U.S. Bank Awards $15,000 Grant to Support Employment & Career Services and Other Programs at Jewish Family Service

Shana Hazan, JFS senior director of resource development; Michael Hopkins, JFS CEO; Rockette Richardson Ewell, U.S. Bank Vice President of Government Relations and Community Development; Guin Kerstetter JFS chief financial officer.

Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) was awarded a $15,000 grant on Monday, December 19, by U.S. Bank to support the agency’s Employment and Career Services, as well as Roy’s Desert Resource Center in the Coachella Valley.

“We are very grateful for this support,” said JFS CEO Michael Hopkins. “The funds from U.S. Bank will help provide vital services for members of our community who are actively working to better their circumstances and create sustainable futures for themselves and their families.”

Two-thirds of the grant will be used to expand access to JFS’s “Career Kick-Start,” an intensive, four-week job search training workshop designed for people actively seeking employment. Clients develop a strategic networking plan, participate in career advising, and receive one-on-one feedback to strengthen their resumes and interviewing skills. Participants include recent college graduates struggling to find their first job, unemployed or underemployed adults seeking long-term employment, and older and mid-level professionals looking to re-enter the workforce or make a career change.

The remainder of the grant will support Roy’s Desert Resource Center, a comprehensive homeless center in Palm Springs, run by JFS, that provides both shelter and a wide range of supportive services – including case management services, job placement assistance, daily living skills development, budgeting instruction, and housing placement assistance – to those in the Coachella Valley who are currently experiencing homelessness.

To learn more about JFS’s Employment and Career Services or Roy’s Desert Resource Center, visit www.jfssd.org.

About Jewish Family Service

Since 1918, Jewish Family Service of San Diego has been a trusted community resource for individuals and families working to build better lives. Operating throughout San Diego County and the Coachella Valley, the agency’s integrated services are focused around three goals: Empower Individuals & Families to Move Toward Self-Sufficiency, Support Aging With Dignity, and Foster Community Connection & Engagement. Many people first turn to Jewish Family Service with a specific need, such as job coaching or transportation, and that first contact often leads to a wide range of services, including counseling, education, nutritious meals, social connection, and more. JFS was named a 2016 California Nonprofit of the Year and has earned a ninth consecutive 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator that highlights the work of efficient, ethical and open charities. To get help, volunteer, or to learn how JFS empowers change in our community, visit www.jfssd.org.