in Framingham.
Mr. Covarrubias then invited Sarkis Sarkisian and his team to the podium to receive the Marc N. Jacobs Innovation Award on behalf of the City of Framingham Planning & Community Development.
To conclude this portion of the program, Mr. Covarrubias recognized two staff members with the Lebold Award – Volunteer Services and Development team member Mandy Fleming and Immigrant Services team member Sarah Leacu.
Ms. Kates resumed her position at the podium to begin the Business portion of the program. After securing the approval of the minutes from the 2023 Annual Meeting, she invited Board Treasurer Meyer Levy to the podium who gave a brief report on the finances and concluded by summarizing that JFS is in a really strong position and the team is doing a great job.
Moving to the Installation and Discharge of new Directors, Mr. Covarrubias invited Rabbi Braham David from Congregation Beth Elohim of Acton to the podium who conducted business as follows:
DISCHARGED
- After three full terms (9 years in total), Board Member F. Javier Cevallos with term expiring in 2024 was discharged as well as Board Members Tiffany Lillie, Omawali Stewart, Shai Tabb and Nadia Valentin who resigned this fiscal year.
- The following Board Members with terms expiring in 2024 were discharged in preparation of being reinstalled for new terms: Fernando Castro, Deborah Gotbetter, Sophie Hearne, Denise Rosenblum, Cesar Stewart-Morales and Phil Strauss as well as Youth Board Members Ben Gelber and Ben Myers.
INSTALLATIONS
The following Board Members were reinstalled with new terms:
- Reinstalled for their second 3-year term expiring in 2027: Sophie Hearne, Denise Rosenblum, Cesar Stewart-Morales and Phil Strauss.
- Reinstalled for their third 3-year term expiring in 2027: Fernando Castro and Deborah Gotbetter.
- Reinstalled for their second 1-year term expiring in 2025: Youth Board Members Ben Gelber and Ben Myers.
The following new Board Members were installed for 3-year terms:
Ann Budner
Ms. Budner is the Founder and Principal of ABudner Strategy Consulting, offering strategic planning, board development, outcomes measurement, and meeting facilitation services to nonprofit organizations.
Prior to striking out on her own in 2016, she led the Nonprofit Practice at Carlisle & Company in Concord, MA for 17 years where she was responsible for managing the company’s pro-bono and reduced rate consulting work. A sample of Ms. Budner’s clients include 495/MetroWest Partnership, Discovery Museum, Framingham History Center, Hoops and Homework, Household Goods, Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, MassHire Metro South/West, MetroWest Health Foundation, Minute Man Arc, Natick Center Cultural District, Project Bread, and Youth and Family Services departments in Hopkinton, Medfield, Southborough, and Westborough.
Her nonprofit leadership includes work as Executive Director of three different nonprofit organizations in Boston, Cambridge, and MetroWest, and has served on Governance, Program and Fundraising Committees. Ms. Budner currently serves on the Board of her synagogue, as Co-Chair of the Social Action and Social Justice committees.
Ms. Budner is the mother of two and co-founder, dancer and choreographer for Encore Dance Ensemble. She holds a M.Ed. from Harvard University and a B.S. from Northwestern University.
Cheryl Carner
Ms. Carner is currently a Senior Managing Director and Head of Originations at SLR Credit Solution, a non-bank direct private credit provider. She is responsible for business development and marketing strategy and is a member of the company’s investment committee. Prior to SLR Credit Solutions (formerly known as Crystal Financial), she held business development roles focused on the retail, consumer, and restaurant sectors at GE Franchise Finance, CapitalSource and Fleet Retail Finance.
Ms. Carner has supported several nonprofit organizations, including More Than Words, Boston Impact Initiative, Combined Jewish Philanthropy, and Pan Mass Challenge. She recently served as Co-chair for CJP’s Miriam Fund.
She received her MBA at the F. W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College and her BBA at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Closing remarks were provided by Mr. Covarrubias, which included special thanks to Mr. Cevallos for the significant impact he made during his time as a Board member, particularly in the area of immigrants and refugees. Mr. Covarrubias offered other thanks to those in attendance and provided updates related to the mandates defined by the 5-year Strategic Plan as well as goals for the future. He also highlighted that JFS is multiyear recipient of the 4-Star rating with a perfect score of 100 from Charity Navigator.
The meeting adjourned at 8:12pm.
Follow the links to see the full list of 2024/2025 JFS Board of Directors: Click here for a text list or click here for a list with photos.
About JFS of Metrowest:
JFS is a community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works with over 7,800 people within the Metrowest and Greater Boston regions each year, targeting at-risk families, individuals, immigrants, and older adults aging in place. Dedicated to accelerating social, academic and health equity, JFS is:
- Increasing the ability of older adults to maximize independence and quality of life as they navigate the challenges that come with aging
- Supporting the needs of low-income students so they can thrive
- Providing safety, hope and opportunity for refugees victimized by world conflict
- Advancing equity with comprehensive assistance that empowers immigrant families to succeed
- Reducing poverty in our community with case management, basic needs assistance and employment readiness support
JFS provides the tools to meet life’s obstacles to stabilize during a crisis and optimally achieve self-sufficiency, strengthen lives, improve wellbeing, and build a stronger community. JFS’ sound fiscal management practices have earned it a 4-star rating (score=100!) from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator.
To learn more about JFS or to view the 2023 Report to the Community, visit https://jfsmw.org/.