With spring now in full bloom, plans are underway for JAFCO, a Florida-based child services agency, to hold its first JAFCO Long Island Golf Classic on Monday, May 10 at Meadow Brook Club in Jericho.
A not-for profit organization, JAFCO, which stands for Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options, serves abused and neglected children as well as those with developmental disabilities.
The group recently surpassed 25 years as a social service organization, from its more humble beginnings as a small foster care and adoption agency, founded in 1992.
While JAFCO’s original mission was to fill an unmet need in the Jewish community, JAFCO leaders view it as their privilege to help all children and families in need, regardless of faith or heritage
JAFCO provides a wide range of high-quality services, including foster care, adoption, family preservation, independent living and help for developmental disabilities with programs on campuses in south Florida, and in the northeast as FamilyMatters, a JAFCO Support Network.
JAFCO two Florida campuses include its exemplary Children’s Village and its Children’s Abilities Center, which is the first of its type in the United States to offer family support, therapy, child enrichment and respite, all under one roof.
JAFCO recently expanded its services to form FamilyMatters, a JAFCO Support Network, to serve children and families in greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. Awareness of JAFCO has grown due to the diligent efforts of a Long Island-based chapter that has evolved over time. The long-range goal of JAFCO’s Long Island group is to establish a local JAFCO office.
Volunteers from JAFCO’s Long Island grassroots support group have worked for more than a decade to create awareness and establish a viable presence in the New York area. These volunteers held small gatherings to show what the organization could offer children in need. Increased local interest in JAFCO helped its local “Fun in the Sun” program grow into an annual summer event. What promises to become an even larger support effort is the JAFCO Long Island Golf Classic, designed to support crucial services for children.
Sponsorship and other donation opportunities for the golf tournament are available to make the JAFCO Long Island Golf Classic a successful event. Event Chairs are Randi & Michael Feldstein, Amy and Jeff Levy and Susan and Ted Tashlik. To learn more and to reserve a spot to play golf, please visit www.FamilyMattersNetwor.org/events.
The JAFCO Long Island Golf Classic event committee includes: Rebecca and Michael Altman, Nori and Lewis Elson, Joan and Peter Feldman, Kim and Dennis Floam, Jeanne & Marc Goldman, Carly & Josh Halegua, Pearl & Nathan Halegua, Wendy and Jeff Maurer, Ronna and Michael Niederman, Stacey and Bill Spitalnick, Jocelyn and Jared Wasserman and Dorine & Robert Wulwick.
For more information, contact Events Manager, Melanie Foldes, at 267-637-0210 or
Melanie@JAFCO.org.
