Michael has made an indelible impact on JFS and the San Diego community. When he began his tenure, JFS was a $16 million agency with just under 350 employees. Through Michael’s visionary leadership JFS has grown to a budget of over $115 million with almost 550 team members, making it the largest JFS in the nation outside of New York City.

His many accomplishments include expanding the JFS headquarters in Kearny Mesa to create the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Campus, enabling JFS to increase and centralize services; the creation of the Center for Jewish Care that assists community members who are experiencing trauma, grief, or financial challenges; facilitating JFS’s leadership in the creation of the San Diego Rapid Response Network and its Migrant Shelter Services for people seeking asylum that JFS operates—now regarded as a national model; and leading our nonprofit through our Centennial Celebration and Endowment Campaign, to sustain the future of the organization.

Michael will leave JFS well-positioned to build upon its strong record of serving as a resource for thousands of individuals and families throughout our community. He, along with the dedicated and passionate team at JFS, led JFS to the organization it is today: a valuable and respected member of San Diego’s social service community.

Michael shared the following thoughts as we reflected together on the past decade:

“I’m filled with appreciation, pride, humility, and gratitude. I have witnessed how our work is critical and life-changing for the individuals we serve and transformative for the community. And, early in my tenure, I realized that how we did the work also made JFS special—we are a place for people with shared values working to repair the world.”

We are indebted to Michael for his lasting impact on JFS and the entire community and look forward to the next year of impact under his leadership. Thanks to our staff, supporters, and partners, we continue to build a stronger and healthier community where everyone can thrive.

Stay tuned for future opportunities to honor Michael, and please join the Board and me in giving him our best wishes while we all make this JFS’s best year yet!