JAFCO Fundraiser At Pine Hollow

he Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options (JAFCO) has two campuses in south Florida, but support for residents of the Roslyn area and the North Shore in general is key to its success. On Monday, Aug. 1, JAFCO will hold its seventh annual Long Island fundraising event, titled “Fun in the Sun,” from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 1 at Pine Hollow Country Club, East Norwich.
Pearl Halegua of Old Westbury is the JAFCO chapter president for Long Island. Other board members include Roslyn resident Ronna Niederman, plus Kim Floam, Joan Grant, Alexis Kaminoff, Lisa Levine, Amy Levy, Linda Moskowitz, Dr. Rose Schecter, Stacey Spitalnick, Susan Tashlik and Dorine Wulwick
When steel support beams rose two years ago for construction of the JAFCO’s Children’s Abilities Center in Sunrise, FL, both the building and the children served by it were “soaring to new heights,” according to Sarah Franco, the organization’s executive director.
A not-for-profit organization, JAFCO serves abused and neglected children as well as those with developmental disabilities. Founded 23 years ago with a mission to fill an unmet need in the Jewish community, JAFCO leaders believe that “it is our pleasure and our privilege to help any child and any family in need,” Franco said. “We take that extra step to preserve all our children’s heritage, holidays and customs.”
JAFCO currently is housed on two campuses in Sunrise. At the first location, its exemplary Children’s Village, the group serves abused and neglected children through its Family Preservation, Foster Care, Adoption and Mentoring programs. Its second and newer location, which opened two years ago, is the JAFCO Children’s Ability Center.
Now up and running for two years, this unique center “supports the entire family,” Franco added. It is the first of its type in the United States to offer family support, therapy, child enrichment and respite, all under one roof. The Abilities Center is all the more important today, she noted, as “one in six children born today have developmental disabilities.” It offers “a very innovative model of social services that support families’ needs.”
These initiatives, including the recent opening of a JAFCO Philadelphia office and the long-range vision to expand to New York, have been possible because of support groups like JAFCO’s Long Island volunteers. Franco sees groups such as the local team on Long Island as crucial to helping JAFCO grow, both geographically and in its range of services.
The Aug. 1 event will include a program with an informative, new video, a festive luncheon, game day and a shopping boutique featuring an array of vendors.
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