Tampa Jewish Family Services’ nominee for the Lightning Community Hero program, Avi Davidson, was selected by the Lightning for his outstanding personal and volunteer achievements. Davidson was honored on January 12, 2012 during the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Carolina Hurricanes game at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. As part of being honored by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Davidson and other heroes are each allocated $50,000 to award to the charities of their choice. Davidson has generously named Chai Lifeline, Gift of Life, Chabad of Tampa Bay and Tampa Jewish Family Services as his designated charities. TJFS will receive $35,000 from the Lightning Community Hero program.

Click here to see the video from Davidson’s recognition at the Tampa Bay Lightning.

TJFS is honored and thankful that Avi Davidson so generously awarded these funds to the agency.

Tikvah Talk is held at the Tampa Jewish Community Center at 13009 Community Campus Drive, Tampa, 33625. A voluntary $5 donation is appreciated. For more information, please contact Lydia Abrams at lydiaa@tjfs.org, or call 813-960-1848.

CE’s are available for LCSWs, MFTs,
MHCs (2.0 CE’s for $10; BAP #1002 Exp. 3/2013).  Directions and other
information are available at: www.tjfs.org.

Tampa Jewish Family Services CEO Michael Barnett and TJFS Board Treasurer Janie Friedland receive $1,000 donation from Scripps Howard Foundation on September 16, 2011

The Scripps Howard Foundation Volunteer Grant Program awarded Tampa Jewish Family Services (TJFS) with a $1,000 grant to purchase half-price grocery gift cards from Sweetbay Supermarkets. The gift cards will be distributed to clients who turn to TJFS when faced with a life challenge. TJFS thanks the Scripps Howard Foundation for their support of the agency and the community.

TJFS is in need of “family sponsorships” for the upcoming December holiday season. Additionally, during November, the agency will distribute Dreidels to area Synagogues with a request for a $10 holiday item inside. We ask congregants to consider a family
sponsorship and/or taking one or more of the Dreidels to help make the holidays a happy time for all families.

Gifts will be distributed prior to Hanukkah, or by December 16, 2011. More than 750 individuals, or 250 households, are benefitted by the TJFS Annual Holiday Gift Drive. All donations will be accepted with heartfelt thanks. For more information, or to sponsor a family, please contact Lea Merrill at 813-960-1848.

Photo (L-R) Schaarai Zedek Brotherhood Past President David Rosenback and Current President Mark Rosenthal present TJFS' CEO Michael Barnett with a $3,000 donation

Schaarai Zedek Brotherhood Past President David Rosenback and Current President Mark Rosenthal presented TJFS’ CEO Michael Barnett with a $3,000 check on September 12, 2011, to support the agency’s High Holiday gift basket and Community Food Bank programs. TJFS would like to extend a special note of thanks to the Brotherhood for their ongoing annual support.

TJFS delivers food and gift baskets to residents of Mary Walker Apartments and Jewish Towers Apartments in celebration of Rosh Hashanah.  These meaningful and much-needed baskets are funded, in part, by the Brotherhood.

The JetSetters Program for Independent Seniors
The Tampa JCC and Tampa Jewish Family Services offer a specially designed program to provide opportunities to our seniors, ages 65 and older. The program is offered at no cost to all registered participants. It is held once or twice each month on a Thursday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Tampa JCC in Citrus Park. The program provides an assortment of activities and programs including guest speakers, current event presentations, cultural and spiritual events, art classes, card games and a kosher-style buffet lunch. Seniors must make a reservation in advance to attend the program and it is on first come first serve basis. To make a reservation, call 813-264-9000 and ask for Pam Cotner.

Upcoming JetSetters Programs:
September 22 – Speakeasy: A Roaring ’20s Party
October 6 – The Legacy of the Bielski Brothers
(The story of Jews Defiance of the Nazis with speaker Brendon Rennert)
October 27 - Medication Management (presented by the Area Agency on Aging)
November 17 - Writing Your Life Story (presented by Paula Stahl)
December 1 - Alaska (a pictorial presentation with Ruth Cohen)
December 15 - Murder Mystery Tour

The mission of Tampa Jewish Family Services is to provide counseling, community
service programming and assistance, consistent with Jewish values, for the purpose of strengthening individuals and families of all faiths in the Tampa area.

TJFS would like to extend a special thank you to Walmart for its support.

Pictured in photo (L-R): Weight Watchers employees Susan Prosser, Pattie Schreiber (also a TJFS’ Board member), Laura Lindsay, member Lisa, and employee Debbie Quinn Williams

On Saturday, August 27, 2011, Weight Watchers South Tampa kicked off the annual Lose for Good campaign with a donation of 500 pounds of food to TJFS’ Community Food Bank. The kick off coincides with the national event, August 28 – Octobter 15, 2011, that challenges Weight Watchers’ members to lose weight and raise funds for the needy. Locally, during the next several weeks, Weight Watchers South Tampa will encourage members to donate one pound of food for every pound of weight lost through their program. Last year, members collected nearly 1,000 pounds of food during the Lose for Good promotion. If the goal is met again this year, the total donation would be 1,500 pounds of food to help feed the hungry through the efforts of Tampa Jewish Family Services.

TJFS would like to thank Weight Watchers South Tampa for their support of the agency and the community.