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Nonprofit Profile – Jewish Family Service of San Diego

ORGANIZATION

Name: Jill Borg Spitzer

Title: CEO

Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Mission of organization: Strengthen the individual, enhance the family, protect the vulnerable with human services based on Jewish values.

Telephone: 858-637-3000.

Web site: jfssd.org.

Founded: 1918.

Milestone: Last year, JFS helped a record number of 30,000 men, women and children throughout the entire community.

Annual income: Our operating income for 2007-2008 was $10.7 million.

Expense allocation: More than 88 percent of every operating dollar donated goes to the programs and services of JFS.

Corporate support: We receive corporate support for our annual Heart & Soul Gala that occurs in March; Run for the Hungry, our Thanksgiving 5K and 10K run/walk; and our annual Friends of the Family campaign.

Corporate Supporters: Capital One Financial, Charitable Auto Resources, Cooley Godward Kronish, Latham & Watkins, Qualcomm, Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek, San Diego National Bank, Sempra Energy, Verizon Wireless.

Board chairman: Ron Zollman.

Employees: 217 (119 full-time, 98 part-time).

Events: This year, our Project Sarah program hosts a luncheon on Oct. 27 in support of Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. Adoption Alliance hosts a conference for professionals and adoptive families on Nov. 2. Run for the Hungry 5/10K takes place downtown on Thanksgiving morning. Our Heart & Soul Gala will take place March 21 at the Hyatt Regency Aventine.

Wish list: A constant supply of food for our food pantry, run by enterprising teenagers, which is trying to keep up with rapidly growing demand.

OFFICE ISSUES

Recent challenge: Because of the worsening economy, we are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of people surviving domestic abuse, struggling with depression, dealing with issues that arise from unemployment, and who can’t get enough to eat. In the last three months, 300 new families received food packages from our food pantry.

Measures of success: We have effectively met the needs of our clients while remaining accountable to our donors and funders.

Smartest move: Our move in 2006 to our corporate headquarters, which centralized many of our operations and increased our ability to serve our clients. This was accomplished by a $12 million capital campaign.

Missed opportunity: For years, our older adult transportation program was limited to volunteer rides in North County. This year, we are able to catch up to the demand for older adult transportation in a much wider area by introducing On the Go , transportation solutions for older adults.

Misconception: Because “Jewish” is in our name, people incorrectly believe that we only serve the Jewish community. The majority of our programs serve the entire community. For example, we are serving 405 families affected by the October 2007 wildfires and only 19 percent are Jewish.

PROFESSIONAL INSIGHTS

Personal path to nonprofit work: It started with the great satisfaction I found in being a camp counselor. I worked in Brooklyn after earning my master’s in social work. Eventually I moved out West, starting at Jewish Family Service in Denver and then to Jewish Family Service of San Diego almost 25 years ago.

Toughest aspect: Making sure that all the resources are available to all of our clients all of the time.

Biggest pain: As the agency has grown, I have not been able to be on the frontline as much as I used to.

INTROSPECTIONS

Best recent moment: Hearing from Bosnian refugees who endured unspeakable horrors about how much our Refugee Resettlement Program helped them start a new life in the United States.

Worst recent moment: Reading the desperate e-mail of a woman, a survivor of domestic abuse, who described her situation and wanting to protect her children.

Dream for another life: Power forward in the Women’s National Basketball Association.

Downtime: Basketball, hiking, time with family

.

Most like to meet: Pat Summitt (Hall of Fame college basketball coach), Bill Gates, Warren Buffett.


Send Nonprofit Profile candidates to Tom York at tyork@sdbj.com.

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