Newsroom - JFSSD
Moving Forward Together

Newsroom

Welcome to Our Newsroom

Our Newsroom is the place to learn the latest news about Jewish Family Service of San Diego. Browse through our press releases, view or read the latest news coverage, and check out our publications. And, if you don’t find what you are looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

To view JFS Videos, please click here. News videos are below.

PRESS CONTACT

For media-related inquiries, please contact J. Walcher Communications at (619) 295-7140.
If this is an urgent request, please call our main administration number at (858) 637-3000.

Or you can send an email to [email protected].

Press Releases

Jul 10 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and the California legislature have allocated $14.5 million to California’s Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program (HSAP), helping to sustain essential services for more than 2,000 Holocaust survivors throughout the state. Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFSSD) alongside six other Jewish Family Service agencies statewide, the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) and the Jewish Caucus advocated for the funding that will be distributed this fiscal year. Aging into their late 80s and 90s, Holocaust survivors are among the most vulnerable members of our community and are increasingly in need of support and care.

Jul 1 2025

JFSSD, one of the region’s most impactful nonprofit organizations, announced today the appointment of Dana Toppel as Chief Executive Officer and Theresa Dupuis as chair of the board of directors.

Jul 1 2025

From the desk of Dana Toppel, Chief Executive Officer:
Today, as I begin as CEO of Jewish Family Service, I find myself reflecting on my very first day at JFS—16 years ago. I came here wanting to make a difference in a place that aligned with my values. Just a few months after I started as the Director of Older Adult Services, both my parents passed away. In that difficult time, the work we do at JFS became even more personal and even more powerful for me. It reminded me that the work we do every day is more than a collection of services. It’s community. It’s care. And it matters more than we sometimes realize. I never imagined that day 16 years ago was the beginning of a journey that would lead me to the honor of serving as the sixth CEO of this incredible organization.

May 22 2025

In light of San Diego Pride’s recent announcement regarding its 2025 headliner lineup, The Finest Community Coalition was compelled to speak out due to serious concerns raised about the inclusion of musical artist Kehlani and the impact this decision has on safety, belonging and solidarity across San Diego.

In the News

Jul 11 2025

Fox 5

New CEO Dana Toppel and new board chair Theresa Dupuis talk about how Jewish Family Service is meeting today’s community needs in a sit down with Fox News. 

Jul 9 2025

Fox 5 San Diego

Dana Toppel, JFS CEO, and Theresa Dupuis, JFS Board Chair, sit down with KUSI to discuss JFS’s role in building a community where everyone has safe and stable housing, enough food to eat, and a supportive community around them.

Jun 27 2025

ABC 10News

San Diego’s latest and largest Safe Parking lot—the H Barracks operated by Jewish Family Service of San Diego as part of their Safe Parking Program—is welcoming people who are living out of a vehicle and are looking to rest without worry for the night. On Thursday, ABC 10News was the first to go inside the lot since it opened on May 31 and had been welcoming people who don’t have a place to go. Sometimes being homeless doesn’t mean being on the streets.

Jun 11 2025

Peninsula Beacon

A 190-space Safe Parking Program site was recently opened by the city of San Diego at H Barracks, offering vehicle dwellers services to help them avert homelessness. The Safe Parking Program provides individuals, seniors, and families a secure place to stay while accessing services and pursuing housing. Sites include restrooms, mental health services, and job training, and participants work with case managers to create individual housing goals. A judge ruled recently in the city’s favor — and against a developer’s request — for a temporary restraining order that would have prevented the swift opening of the H Barracks Safe Parking Program, which is operated by Jewish Family Service of San Diego.