Making an Impact Through Connection

JFSLA’s Community Impact Network (CIN) connects young professionals to JFSLA and provides meaningful opportunities to volunteer, advocate, and support JFSLA’s mission. Through CIN, members gain a deeper understanding of JFSLA’s work and find ways to apply their skills, experiences, and connections to make an impact for the people of Los Angeles.

Barry Gibbons, an industrial real estate asset manager, was part of the first cohort of CIN members this year. His connection to JFSLA began long before joining the network. He grew up familiar with the organization through his mother, Monique Maas Gibbons, a longtime JFSLA board member. When Barry began looking for volunteer opportunities, his mother introduced him to Tami Kagan-Abrams, JFSLA’s current Board Chair, who encouraged Barry to get involved, beginning a longstanding connection to JFSLA.

“Jewish Family Service LA as a whole has been a part of my family’s life for decades. It’s always been something that’s felt ingrained in me, and I’m really lucky to have the family mentors I’ve had along the way,” said Barry.

Through Young Leaders, Barry became familiar with JFSLA’s Tools for School program, which provides free backpacks and essential school supplies to children in the Los Angeles community who are facing financial hardship. Barry saw the impact of the program firsthand, including the excitement of children receiving backpacks and school supplies at the event.

For Barry, joining the first cohort of JFSLA’s Community Impact Network was a natural extension of the involvement he had already built through Young Leaders, while also offering a new opportunity to become more deeply engaged with JFSLA’s work.

“CIN was a great program because it helps people better understand the full scope of what Jewish Family Service LA does,” said Barry.

After participating in CIN and gaining a deeper understanding of JFSLA’s work, Barry continued his involvement with Tools for School and took on a leadership role in fundraising for the program.

“I’m just someone who wants to give back and help where I can,” said Barry. “While I may not have the financial means right now to write a large check to the causes I care about, I can give my time. That’s something I can continue to grow, continue to value, and use to benefit everyone involved.”

When Barry began thinking about how he could support Tools for School, he thought of Jeff Green, a longtime family friend and the founder and owner of U.S. Merchants, a large manufacturing company with operations across North America and the United Kingdom.

Barry reached out to Jeff about Tools for School and the program’s need for community support. The conversation resonated with Jeff and his wife, Marie Green, who chose to make a significant donation to support the program.

“My wife and I are always looking for ways to support children who may not have the same opportunities and to help make a difference in their lives,” said Jeff. “We are honored to play a role in organizations that are doing meaningful work in the community. For us, helping children, especially when it comes to education, is particularly important because the opportunities they receive today can help shape their lives for years to come.”

Jeff also credits Barry’s personal outreach and dedication with helping make the connection possible.

“Barry has a real passion for the organization and for this project. He’s a high-quality, high-standard individual who followed up, followed through, provided all the information we needed, and was incredibly responsive throughout the process. I would say he’s an A1 advocate for Jewish Family Service LA and for Tools for School,” said Jeff.

Together with the longstanding support of an anonymous donor who has generously contributed to Tools for School year after year, the contributions from Jeff and Marie helped ensure JFSLA had the resources needed to make this year’s initiative possible.

Because of their support, nearly 500 children from families who visit JFSLA’s SOVA food pantries and children living in JFSLA’s domestic violence shelters will receive backpacks, notebooks, folders, binders, pencils, markers, and other essential school supplies. Tools for School helps ease the financial burden of back-to-school shopping for families already facing challenging circumstances.

“Jewish Family Service LA is so diverse in the ways it gives back and serves the Los Angeles community,” said Barry. “I would encourage people to experience the work firsthand. Volunteer at SOVA for a day, attend a Café Europa lunch, or help with Thanksgiving meals for seniors. The experience will help you understand the impact of the work and where you feel most connected. You might find one program that really speaks to you, or you might discover that you want to support many of them. Either way, getting involved firsthand can help you understand where your support is needed most.”

To learn more about JFSLA’s volunteer opportunities, please visit jfsla.org/volunteer.